# Stakeholder Notifications

Policy Memo SNAP

- Improvements Coming Soon for Monitoring of Child Nutrition Programs FNS published a proposed rule that will help ensure the federal child nutrition programs are being operated properly. These regulatory updates will strengthen and clarify the process for correcting serious deficiencies found in FNS’ child nutrition programs. &nbsp;
- Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs USDA’s goal across all summer nutrition programs is simple: Connect children with nutritious food during the summer months to help them grow and thrive. This interim final rule is an important step forward in increasing access to these services.
- Strengthening Access to Baby Formula for WIC participants USDA is publishing a final rule to implement the Access to Baby Formula Act. As part of the months-long, whole-of-government response to the recall-driven infant formula shortages in 2022, Congress passed legislation to support access to formula for WIC participants, even in unforeseen circumstances like disasters, emergencies and supply chain disruptions. President Biden signed the legislation&nbsp;into law on May 21, 2022.&nbsp;
- SNAP Race and Ethnicity Final Rule This week, USDA published a final rule that changes how racial and ethnic data is collected in SNAP.
- Applications Now Open for States to Streamline Access to Free, Reduced Price School Meals Did you know there’s a way for children in Medicaid households to be automatically eligible for free and reduced price school meals without their families completing another application? It’s called the Direct Certification with Medicaid Demonstration Project and USDA recently opened applications for more states to participate. &nbsp;
- Grant Applications to Improve School Meals through Local, Regional Partnerships Now Open Applications are now open for the School Food Systems Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, which is part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. &nbsp;
- Unlocking New Opportunities for Grocers with SNAP Online Purchasing Support FNS understands the unique challenges faced by smaller, independent grocery stores interested in offering SNAP online purchasing. That’s why we are excited to share the SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center, also known as SEMTAC, a valuable resource to help retailers get set up for SNAP online purchasing.&nbsp;
- Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.
- USDA to Host National Consultations on Tribal Barriers the Week of April 24 USDA will hold a five-day consultation series, “USDA Tribal Consultations on Barriers/Equity: Annual Progress Report &amp; Feedback for Next Steps,” virtually April 24-May 1, 2023.&nbsp;
- Advancing Tribal Sovereignty through Self-Determination Projects for FDPIR USDA FNS invites tribes to apply for a second round of FDPIR Self-Determination Demonstration Projects. Through these projects, tribes administering the FDPIR can enter into self-determination contracts with USDA to directly purchase food for the FDPIR food packages distributed to their tribe.