According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is scheduled to announce today that foster children around the country will automatically be eligible for free meals at their schools.
As part of President Obama’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Act of 2010, this newly founded program is also the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama’s "Let’s Move!" initiative to end childhood obesity and raise a healthier generation of American children.
“Ensuring all children receive nutritious meals at school and through other child nutrition programs is a top priority for the Obama administration and a key step towards ending childhood hunger,” said Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, in a statement."Nearly half a million children nationwide currently fall under the foster care system. California has by far the highest population, with more than 60,000 recorded at the end of 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Los Angeles County has about 15,000 foster children," said Ching Ching Ni of the Los Angeles Times.
Another part of the president’s initiative involves raising the nutritional standard of school meals, including serving more fruits and vegetables and reducing the content of salt, sugar and fat.
To read the entire article, visit http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/02/free-school-meals-for-foster-children-announced.html
Los Angeles Times|Free School Meals For Foster Children|By Ching-Ching Ni|February 3, 2011|6:06a.m.
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