August 26, 1998
To:Board of Health
From:Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Medical Officer of Health
Subject:Child Nutrition Program
Purpose:
This report provides a bi-monthly update on the status of the Child Nutrition Program, as requested by the Board of Health.
Source of Funds:
The Child Nutrition Program is being provided with $1,310,500 by the municipality (through the operating budget of
Public Health) with matching contributions being provided by the provincial government, private sector, school boards and
parents.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
On March 11, 1998, the Board of Health directed Public Health to "collaborate with the Toronto District School Board, the
Toronto Catholic District School Board and key stakeholders to establish a working group to oversee city-wide issues
regarding child nutrition programs".
On April 19, 1998, after receiving endorsement from the Board of Health and the City Budget Committee, City Council
approved the Public Health budget including $1,310,500 for approximately 210 existing child nutrition programs serving
30,000 children within the City of Toronto.
Comments:
The Child Nutrition Steering Committee was established in April, 1998 to develop a mechanism to oversee the
administration of the Child Nutrition Program. The Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School
Board and their respective foundations accepted a formal invitation from the Medical Officer of Health to be involved in
this initiative. The Steering Committee is currently comprised of designates of the Medical Officer of Health, Executive
Directors of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Boards, foundations of both
Boards, and the Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition.
An administrative structure consisting of four components has been implemented and includes the Steering Committee, two
school board foundations which provide the local program funding and accountability mechanism, a city-wide network of
child nutrition programs (Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition), and local area program networks/community
partnerships.
School board foundations will provide the local program funding and accountability mechanism for the child nutrition
programs. The Foundation for the Advancement of Community Education (FACE) agreed to receive in trust any corporate
contributions made to Child Nutrition for all public, Catholic and community-based programs. FACE will forward to the
Toronto Catholic District School Board its share of these contributions based on an agreed upon formula. Both school
board foundations will administer funds from the city, the province and corporations for all of the individual
school/community programs within their respective boards, collect monthly financial statements from each program and
assist schools within their jurisdiction to secure matched funding, a requirement of the city funding.
The Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition is comprised of representatives from Public Health, the school boards
and their foundations, and from each of the local area networks. Its role is to make recommendations to the Child Nutrition
Steering Committee on funding criteria and formula, allocations, and policies; to coordinate program implementation; to
ensure the monitoring of program standards; to educate and communicate with local programs; and to evaluate the
program. This workgroup began as the Metro Community Partners for Child Nutrition in 1997 for the purpose of planning
and advocating for child nutrition programs in the midst of amalgamation, shifts in education funding, uncertainty of
provincial support and downloading of public health. It has continued to serve as the workgroup for the coordination of the
Child Nutrition Programs across the city.
The local area program networks which operate in each of the former municipalities continue to function in a variety of
capacities depending upon their funding source, support from the local health unit area, and stage of development. These
networks have been active in assisting local child nutrition programs through the application process. As school board and
public health boundaries change and funding for local coordination is identified, these networks will evolve.
Progress to Date:
In early May, the Medical Officer of Health notified all existing programs and those in advanced stages of establishment
that, as of April 31, 1998, new funding was being made available to them from the City of Toronto and that applications
would be forthcoming shortly.
The Child Nutrition Steering Committee, on recommendation from the Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition
(TCPCN), established criteria for funding and an application form for each program to complete by June 12, 1998. Local
area networks and public health staff provided local program sites with assistance in completing the applications.
Applications totaled 212.
Applications were reviewed by TCPCN and forwarded to the Steering Committee with recommendations for 1998/99
funding. TCPCN also identified, for each program, requirements which need improvement (e.g. menu planning, food safety
training, coordinating committee development) in order to qualify for further funding instalments.
The Steering Committee established funding allocations based upon the following principles:
(a)All programs would receive some funding.
(b)A graduated funding formula would be utilized to determine the allocation for each program. Programs were ranked
based upon the average household income within the postal code of the residence of each student within a school
community. Programs in high needs areas would receive a greater proportion of their funding needs than those in low needs
areas as parental ability to contribute is usually less in high needs communities.
(c)Standardized meal cost/program type per student would be used for calculating program costs equitably.
The Child Nutrition Steering Committee received and approved the following recommendation for the distribution of
funds:
Metro Toronto Catholic Education Foundation (21 programs)$ 160,775.24
Foundation for Advancement of Community Education
School-based programs (164 programs)983,878.76
Community-based programs (27 programs)76,008.96
Held in reserve 89,837.04
Total$ 1,310,500.00
The monies held in reserve will be used to make adjustments to the allocations as required and to distribute funds among all
programs, based on the funding formula, prior to December 31, 1998.
Matching Funds:
Toronto has been advised by the Canadian Living Foundation that it is eligible for provincial funding for its existing
programs and has applied for funding for 203 programs. The remaining eleven programs have opted to apply separately.
The outcome of this application will be determined in September. The funding from the province will go directly to the
school board foundations for administration. New Toronto programs which are ineligible for municipal funding can apply
separately this year for start-up funding from the province through the Canadian Living Foundation. Next year, their
application for ongoing funding can be submitted jointly with the City programs.
The school boards have contributed approximately $1,144,000 of in-kind contributions, including space, utilities,
maintenance, caretaking, food delivery and administrative support.
Future Plans:
Programs will be receiving their allocated funds in two installments, one in early September and the other in December for
the remainder of the school year. In order to receive the December installment, a program must submit monthly financial
reports and address unmet program requirements such as food safety training.
Plans are underway to ensure that programs are utilizing the municipal funds to improve the nutritional quality and safety
of meals served. An accounting procedure is being implemented across all programs and workshops on financial reporting
will be offered in September throughout the City. In October and November, food safety and menu planning workshops
will be provided by Public Health nutrition staff.
The further development and support of local area program networks/community partnerships is being undertaken by the
Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition. There may be funding available through the Canadian Living Foundation
for local area coordinators.
Conclusion:
The allocation of $1,310,500 of municipal funding has provided an excellent opportunity for Toronto Public Health to work
with the Children's Action Committee, school boards, their foundations, the province and the community to improve the
health and readiness to learn of Toronto's children through high quality child nutrition programs.
Contact Names:
Carolyn Barber
Manager, Nutrition Services
Toronto Public Health, Toronto Office
(416) 392-7451
Connie Uetrecht
Director, Lifestyle Policy and Planning
Toronto Public Health, North York Office
(416) 395-7671
Dr. Sheela V. Basrur
Medical Officer of Health
