Child Nutrition Lead

Purpose: To increase the adoption of best practices in child nutrition programs and increase program participation among school-aged children statewide.

General Description: As Illinois strives to be the best state in the country to raise a family, we must make sure that Illinois children have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

One in eight Illinois children is food insecure, and child food insecurity is significantly higher among African American and Latino families.^ Food insecurity and poor nutrition can have negative impacts on physical and mental health and educational attainment.

Food insecure children are less likely to perform well in school and more likely to have lower math scores, poorer grades, and repeat a grade than low-income children who do not experience hunger.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) implements child nutrition programs that provide nutrition to low-income children at school, after school, and during the summer.

To support schools in optimizing the implementation of child nutrition programs and increase children’s participation in child nutrition programs, ISBE is housing a Child Nutrition Lead, a three-year independent contractor position funded in collaboration with the Illinois Commission to End Hunger.

The Child Nutrition Lead will oversee implementation of a shared strategy between ISBE and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, co-chair of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger and program partner of No Kid Hungry Illinois.

The strategy will focus on increasing schools’ adoption of best practices in child nutrition programs.

The role will be responsible for identifying and supporting opportunities for ISBE and the Governor’s office to engage school districts around program implementation and participation goals; developing and supporting strategies to share best practices, funding opportunities, and other resources with school districts; and tracking and recognizing local-level progress toward child nutrition participation goals.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions:


* Support the development of a shared strategy to support child nutrition program sponsors in increasing participation among low-income children, especially the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and Summer EBT.


* Develop and implement an engagement plan for regional superintendents, school districts, schools, and other decision makers on the importance of child nutrition programs and strategies to increase participation.


* Identify and facilitate opportunities for ISBE and the Governor’s office to support engagement and recognition strategies.


* Engage and mobilize key influencers to accelerate child nutrition participation goals, including statewide associations, superintendents, principals, school nutrition directors, coordinated school health coordinators, Boards of Education, teachers, parents, elected officials, and community stakeholders.


* Develop and i...