May 25, 1999

To:Board of Health

From:Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health

Subject:Child Nutrition Program

Purpose:

This report provides an update on the Child Nutrition Program, as requested by the Board of Health.

Source of Funding:

The Child Nutrition Program receives $1,310,500 annually from the City of Toronto through the operating budget of Public Health. This is a partnership program that includes Toronto Public Health, the provincial government, school boards, the private sector, local communities and parents.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

On April 19, 1998, City Council approved $1,310,500 from the Public Health budget as the municipal contribution to the Child Nutrition Program. This program was designated to fund meal programs for approximately 30,000 children in the 210 programs that were then operating across the new City of Toronto.

The Child Nutrition Program funding was based upon an estimated cost of $0.89 per child per day for 185 school days and a partnership funding model. The total cost of the Child Nutrition Program, $4.9M, is shared by the partnerships. The municipal portion represents approximately 24% of the total program costs. Matched funding was requested from the province and the remaining 52% of cost is anticipated to be raised through local fundraising and parental contributions.

An administrative structure in the form of a Child Nutrition Steering Committee was established by Toronto Public Health with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic Education Foundation, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success and the Toronto Community Partnership for Child Nutrition. As part of this partnership, the two foundations have assumed the responsibility for the scheduled distribution of municipal funds to program sites as well as the routine collection of monthly financial statements.

Comments:

Funding

To date $1,310,500 municipal funding has been distributed in three installments to 219 child nutrition programs for the 1998-1999 school year. In addition $50,000 in contributions from a corporate donor to the partnership has also been distributed.

Financial reports regarding actual expenditures for the period September 1998 through March 1999 have been summarized. Provincial, Municipal and Grant/Corporate Fundraising figures reflect actual amounts distributed to programs by the education foundations. Parental contributions and local program fundraising reflects the actual amount reported through March by 88% of programs.

Municipal - City of Toronto$ 891,93942%

Provincial$ 508,32424%

Grants, Corporate Fundraising$ 203,47510%

Parental Contributions and Local Fundraising$ 513,43924%

TOTAL$2,117,177100%

A total of 66,775 volunteer hours support the programs. Presently approximately 40,000 children participate in Child Nutrition Programs across the city.

Program Support

Toronto Public Health staff have continued to provide program support to local programs in the areas of menu planning, food safety and program develpment/improvement. Two food safety workshops were conducted in February to approximately 48 program staff. Public Health Nutritionists have facilitated six workshops to assist program with menu planning and completion of the application form for the 1999/2000 program year. A quality assurance program is being initated. By the end of this school year, public health inspectors will have visited all program sites to take an inventory of food safety issues facing programs and a random selection of programs will have been site visited regarding nutrition. Next year a full quality assurance program regarding food safety and nutritional quality will be implemented.

Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition

Toronto Public Health staff continue to participate at Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition. This organization was successful at obtaining $20,000 in provincial funds through the Canadian Living Foundation for its city-wide coordination. In addition, a total of $120,000 was also received from the province through the Canadian Living Foundation, $20,000 each for the six former municipal based networks/partnerships, to hire six local coordinators. The area networks are presently redefining the role and responsibilities of area networks/partnerships. It is anticipated that the six local coordinators will be in place by the fall, 1999.

1999/2000 Application Process

The application process for 1999/2000 is in place. Applications from local programs are due on May 14, 1999. Applications are being reviewed by panels established by Toronto Community Partners for Child Nutrition. These review panels will make recommendations regarding program funding to the Child Nutrition Steering Committee. Allocations will be based upon the number of children participating, the number of days the program is offered, the type and frequency of meals served and on the neighbourhood income, using a sliding scale from 5% of total estimated operating costs. The minimum amount of money a qualified program receives for the next operating year will be 5% of operating costs or $500.00 which ever is higher. Allocations will be approved by the Child Nutrition Steering Committee in June and all program sites will be notified of their allocations prior to the end of the school year.

Evaluation

The framework for evaluation of the Child Nutrition Program in the form of a program logic model is presently being developed, and a full evaluation strategy will be in place by fall 1999.

In April 1999 a financial audit of this program was carried out by City of Toronto Audit Services at the request of Budget Committee and it was found that appropriate accountability mechanisms were in place.

Conclusion:

This progress report, based upon data from September, 1998 to March 31, 1999 shows that municipal funding for the Child Nutrition Program has already leveraged close to 100% in additional contributions, and that future fundraising is projected to cover program costs this year. Approximately 40,000 children now participate in the Child Nutrition Program, receiving nutritious meals and snacks during their school day and therefore, increasing their potential for optimal health and effective learning.

Contact Names:

Connie L. Uetrecht

Manager, Healthy Lifestyles - South Region

Tel: (416) 392-7641

E-mail: cuetrech@toronto.ca

Carol Timmings

Regional Director, East Region

Tel: 392-1355

email ctimming@toronto.ca

Dr. Sheela V. Basrur

Medical Officer of Health