ICN’s Impact

STRENGTHENING CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

THROUGH PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Established by Congress in 1989 through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.

ICN partners with USDA to translate policy into action by offering research-based education and trainings nationwide, providing school nutrition professionals with certificates that align with USDA’s Professional Standards requirements.

By enhancing professional credibility and career growth, ICN’s certificates strengthen local child nutrition programs, building a qualified workforce that delivers healthier outcomes for America’s children.

Three Key Impact Areas:

  • Empowering America’s Child Nutrition Workforce
  • Advancing Nutrition Excellence for Children
  • Optimizing Program Efficiency and Accountability

USDA funding enables the Institute to deliver technical assistance, research, and workforce development resources—free of charge—to child nutrition professionals across all 50 states and 6 U.S. territories.

2,655

Research-based resources offering insights on best practices and operational excellence

322,695

Certificates issued in 2024, supporting annual training requirements

440,622

* Registered child nutrition professionals nationwide advancing their professional development and career growth

* Cumulative Numbers. The statistics on this page highlight the Institute of Child Nutrition’s (ICN) impact throughout the 2024 calendar year

Key ICN Traning Topics

  • Administration
  • Culinary and Menu Planning
  • Nutrition and Operations
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Financial Management and Procurement
  • Food Safety
  • Human Resources and Leadership
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

2024 Professional Development Certificates by State and Territory

50 States +6Territories

Participating in ICN’s Leadership Training affirmed my commitment and strengthened my confidence that I am the right leader for School Food and Nutrition Services.

THE TRAINING GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE I NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT MY IDEAS and pursue the SMART goals developed in each session. I’m grateful to our trainer and the ICN team for their expertise and unwavering support throughout the experience. I look forward to participating in more ICN training opportunities in the future.

Executive Assistant Child Nutrition Director, Louisiana

Our staff regularly uses ICN resources and training, which have played a key role in their professional growth and success.

Seventeen managers from my county have earned certifications through ICN programs, and I’ve helped guide 60 colleagues to take advantage of these valuable opportunities. As a result, our entire team now qualifies for the annual professional development bonus. TheICN.org is an outstanding resource, and we deeply appreciate the dedication and support of the Institute.

Child Nutrition Director, Maryland

The ICN Child Nutrition Archives preserves the historical and professional legacy of child nutrition programs. Through a comprehensive archive of 150+ manuscript and artifact collections, 30 curated photo collections with over 3,000 images, and 270 oral histories, the archives continues to serve as a vital national reference and educational tool.