Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§1769e State Childhood Hunger Challenge Grants
Title 42 › CHAPTER 13 — SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS › § 1769e
Summary
Offers competitive grants to Governors so states can try new ways to end hunger among children. A "child" is anyone under 18. The program can use money to test ideas like boosting SNAP benefits, changing how school meals, afterschool snacks, and child care food are delivered, linking families to housing or child care help, doing more outreach to get families into federal nutrition programs, and better coordinating state and local food efforts. Governors must apply to the Secretary and explain who they will help, how they will measure results, and give a detailed plan, budget, and performance goals. Each project must measure baseline and yearly rates of very low food security for children, include stakeholder planning, aim to sharply reduce or eliminate child hunger by 2015, and include an independent evaluation of at least one major strategy that measures its effect on child food security and program participation. The Secretary will work with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, and Housing and Urban Development on the program. The Secretary must report to Congress by December 31, 2011, and each December 31 after that until the final evaluation is done, describing project status and evaluation results and sharing findings widely. Money is authorized "as needed" for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 and can be used for project and federal administrative costs. No project can get funds for more than 5 years. Yearly payments depend on satisfactory progress. Any project that changes or uses SNAP must follow the Food and Nutrition Act rules, and funds cannot be used in ways that conflict with the named federal nutrition laws.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1769e
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Definitions
In this section: (1) Child
(2)Supplemental nutrition assistance program
The term “supplemental nutrition assistance program” means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
(b)Purpose
Under such terms and conditions as are established by the Secretary, funds made available under this section may be used to competitively award grants to or enter into cooperative agreements with Governors to carry out comprehensive and innovative strategies to end childhood hunger, including alternative models for service delivery and benefit levels that promote the reduction or elimination of childhood hunger by 2015.
(c)Projects
State demonstration projects carried out under this section may include projects that—
(1)enhance benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program for eligible households with children;
(2)enhance benefits or provide for innovative program delivery models in the school meals, afterschool snack, and child and adult care food programs under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.);
(3)target Federal, State, or local assistance, including emergency housing, family preservation services, child care, or temporary assistance at households with children who are experiencing hunger or food insecurity, to the extent permitted by the legal authority establishing those assistance programs and services;
(4)enhance outreach to increase access and participation in Federal nutrition assistance programs; and
(5)improve the coordination of Federal, State, and community resources and services aimed at preventing food insecurity and hunger, including through the establishment and expansion of State food policy councils.
(d)Grants
(1)In general
In carrying out this section, the Secretary may competitively award grants or enter into competitively awarded cooperative agreements with Governors for use in accordance with demonstration projects that meet the purposes of this section.
(2)Application
To be eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under this section, a Governor shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(3)Selection criteria
The Secretary shall evaluate proposals based on publicly disseminated criteria that may include—
(A)an identification of a low-income target group that reflects individuals experiencing hunger or food insecurity;
(B)a commitment to approaches that allow for a rigorous outcome evaluation as described in subsection (f);
(C)a comprehensive and innovative strategy to reduce the risk of childhood hunger or provide a significant improvement to the food security status of households with children; and
(D)such other criteria as are determined by the Secretary.
(4)Requirements
Any project funded under this section shall provide for— (A)
(B)a collaborative planning process including key stakeholders in the State that results in a comprehensive agenda to eliminate childhood hunger that is—
(i)described in a detailed project plan; and
(ii)provided to the Secretary for approval;
(C)an annual budget;
(D)specific performance goals, including the goal to sharply reduce or eliminate food insecurity among children in the State by 2015, as determined through a methodology prescribed by the Secretary and carried out by the Governor; and
(E)an independent outcome evaluation of not less than 1 major strategy of the project that measures—
(i)the specific impact of the strategy on food insecurity among children in the State; and
(ii)if applicable, the nutrition assistance participation rate among children in the State.
(e)Consultation
In determining the range of projects and defining selection criteria under this section, the Secretary shall consult with—
(1)the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(2)the Secretary of Labor;
(3)the Secretary of Education; and
(4)the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(f)Evaluation and reporting
(1)General performance assessment
Each project authorized under this section shall require an independent assessment that—
(A)measures the impact of any activities carried out under the project on the level of food insecurity in the State that—
(i)focuses particularly on the level of food insecurity among children in the State; and
(ii)includes a preimplementation baseline and annual measurements taken during the project of the level of food insecurity in the State; and
(B)is carried out using a methodology prescribed by the Secretary.
(2)Independent evaluation
Each project authorized under this section shall provide for an independent evaluation of not less than 1 major strategy that—
(A)measures the impact of the strategy on appropriate participation, food security, nutrition, and associated behavioral outcomes among participating households; and
(B)uses rigorous experimental designs and methodologies, particularly random assignment or other methods that are capable of producing scientifically valid information regarding which activities are effective in reducing the prevalence or preventing the incidence of food insecurity and hunger in the community, especially among children.
(3)Reporting
Not later than December 31, 2011 and each December 31 thereafter until the date on which the last evaluation under paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary shall—
(A)submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes a description of—
(i)the status of each State demonstration project; and
(ii)the results of any evaluations of the demonstration projects completed during the previous fiscal year; and
(B)ensure that the evaluation results are shared broadly to inform policy makers, service providers, other partners, and the public in order to promote the wide use of successful strategies.
(g)Authorization of appropriations
(1)In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to remain available until expended.
(2)Use of funds
Funds made available under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out this section, including to pay Federal costs associated with developing, soliciting, awarding, monitoring, evaluating, and disseminating the results of each demonstration project under this section.
(3)Limitations
(A)Duration
No project may be funded under this section for more than 5 years.
(B)Performance basis
Funds provided under this section shall be made available to each Governor on an annual basis, with the amount of funds provided for each year contingent on the satisfactory implementation of the project plan and progress towards the performance goals defined in the project year plan.
(C)Altering nutrition assistance program requirements
No project that makes use of, alters, or coordinates with the supplemental nutrition assistance program may be funded under this section unless the project is fully consistent with the project requirements described in section 17(b)(1)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B)).
(D)Other benefits
Funds made available under this section may not be used for any project in a manner that is inconsistent with—
(i)this chapter;
(ii)the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.);
(iii)the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or
(iv)the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (g)(3)(D)(iii), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2011 of Title 7 and Tables. The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2) and (g)(3)(D)(ii), is Pub. L. 89–642, Oct. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 885, which is classified generally to chapter 13A (§ 1771 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1771 of this title and Tables. The Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, referred to in subsec. (g)(3)(D)(iv), is title II of Pub. L. 98–8, Mar. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 35, which is classified principally to chapter 102 (§ 7501 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 7501 of Title 7 and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1769e, act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, § 24, as added Nov. 10, 1989, Pub. L. 101–147, title I, § 112, 103 Stat. 890, related to nutrition guidance for child nutrition programs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–193, title VII, § 712, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2301.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2010, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 445 of Pub. L. 111–296, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2010 Amendment note under section 1751 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1769e
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110