Today I spoke to a @USDA official who confirmed USDA does require kids to be present to receive meals being distributed at school sites but added the policy is now under review.
I said I have a 7-year-old constituent with cancer who this policy leaves out.
Here's what happened:
I said I have a 7-year-old constituent with cancer who this policy leaves out.
Here's what happened:
The official explained to me that the school sites for distribution are generally in low income areas and that without the verification of the kids being present since it's not just limited to students, people without kids could take advantage of it.
There are problems with that:
There are problems with that:
1) Err on the side of feeding people. If a meal or two a day goes to someone who doesn't have kids but we're feeding kids with cancer without putting them at risk? Meh.
2) School admins know the families best. Parents are being turned away who have their kids' birth certificates.
2) School admins know the families best. Parents are being turned away who have their kids' birth certificates.
3) I received this email: "We have about 5 families a day we have to turn away. Most are able to go home and get their child and return but it breaks my heart."
That's bad. Bad things are bad. Don't mandate bad things.
4) This story shows what's wrong:
washingtonpost.com/local/educatio…
That's bad. Bad things are bad. Don't mandate bad things.
4) This story shows what's wrong:
washingtonpost.com/local/educatio…
5) I've heard of school sites where they're allowing parents to show the student ID numbers of their kid(s). That, apparently, is against USDA regulation but, well, it's a verification system that works. However, free to *all* kids means anyone under 18: not just students.
6) Distribution by school buses is regulated separately. The USDA regulations state kids don't have to be present to receive bus-service delivery *but* there's a catch:
a) It's for students enrolled in free and reduced meals.
b) Parents have to sign a waiver of confidentiality.
a) It's for students enrolled in free and reduced meals.
b) Parents have to sign a waiver of confidentiality.
7) My request to the @USDA is to revoke the policy requiring students be present at school sites to pick up meals.
If there's such widespread incidents of childless adults putting pressure on the schools that they can't provide an enough meals to kids in need, then review that.
If there's such widespread incidents of childless adults putting pressure on the schools that they can't provide an enough meals to kids in need, then review that.
8) #7 will be obvious. You have families who are showing up regularly each day to pick up meals. You should receive a relatively small/manageable uptick of families coming in who weren't before because they have kids with pre-existing conditions.
If it's a large uptick, note it.
If it's a large uptick, note it.
In sum: the current policy is creating real barriers for parents to feed their children, as I outlined yesterday in the thread below:
The bottom line:
Revoke the policy. Get more people fed. Take care of our families.
We can do this and make it work.
The bottom line:
Revoke the policy. Get more people fed. Take care of our families.
We can do this and make it work.
