LINCOLN — Nebraska’s plan to carry out the once-controversial Summer EBT food program for low-income youths has been given the green light from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state’s planned rollout of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which include details such as “touchpoints” that local officials designed to improve outreach, according to a media release Monday from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

So-called touchpoints include providing Nebraska parents with information on types of nutritious foods to buy and follow-up surveys to identify additional needs or concerns.

175,000 students

State officials expect the Summer EBT program to serve about 175,000 students, or 80,000 households that meet certain criteria, including an income that makes them eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year.

That count is up from an earlier estimate of about 150,000 children anticipated to benefit at a state cost of about $400,000 per year to administer the federally-funded program.

Each qualified child is to receive a card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The program is designed to allow access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.

Modeled after pilot projects and a nationwide pandemic-era initiative that ended, Congress authorized the more permanent summer program through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

State Sen. Jen Day of Gretna during the past legislative session introduced Legislative Bill 952, which stalled but had been  prioritized by Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island to push the state to implement the federal program.

Gov. Jim Pillen had balked at opting in, describing the program as a leftover from the pandemic that had ended.

He later added that he didn’t believe in “welfare,” which brought more criticism because the governor, a hog producer and co-owner of a pork processing plant, has accepted federal assistance.

Already, Pillen had been flooded by pleas from food banks, advocates of the poor and protesters.

Ultimately the governor reversed his stand, attributing the change of heart to a visit with Aguilar, a Republican, and discussions he had with students at Boys Town and during a youth legislative day. 

Big step

Day, who had led a letter-writing effort supported by 15 state lawmakers, said Monday that although Nebraska was one of the last states to opt in to the new summer program, it was the fourth in the nation to have its plan approved.

“I’m glad that we’ll be able to feed 175,000 Nebraska kids this summer and relieve some of the economic stress that many families are feeling right now,” Day said.

She praised the work of the DHHS and Department of Education in crafting the plan.

“These programs are crucial for making sure that kids in our state receive nutritious meals during the months they are not in school,” DHHS CEO Steve Corsi said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the USDA said the agency is pleased Nebraska chose to participate.

“We are impressed that the state’s plan includes a range of services to reach kids and also robust outreach to the community,” said Cheryl Kennedy, regional administrator for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. “This will be a great benefit to the children of Nebraska.”

Eric Savaiano, food and access manager for Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit that fought early on for participation in the program, said federal approval of Nebraska’s plan is a big step. Now, he said, there is contact information and other detail available for families.

“This puts details behind the program that means it is actually going to happen,” Savaiano said.

In addition to the Summer EBT program, the State Department of Education said it also is administering the Summer Food Service Program, which provides no-cost meals to kids from age 1 to 18 at about 300 sites across Nebraska.

No applications or paperwork are required to receive meals from approved Summer Food Service Program sites, most of which begin providing meals the first week of June.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved on Monday the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to run the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, program.

An estimated 175,000 eligible students or 80,000 households will receive $120 per child for the summer months to ensure they receive the food and services they need when school is not in session.

“These programs are crucial for making sure that kids in our state receive nutritious, consistent meals during the months they’re not in school,” said DHHS CEO Dr. Steve Corsi. “Our children are our future, and we need to make sure they’re taken care of.”

In addition to the cards that will be issued to families, the program will also offer information on the types of nutritious foods parents may purchase with the EBT funds for their children. DHHS will also send text messages and will follow up with families to assess their needs.

In addition to the Summer EBT program, the Summer Food Service Program through the Nebraska Department of Education will provide free meals to children between ages one and 18 at nearly 300 locations across the state. Recipients need not apply or provide paperwork. Most sites will begin providing those meals the first week of June. Families can text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304304 for information on local sites.

School-aged, income-eligible children may receive Summer EBT benefits via these criteria: participation in the SNAP, Aid to Dependent Children, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations programs; and children on Medicaid with a household income under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.

School-aged children eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch/Breakfast Programs may also receive benefits if they are involved in head start programs, are homeless, in the foster care system, a migrant, or a runaway.

School-aged children already approved for free or reduced-price meals through filing a school meals application are accepted, as well as those enrolled in a school participating in the NSLP/SBP that are not already eligible but are determined income-eligible through a Summer EBT application. Those will be available come June 1.

If a child meets the first three aforementioned points, they need not complete an application. Their benefits will be issued to a card and mailed to the address on record. Once activated, those EBT cards can be used like any other at approved SNAP retailers to purchase eligible food.

Homeschooled children not receiving public assistance benefits do not qualify for Summer EBT benefits.

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