The USDA’s Team Nutrition department is offering Team Nutrition Training Grants to modernize school meal patterns and support staff retention.

The FY 2024 Team Nutrition Training Grants for Meal Pattern Modernization and Retention and Mentorship Opportunities will help State agencies build capacity for future implementation of the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and address residual COVID-19 effects on staff retention in school meal programs. During school years (SY) 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated food insecurity, diet-related diseases, and health disparities. It also affected school meal service across the country. Schools experienced school foodservice labor shortages and staff turnover as well as supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19 public health emergency underscored the need to safeguard and continue to support healthy school environments; provide technical assistance, coaching, and mentoring to School Nutrition Professionals; and to capture and share the institutional knowledge of School Nutrition Professionals. 

The FY 2024 Team Nutrition Training Grant activities will allow State agencies to provide technical assistance to School Nutrition Professionals and help ensure they have the skills and knowledge to prepare and serve nutritious meals. The grant will also help School Nutrition Professionals pilot and implement coaching and mentoring programs and resources, and implement ways to capture and share the institutional, job specific knowledge of school nutrition directors, managers, and front-line staff. Ultimately, this will assist SFAs to: 

• identify and apply ways to further improve the nutritional quality of school meals; 
• meet meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications for school meals; 
• implement scratch cooking techniques;  
• improve forecasting, procurement, and menu planning for school meals, and;  
• build a knowledgeable and skilled labor force.  

Please review the full Request for Applications under the “Related Documents” tab of this announcement for a full description and requirements for application and award.