State childhood hunger challenge grants

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 22 the following:

23.

State childhood hunger challenge grants

(a)

In general

From the amounts appropriated under subsection (k), the Secretary may competitively award grants, or enter into competitively awarded cooperative agreements with, the Governors of States to carry out comprehensive and innovative demonstration projects to end childhood hunger, including projects that establish public-private partnerships and alternative models for service delivery that promote the reduction or elimination of childhood hunger by 2015. (b)

Grant size

In determining the size of a grant to award to a State under this section, the Secretary shall consider— (1)the proportion of children in the State certified as eligible for free and reduced price meals under this Act; and (2)the rates of food insecurity, hunger, or poverty in the State, as determined by the Secretary. (c)

Application

To be eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under this section, a Governor of a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d)

Projects

A Governor of a State receiving funds under this section shall use such funds to carry out a demonstration project based on a comprehensive and innovative strategy to end childhood hunger, including a project that— (1)enhances benefits or provides for innovative program delivery models in the Federal child nutrition programs, including the school meal programs, afterschool snack programs, summer feeding programs, weekend feeding programs, child and adult care food programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children established under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), and programs under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); (2)increase access and participation in Federal child nutrition programs; and (3)improve the coordination of Federal, State, and community resources and services aimed at eliminating food insecurity and hunger, including Federal nutrition assistance programs, Federal child nutrition programs, other Federal, State, or local assistance programs and services, and private or nonprofit assistance efforts. (e)

Selection criteria

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries listed in paragraph (2), shall determine the range of projects to be funded under this section and evaluate applications submitted under subsection (c) based on publicly disseminated criteria that may include— (A)a description of the target population, including children eligible for free or reduced price meals under this Act or section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) that are at risk of experiencing hunger or food insecurity; (B)a commitment to approaches that use rigorous methodologies for implementation and evaluation, as described in subsection (g); (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; (D)as part of the comprehensive and innovative strategy, a consideration of approaches to improve the nutritional status of children eligible for free and reduced price meals under this Act or section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.); (E)a partnership among public and private stakeholders that demonstrates a commitment to collaborate toward ending childhood hunger through a coordinated plan; (F)a preference for projects with a 25 percent non-Federal match that may be provided in cash or fairly evaluated in-kind contributions, including facilities, equipment, services, or staffing from a State government, a local government, or a private source; and (G)such other criteria as are determined by the Secretary. (2)

Consultation

The Secretary shall consult with— (A)the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (B)the Secretary of Labor; (C)the Secretary of Education; and (D)the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (f)

Requirements

A Governor of a State receiving funding under this section to carry out a demonstration project shall provide for— (1)a collaboration among key stakeholders in the State, such as representatives from business, nonprofits, faith- and community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, the philanthropic sector, and public agencies that oversee Federal child nutrition programs, education, housing, public health, and other social service programs; (2)a collaborative planning process that results in a comprehensive agenda to eliminate childhood hunger that is— (A)described in a detailed project plan; and (B)provided to the Secretary for approval; (3)an annual budget; (4)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 (5)an independent evaluation described in subsection (g). (g)

Evaluation

Each Governor of a State receiving funding under this section, with respect to any project carried out with such funds in the State, shall carry out an independent evaluation— (1)that measures the impact of any activities carried out under the project on the level of food insecurity in the State that— (A)focuses particularly on the rate of food insecurity among children in the State; (B)includes a preimplementation baseline and annual measurements taken during the project of the level of food insecurity in the State; and (C)is carried out using a scientifically valid methodology prescribed by the Secretary; and (2)that evaluates— (A)the impact of the project on appropriate participation, food security, nutrition, and associated behavioral outcomes among participating children; and (B)using rigorous experimental designs and methodologies, particularly random assignment or other methods that are capable of producing scientifically valid information, to determine which activities are effective in reducing the prevalence or preventing the incidence of food insecurity and hunger in the community, especially among children. (h)

Reporting

Not later than December 31, 2011 and each December 31 thereafter until the date on which the last evaluation under subsection (g) of a project funded under this section is completed, the Secretary shall— (1)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— (A)the status of each demonstration project carried out with funds under this section; and (B)the results of any evaluations of the demonstration projects completed during the previous fiscal year; and (2)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. (i)

Limitations

(1)

Duration

No project may be funded under this section for more than 5 years. (2)

Number of project

No State may receive funds under this section to carry out more than 1 project. (3)

Performance basis

Funds provided under this section shall be made available to a Governor of a State for each year of the grant or contract awarded to such State. The amount of funds provided for each year shall be contingent on the satisfactory implementation of the project plan submitted under subsection (f)(2) and progress towards the performance goals defined in the plan. (4)

Altering nutrition assistance program requirements

(A)

In general

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)). (B)

Requirements

In determining whether a project is fully consistent with the requirements described in subparagraph (A) and therefore eligible to be funded under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that allowing the project to be funded under this section— (i)would demonstrably advance the goal of ending childhood hunger, as positively determined by the Secretary; (ii)would preserve all existing entitlements to nutrition assistance benefits and services; (iii)would not restrict eligibility or reduce benefits for any individual; and (iv)would not result in a transfer of funding designated by law for a specific program authorized under this Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), the commodity supplemental food program established under section 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93–86), the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.), or the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), to any other program. (5)

Other benefits

Funds made available under this section may not be used for any project in a manner that is inconsistent with— (A)the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.); (B)the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or (C)the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.). (j)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Child

The term child means a person under the age of 18. (2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a public or private not-for-profit agency or organization, as determined by the Secretary. (3)

Governor of a State

The term Governor of a State means— (A)a Governor of a State; or (B)an eligible entity approved by a Governor of a State. (k)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out this section for fiscal years 2011 through 2015, to remain available until September 30, 2015.