Through this index you will find the names of many useful programs and organizations. Please bookmark this page for future access!

New additions to the Food and Nutrition Program website:

NCIDC administers a statewide California Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP) targeted at the coordination of existing public and private food assistance resources, to assist low-income Tribal communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs. The CFNP also initiates new programs in underserved or unserved areas, and develops innovative approaches at the state and local levels to meet the nutrition needs of low-income Indian people. The CFNP works directly with Tribes and Indian organizations to develop nutrition education programs and inform tribal governments and Indian communities of nutrition programs available to them. One of the desired outcomes of this informational project is to get more Indian communities to participate in programs such as the Summer Food Program and the School Breakfast Program.

The program has compiled and distributed pertinent food and nutrition newsletters and information to California Tribes and community based organizations on a monthly basis. This information includes, for example, low-fat recipes, exercise ideas, healthy tips, and other related information. Over 80 different tribes and Indian organizations have been served through this distribution component of the program.

A complete web-based informational resource has also been developed as a component of the main NCIDC web site at www.ncidc.org. This food and nutrition site contains extensive links to federal, state, and non-profit nutritional programs, funding, and resources for Indian community food and nutrition programs. Almost 200 different organizations and individuals have made use of this web site since its inception. The program is currently working on adding a listing for all California food banks to its web database.

Summer Food Service Program


The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally-funded program that reimburses sponsors for administrative and operational costs for providing meals to children 18 years of age and younger during periods when they are out of school for fifteen (15) or more consecutive school days

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California WIC Facts

What is WIC?

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, a 100% federally funded program that provides nutritious food (via prescriptive vouchers), individual counseling, and health care referrals to high-risk, low-income (up to 185% of poverty) women and children up to the age of five. The purpose of the WIC program is to prevent poor birth outcomes, such as infant mortality and low birth weight, and to improve the nutrition and health of participants. Dozens of scientific studies have shown WIC to be a cost-effective and positive public health intervention.
Detailed Info

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California Food Policy Advocates

California School Breakfast Program

What is the School Breakfast Program?

Originally established as a pilot program in the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides nutritious breakfasts to children at affordable prices. Breakfast provides 1/4 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for key nutrients, and must conform to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Children are served free, reduced-price, or full-price meals depending on their family income. The program is modeled after the National School Lunch Program.

Any public or private nonprofit school is eligible to participate. In addition, non profit licensed residential child care agencies may also participate. Examples of these include orphanages or group homes. Local school districts and day care providers are reimbursed for the cost of providing breakfasts that meet the federal nutrition requirements. Within these guidelines, breakfast providers are allowed the flexibility to serve meals that fit the culture of the children they serve. In addition, the State of California provides start-up grants to qualifying schools and child care agencies to help them initiate the program.

Despite the program's proven effectiveness and low cost, 1/3 of California sites eligible to participate in the program do not serve breakfast.


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Child Nutrition Programs

General information about the child nutrition programs (School Breakfast and Lunch, Summer Food and the Child Care Food Program).

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This web site provides health and nutrition information.  This information
is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or other medical treatments.

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