BackPack Program Overview - Foodlink

1 BackPack Program Overview Many children in our community get their breakfast and lunch at school at a reduced price or for free. But when school is closed on weekends and holidays, many of these children go hungry. TM. The BackPack Program from Foodlink provides children in need with bags of nutritious food they can take home and easily prepare on their own. Why the BackPack Program ? Good nutrition is critical to good health and success at school. Children who don't get enough to eat often have: Trouble concentrating Lower math and English scores Difficulty interacting with peers Trouble finishing tests on time Lower graduation rates Children participating in the BackPack Program during the 2011-2012 school year showed improvement in their energy levels and ability to concentrate, as well as a reduction in food insecure behavior such as asking for seconds or stealing food.

2 What is in the BackPacks? Items in the packs are: Kid-friendly Individually packaged, or small and light enough to carry Shelf-stable Easy to prepare, even without a stove or other equipment Nutritious Each BackPack bag weighs about 5-6 pounds and comes in a plastic grocery bag. The menu for each week's bag includes 1-2 items from each of the food groups: Fruits Vegetables Dairy Grain Protein One meal item such as macaroni and cheese or soup Snacks For food to be included in a BackPack bag, it is required to meet certain nutrition standards. Items must be low in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat, and high in fiber and protein (when possible).

3 Program Costs The full cost of each BackPack is approximately $ $ The cost varies monthly as different items are purchased. This amounts to less than $160 per child over the course of the school year. In order to contribute to Program sustainability, sites can seek out their own funding sources through private donations, fundraisers, or grants. Foodlink works to identify grants and donations to subsidize the cost of the Program . For assistance with fundraising or for promotional materials, contact the BackPack Program coordinator. Program Application All sites must submit a Program application and agreement every year to be considered for the BackPack Program and opportunities for funding assistance.

4 The BackPack site application and included paperwork must be reviewed and signed by the site coordinator and returned to Foodlink by the application deadline. This deadline is typically at the end of the prior school year for fall applications. 501c3 Partners All BackPack sites must have a non-profit 501c3 partner for tax and billing purposes. This may be a local church, Parent Teacher Organization, food pantry, or other agency. This organization acts as a financial liaison between the school and Foodlink , and all payments must come from an organization check. This does not mean that the 501c3 organization will pay for the Program , though they may also be a financial sponsor.

5 501c3 partners often provide storage space, volunteers, or funding for the BackPack Program . Example: Rural School District partners with a local 501c3 organization, Rural Food Pantry, for their BackPack Program . The Food Pantry does not provide any financial support for the BackPack Program , but the food is delivered and stored there. Volunteers from the Food Pantry help deliver the bags to the elementary school for distribution on Fridays. Rural School District, with help from a local bank, provides the funding for the Program , but checks must come from the 501c3. organization. The district writes a check to the Food Pantry, and the Food Pantry writes a check to Foodlink .

6 Example: Suburban School District partners with their own Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for their BackPack Program . The bags are stored at the school and the school nurse runs the Program , but the PTO pays for the Program in full. Because they are a 501c3 organization, they write the checks to Foodlink out of their own funding. If you need help identifying potential 501c3 partners, or if you don't know if an organization is a 501c3, please contact the BackPack Program Coordinator or use the Exempt Organization Select Check Tool at 2|Page Site Coordinator The Site Coordinator is the individual who manages the Program for the school or school district and acts as a liaison between the school, the 501c3 partner, and Foodlink .

7 He or she handles all paperwork and communication for the Program , and ensures that the Program runs smoothly, children are identified properly, and packs are distributed confidentially. This person may work in the school ( school social worker or nurse) or be associated with the 501c3 partner ( volunteer or paid employee). How to Identify Children who May Need the BackPack Program Child Referrals: Children are eligible to receive food through the BackPack Program once site staff fill out a referral form. Referral forms should be distributed to teachers, social workers, and school nurses who may recognize the risk factors listed below.

8 When referrals are received, they must be kept in a central, confidential location. Guidelines for Referral Any child with multiple risk factors, as listed below, should be considered to receive food through the BackPack Program Food insecure behavior that indicates need: Rushing food lines Extreme hunger on Monday morning Eating all of the food served and lingering around for or asking for seconds Comments about not having enough food at home Physical appearance that indicates need: Extreme thinness Puffy, swollen skin Chronically dry, cracked lips Chronically dry, itchy eyes Brittle, spoon-shaped nails School performance that indicates need.

9 Excessive absences and/or tardiness Repetition of a grade Chronic sickness Short attention span/inability to concentrate Chronic behavior that leads to disciplinary action Home environment that indicates need: Often cooks own meal or has a sibling who does Moves frequently Often spends the night away from home Loss of income or family crisis 3|Page Staff Awareness: Make sure school staff are aware of the Program . Ask for their help in identifying children who would benefit from the Program . Make the BackPack Referral form available to all staff, but stress that teachers should only refer students who are hungry on a consistent basis.

10 Annual BackPack training sessions will be conducted prior to the start of the school year for all site coordinators and any other interested parties. Identification of food insecure children will be discussed. Program Enrollment Parental Consent Before a child may participate in the BackPack Program , his or her parent or guardian must be sent a letter explaining the Program , including that the Program is optional. They must consent . verbally or in writing for their child to participate by completing and returning an enrollment form, provided during BackPack Program Training. Distribution Logistics Bag Contents Each BackPack bag will weigh about 5-6 pounds and will contain 1-2 items from each food group, in addition to some meal items.