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ICN
10.587
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), formerly known as the National Food Service Management Institute (NFMSI) is part of the School of Applied Science at The University of Mississippi and is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for Child Nutrition Programs. The Institute was established and authorized by Congress, in 1989, and funded at The University of Mississippi in 1991 by a grant administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). In 1994, the Institute was permanently authorized. The specific duties (described below) of the Institute can be found in section 21 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. 1769b-1. The Institute's mission is to provide relevant research-based information and services that promote the continuous improvement of Child Nutrition Programs. The vision is to lead the nation in providing education, research, and resources to promote excellence in Child Nutrition Programs. The Institute serves anyone connected with the Child Nutrition Programs: National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Child and Adult Care Food Programs. As a national center, and to fulfill its mission, the Institute develops educational resources and offers training and technical assistance using appropriate technology for child nutrition professionals across the nation and conducts applied research. It is the training and technical assistance arm of the Child Nutrition Programs.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
ICN continues to work under its six Strategic Beacons to successfully execute their strategic plan and achieve their goals: 1. Branding for a National Presence; 2. Leader in Child Nutrition Resources and Training; 3. Authority in Child Nutrition Research; 4. Integrative Research-Based Resources and Training; 5. Collaborative Partnerships; and 6. Stewardship. ICN engages in the following activities: 1. Develop regional training and research teams and regional training sites in each of the USDA’s seven regions; 2. Enhance the relationships between ICN, USDA regional offices, state agency directors, and USDA contacts; 3. Continue marketing ICN resources and services; and 4. Partner with a variety of non-profit allied organizations active in child nutrition programming.
ICN has provided education and training on topics including the First Lady’s Chefs Move to Schools, food safety, school gardens, USDA’s Healthier US Schools Challenge, nutrition, new meal patterns, school wellness, marketing, financial management, facility design, procurement practices, and human resource management to professionals from across the nation, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
In addition, ICN research division has completed various phases of projects involving factors that impact participation in middle schools, research needs in farm to school programs, impact of serving healthier school meals on school nutrition programs, and knowledge and skill statements for State agency staff.
Also, ICN created and continues to deliver a training program to introduce chefs to the unique requirements and challenges of the National School Lunch Program. Trained chefs from this program are co-teaching with school nutrition professionals in the ICN Healthy Cuisine for Kids training and the Face to Face Culinary Techniques training, as well as creating chef videos that are available on the ICN web site.
General Education - The ICN hosted 45 trainings for 1,312 child nutrition professionals.The ICN finalized the following storyboards and are now ready for instructional design: Marketing and Promoting Healthier School Meals; Utilizing Community Partners and Social Media storyboard; Setting Weekly and Daily Sodium Goals. The ICN began interviewing school nutrition directors to participate in the Child Nutrition on Demand Part 2 project.
Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition Cooperative Agreement The ICN, in cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), established the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN) to increase the culinary skills of school nutrition professionals. CICN has provided culinary trainings and resources to support school nutrition professionals in preparing and serving healthy, culinary inspired school meals from scratch and elevate the cafeteria atmosphere.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
