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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES MANUAL

GENERAL PROCEDURES & REQUIREMENTS

FNS 115 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES PROGRAM

1 Change #1-2021 May 1, 2021 FNS 115 Administration of the Food and Nutrition Services Program Change #1-2021 May 1, 2021

115.01 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) Within USDA, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for the federal administration of the program and, in this capacity, consults and provides policy and guidance to the State Division of Social Services. FNS maintains eight regional offices throughout the United States. The Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta, Georgia provides technical assistance and oversight of the North Carolina FNS Program. FNS also maintains a Field Office in Raleigh. The primary role of the Field Office is to authorize, and monitor program compliance of retailers authorized to accept FNS benefits. Additional duties of the Field Office staff include: A. Conducting reviews of county departments of social services on such topics as client services or employment training. These reviews are coordinated through the State Division of Social Services. B. Conducting inquiries into all civil rights complaints. While conducting these inquiries, FNS staff must be given direct and unrestricted access to FNS case files and staff. The purpose of the inquiry is to determine the facts surrounding the complaint. FNS Field Office staff forwards a report to the Atlanta Regional Office for review and evaluation. The findings of the inquiry, including any recommended corrective action, are directed to the State Office. The State is responsible for working with the county office to correct any problems identified. C. Other inquiries. Field Office staff may contact the county departments of social services (DSS) to follow up on such matters as recipient inquiries, complaints, or reports of alleged program violations.

115.02 NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) The DHHS, DSS provides general State policies and procedures. The Division also provides supervision of the administration of the program through county departments of social services, including the conduct of performance reporting reviews.

115.03 COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES A. The county directors of DSS are responsible for the certification of applicant households. B. The county DSS must provide the most current application from the DHHS Online Publications forms website for participation in the FNS Program to any person upon request and must accept an identifiable North Carolina state application when submitted.