Information you can use--or not

When I was researching the very expensive food programs (huge increase during the Bush years) for low income, "food insecure" residents (many not citizens), I was awash in acronyms, so I started to jot them down. Then I found out by following one of my own links, that someone has already done this here. They are hot linked on that page. About 25 years ago I used to work for the Ohio Department of Aging, and I recognize a few of these. I gained new respect for career government workers in that job (although not for those who got offices because of party affiliation). When I volunteer at the Lutheran Food Pantry I meet people whose very lives are controlled by these acronyms, so show some respect. Learn what they mean. These are the methods by which people will remain low income from birth to death because there's no reason to leave if WIC feeds you as a toddler and the school feeds you for 12 years (if you finish), and SNAP (food stamps) provides the bare bones of the diet, and the food pantry goes for the extras at the end of the month, and Medicaid covers the health insurance, and TANF, PHA, FMR, LIHTC or HOME keeps a roof over your head, and AAA sends out the nutritious meals in old age. It's not luxurious living, but it pays the bills and keeps them out of higher end neighborhoods and brings votes for politicians.

AAA
Area Agencies on Aging

ACDA
American Commodity Distribution Association

AMS
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

ACFP
Child & Adult Care Food Program, FNS/USDA

CAP
Commodity Acceptability Progress Reports

CCC
Commodity Credit Corporation, FSA/USDA

CI
Charitable Institutions

CID
Commercial Item Description

CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DHHS

CIC
Commodity Improvement Council, USDA

CLOC
Commodity Letter of Credit

CSFP
Commodity Supplemental Food Program, FNS/USDA

ASNP
Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP), FNS/USDA

DHHS
Department of Health & Human Services

COS
Electronic Commodity Ordering System

EFOs
Emergency Feeding Organizations

FD
Food Distribution, FNS/USDA

FDA
Food and Drug Administration, DHHS

FDPIR
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, FNS/USDA

FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency

FNCS
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

FNIC
Food and Nutrition Information Center

FNS
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

FNSRO
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional Office

FOIA
Freedom of Information Act

FSA
Farm Service Agency, USDA

FSIS
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

FSMC
Food Service Management Companies

FY
Fiscal Year

HACCP
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point

HHP
Household Programs, FNS/USDA

ITOs
Indian Tribal Organizations

KCCO
Kansas City Commodity Office, FSA/USDA

NAFDPIR
National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations

NFSMI
National Food Service Management Institute

NSIP
Nutrition Services Incentive Program, FNS/USDA (formerly NPE)

NSLP
National School Lunch Program, FNS/USDA

NPA
National Processing Agreements

NPE
Nutrition Program for the Elderly, FNS/USDA (now NSIP)

OANE
Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, FNS/USDA

OIG
Office of the Inspector General, USDA

OGC
Office of General Counsel, USDA

OMB
Office of Management and Budget

PCIMS
Processed Commodity Inventory Management System

SI
Schools & Institutions

SBP
School Breakfast Program, FNS/USDA

SC
Summer Camps

SDA
State distributing agency

SEA
State education agency

SFA
School Food Authority

SFSP
Summer Food Service Program, FNS/USDA

SNA
School Nutrition Association (SNA)

SOC
State Option Contracts [Program], AMS/FNS/USDA

SDA
State distributing agency

SEA
State education agency

SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, FNS/USDA

SNP
Special Nutrition Programs, FNS/USDA

SY
School Year

TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

TEFAP
The Emergency Food Assistance Program, FNS/USDA

USDA
United States Department of Agriculture

WIC
Women, Infants and Children, FNS/USDA