42 U.S.C. § 1788 : US Code - Section 1788: Team nutrition network

Search 42 U.S.C. § 1788 : US Code - Section 1788: Team nutrition network

(a) Purposes
The purposes of the team nutrition network are -
(1) to establish State systems to promote the nutritional
health of school children of the United States through nutrition
education and the use of team nutrition messages and material
developed by the Secretary, and to encourage regular physical
activity and other activities that support healthy lifestyles for
children, including those based on the most recent Dietary
Guidelines for Americans published under section 5341 of title 7;
(2) to provide assistance to States for the development of
comprehensive and integrated nutrition education and active
living programs in schools and facilities that participate in
child nutrition programs;
(3) to provide training and technical assistance and
disseminate team nutrition messages to States, school and
community nutrition programs, and child nutrition food service
professionals;
(4) to coordinate and collaborate with other nutrition
education and active living programs that share similar goals and
purposes; and
(5) to identify and share innovative programs with demonstrated
effectiveness in helping children to maintain a healthy weight by
enhancing student understanding of healthful eating patterns and
the importance of regular physical activity.
(b) Definition of team nutrition network
In this section, the term "team nutrition network" means a
statewide multidisciplinary program for children to promote healthy
eating and physical activity based on scientifically valid
information and sound educational, social, and marketing
principles.
(c) Grants
(1) In general
Subject to the availability of funds for use in carrying out
this section, in addition to any other funds made available to
the Secretary for team nutrition purposes, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education, may make grants to
State agencies for each fiscal year, in accordance with this
section, to establish team nutrition networks to promote
nutrition education through -
(A) the use of team nutrition network messages and other
scientifically based information; and
(B) the promotion of active lifestyles.
(2) Form
A portion of the grants provided under this subsection may be
in the form of competitive grants.
(3) Funds from nongovernmental sources
In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may accept cash
contributions from nongovernmental organizations made expressly
to further the purposes of this section, to be managed by the
Food and Nutrition Service, for use by the Secretary and the
States in carrying out this section.
(d) Allocation
Subject to the availability of funds for use in carrying out this
section, the total amount of funds made available for a fiscal year
for grants under this section shall equal not more than the sum of -

(1) the product obtained by multiplying 1/2 cent by the
number of lunches reimbursed through food service programs under
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751
et seq.) during the second preceding fiscal year in schools,
institutions, and service institutions that participate in the
food service programs; and
(2) the total value of funds received by the Secretary in
support of this section from nongovernmental sources.
(e) Requirements for State participation
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State
agency shall submit to the Secretary a plan that -
(1) is subject to approval by the Secretary; and
(2) is submitted at such time and in such manner, and that
contains such information, as the Secretary may require,
including -
(A) a description of the goals and proposed State plan for
addressing the health and other consequences of children who
are at risk of becoming overweight or obese;
(B) an analysis of the means by which the State agency will
use and disseminate the team nutrition messages and material
developed by the Secretary;
(C) an explanation of the ways in which the State agency will
use the funds from the grant to work toward the goals required
under subparagraph (A), and to promote healthy eating and
physical activity and fitness in schools throughout the State;
(D) a description of the ways in which the State team
nutrition network messages and activities will be coordinated
at the State level with other health promotion and education
activities;
(E) a description of the consultative process that the State
agency employed in the development of the model nutrition and
physical activity programs, including consultations with
individuals and organizations with expertise in promoting
public health, nutrition, or physical activity;
(F) a description of how the State agency will evaluate the
effectiveness of each program developed by the State agency;
(G) an annual summary of the team nutrition network
activities;
(H) a description of the ways in which the total school
environment will support healthy eating and physical activity;
and
(I) a description of how all communications to parents and
legal guardians of students who are members of a household
receiving or applying for assistance under the program shall be
in an understandable and uniform format and, to the maximum
extent practicable, in a language that parents and legal
guardians can understand.
(f) State coordinator
Each State that receives a grant under this section shall appoint
a team nutrition network coordinator who shall -
(1) administer and coordinate the team nutrition network within
and across schools, school food authorities, and other child
nutrition program providers in the State; and
(2) coordinate activities of the Secretary, acting through the
Food and Nutrition Service, and State agencies responsible for
other children's health, education, and wellness programs to
implement a comprehensive, coordinated team nutrition network
program.
(g) Authorized activities
A State agency that receives a grant under this section may use
funds from the grant -
(1)(A) to collect, analyze, and disseminate data regarding the
extent to which children and youths in the State are overweight,
physically inactive, or otherwise suffering from nutrition-
related deficiencies or disease conditions; and
(B) to identify the programs and services available to meet
those needs;
(2) to implement model elementary and secondary education
curricula using team nutrition network messages and material
developed by the Secretary to create a comprehensive, coordinated
nutrition and physical fitness awareness and obesity prevention
program;
(3) to implement pilot projects in schools to promote physical
activity and to enhance the nutritional status of students;
(4) to improve access to local foods through farm-to-cafeteria
activities that may include the acquisition of food and the
provision of training and education;
(5) to implement State guidelines in health (including
nutrition education and physical education guidelines) and to
emphasize regular physical activity during school hours;
(6) to establish healthy eating and lifestyle policies in
schools;
(7) to provide training and technical assistance to teachers
and school food service professionals consistent with the
purposes of this section;
(8) to collaborate with public and private organizations,
including community-based organizations, State medical
associations, and public health groups, to develop and implement
nutrition and physical education programs targeting lower income
children, ethnic minorities, and youth at a greater risk for
obesity.
(h) Local nutrition and physical activity grants
(1) In general
Subject to the availability of funds to carry out this
subsection, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of
Education, shall provide assistance to selected local educational
agencies to create healthy school nutrition environments, promote
healthy eating habits, and increase physical activity, consistent
with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under section
5341 of title 7, among elementary and secondary education
students.
(2) Selection of schools
In selecting local educational agencies for grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall -
(A) provide for the equitable distribution of grants among -
(i) urban, suburban, and rural schools; and
(ii) schools with varying family income levels;
(B) consider factors that affect need, including local
educational agencies with significant minority or low-income
student populations; and
(C) establish a process that allows the Secretary to conduct
an evaluation of how funds were used.
(3) Requirement for participation
To be eligible to receive assistance under this subsection, a
local educational agency shall, in consultation with individuals
who possess education or experience appropriate for representing
the general field of public health, including nutrition and
fitness professionals, submit to the Secretary an application
that shall include -
(A) a description of the need of the local educational agency
for a nutrition and physical activity program, including an
assessment of the nutritional environment of the school;
(B) a description of how the proposed project will improve
health and nutrition through education and increased access to
physical activity;
(C) a description of how the proposed project will be aligned
with the local wellness policy required under section 204 of
the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004;
(D) a description of how funds under this subsection will be
coordinated with other programs under this chapter, the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.),
or other Acts, as appropriate, to improve student health and
nutrition;
(E) a statement of the measurable goals of the local
educational agency for nutrition and physical education
programs and promotion;
(F) a description of the procedures the agency will use to
assess and publicly report progress toward meeting those goals;
and
(G) a description of how communications to parents and
guardians of participating students regarding the activities
under this subsection shall be in an understandable and uniform
format, and, to the extent maximum practicable, in a language
that parents can understand.
(4) Duration
Subject to the availability of funds made available to carry
out this subsection, a local educational agency receiving
assistance under this subsection shall conduct the project during
a period of 3 successive school years beginning with the initial
fiscal year for which the local educational agency receives
funds.
(5) Authorized activities
An eligible applicant that receives assistance under this
subsection -
(A) shall use funds provided to -
(i) promote healthy eating through the development and
implementation of nutrition education programs and curricula
based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under
section 5341 of title 7; and
(ii) increase opportunities for physical activity through
after school programs, athletics, intramural activities, and
recess; and
(B) may use funds provided to -
(i) educate parents and students about the relationship of
a poor diet and inactivity to obesity and other health
problems;
(ii) develop and implement physical education programs that
promote fitness and lifelong activity;
(iii) provide training and technical assistance to food
service professionals to develop more appealing, nutritious
menus and recipes;
(iv) incorporate nutrition education into physical
education, health education, and after school programs,
including athletics;
(v) involve parents, nutrition professionals, food service
staff, educators, community leaders, and other interested
parties in assessing the food options in the school
environment and developing and implementing an action plan to
promote a balanced and healthy diet;
(vi) provide nutrient content or nutrition information on
meals served through the school lunch program established
under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program
established by section 1773 of this title and items sold a la
carte during meal times;
(vii) encourage the increased consumption of a variety of
healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and low-fat dairy products, through new initiatives to
creatively market healthful foods, such as salad bars and
fruit bars;
(viii) offer healthy food choices outside program meals,
including by making low-fat and nutrient dense options
available in vending machines, school stores, and other
venues; and
(ix) provide nutrition education, including sports
nutrition education, for teachers, coaches, food service
staff, athletic trainers, and school nurses.
(6) Report
Not later than 18 months after completion of the projects and
evaluations under this subsection, the Secretary shall -
(A) submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of the Senate a report
describing the results of the evaluation under this subsection;
and
(B) make the report available to the public, including
through the Internet.
(i) Nutrition education support
In carrying out the purpose of this section to support nutrition
education, the Secretary may provide for technical assistance and
grants to improve the quality of school meals and access to local
foods in schools and institutions.
(j) Limitation
Material prepared under this section regarding agricultural
commodities, food, or beverages, must be factual and without bias.
(k) Team nutrition network independent evaluation
(1) In general
Subject to the availability of funds to carry out this
subsection, the Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement
with an independent, nonpartisan, science-based research
organization -
(A) to conduct a comprehensive independent evaluation of the
effectiveness of the team nutrition initiative and the team
nutrition network under this section; and
(B) to identify best practices by schools in -
(i) improving student understanding of healthful eating
patterns;
(ii) engaging students in regular physical activity and
improving physical fitness;
(iii) reducing diabetes and obesity rates in school
children;
(iv) improving student nutrition behaviors on the school
campus, including by increasing healthier meal choices by
students, as evidenced by greater inclusion of fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and lean dairy and protein in meal
and snack selections;
(v) providing training and technical assistance for food
service professionals resulting in the availability of
healthy meals that appeal to ethnic and cultural taste
preferences;
(vi) linking meals programs to nutrition education
activities;
(vii) successfully involving parents, school
administrators, the private sector, public health agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and other community partners;
(viii) ensuring the adequacy of time to eat during school
meal periods; and
(ix) successfully generating revenue through the sale of
food items, while providing healthy options to students
through vending, student stores, and other venues.
(2) Report
Not later than 3 years after funds are made available to carry
out this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a
report describing the findings of the independent evaluation.
(l) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this section.