Marisa MacLaren, MPH
Theresa Kuehl
Direct Certification Outreach Specialists
Direct Certification Improvement
Project : Meet The Specialists
Marisa MacLaren
Theresa Kuehl
Outreach Specialists
with Covering Kids &
Families-Wisconsin
(CKF) on behalf of
the WI Department
of Public Instruction
Direct Certification (DC):
Connecting kids to healthy meals
DC certifies children who
are automatically eligible
for free school meals
because their households
participate in FoodShare
(SNAP), W-2 cash
benefits (TANF), or Food
Distribution Program on
Indian Reservations
(FDPIR)
Benefits of Direct Cert
Promotes participation
in school meal
programs
Simplifies access to free
school meals & snacks
for children in low
income households
Benefits of Direct Certification
Benefits to families…
 Free school meals are an additional benefit for
households receiving FoodShare/W-2 benefits
 No additional applications; ensures all children in
household
Benefits of DC schools…
 Less paperwork; Saves time
 More reimbursement for school meals
 More kids eating nutritious meals
How much food
can you get for
$16?
CKF-From CHILD to Direct Cert
CHILD: Connecting Health Insurance to Lunch
Data
USDA Direct Certification Planning Grant-2011
USDA Direct Certification Implementation
Grant-2012 to 2015
Who’s Involved in Direct Certification?
Schools
Department of
Public Instruction
(DPI)
Department of
Children and
Families (DCF)
USDA Mandate: What’s required of
Schools?
Direct Certification MUST be run at a minimum
of three times per school year:
 At or around the beginning of the school
year (August/September)
 Three months after the initial effort
 Six months after the initial effort
Direct Certification Improvement Project
2012-2015
USDA Goals
 Increase statewide Direct Cert rates for both
public and private schools
 All schools running Direct Cert as mandated
(at least 3 times/year)
SY 2011-2012
Non-Runners
September Runners
Pilot
Strugglers
Late Runners
Pilot Group
Data from 2011-2012 SY
Non-Runners
11
22
23
26
52
Late Runners
September
Runners
Strugglers
Multiple
Reasons
134 Total Pilot schools
Direct Certification Improvement
Project
 Direct Certification Resource Packet
 Reminder emails to Pilot group about Direct
Certification
 Direct Certification webpage with our contact
information
 Telephone and email contact
Direct Certification Resource Packet
Wisconsin Direct Certification User Guide
Direct Certification Quick Guide
Direct Certification Notification Letter
Red “Run Direct Cert” stickers
An apple magnet checklist
Flags for easy page marking
Pilot Group SY 2012-2013
Current Status of 134 Pilot schools
Non-Runners
6 3 10
6
Late Runners
109
Successful
Runners
Closed Schools
Strugglers
88.0%
All Non-Target
schools
88.1%
Pilot schools
57.5%
Control schools
Next Steps for CKF
 2012/2013 Pilots
 Get ‘em running!
 Keep ‘em running!
 Evaluate
 2013/2014 All SFAs
 Expand the efforts
to get all schools
running successfully
Ensure the free school meal benefit is known, visible
Next Steps for Community Partners
Website: www.access.wi.gov
Schools as a resource…
DPI encourages information about ACCESS on
menu’s, in newsletters
Inform your community and seniors! Please print in newsletter; or
periodically on monthly Lunch Menu when white space is available:
www.access.wisconsin.gov, ACCESS is a Wisconsin Department of
Health Services online portal for health and nutrition resources that
allows Wisconsin residents to check for eligibility and apply for federal
nutrition and other benefit programs, including FoodShare, Badger
Care Plus, Medicaid, and Senior Care through the WI Dept. of Health
Services (DHS) website http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ FoodShare
dollars are spent locally.
Direct Certification Improvement
Project 2012-2015
USDA Goals
 Increase statewide
Direct Cert rates for
both public and
private schools
 All schools running
Direct Cert as
mandated (at least 3
times/year)
CKF goals
 All schools running
Direct Cert as
efficiently and as
frequently as
possible
 Expand our horizons
Thank you!
Theresa Kuehl and
Marisa MacLaren
E-mail:
directcert@ckfwi.org
Phone: (608) 890-4783
Curious?
http://www.dpi.wi.gov/fns/directcert.html