AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAMS

Afterschool programs can participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to give children a nutritional boost and draw them into activities that are safe, fun and filled with learning opportunities.  

Which programs can participate?

Who is eligible to serve meals and snacks?

What kinds of food do afterschool programs serve?

How are programs reimbursed?

How can my program get started?

Outreach Materials

 Which programs can participate?

To participate in afterschool nutrition, a program must provide supervised enrichment activities to school-aged children.  It must be a public or private nonprofit institution. Unlike most other Child Care Food Program (CCFP) facilities, a program does not have to be licensed to provide afterschool care. However, it must meet any health and safety codes that are required by state or local law.

A program may complete an application and sign an agreement with the California Department of Education, Child Care Food Program, or, if situated on a school campus, it may participate through the school food services department.

Who is eligible for meals and snacks?

Each participating child 12 years of age and younger may receive a reimbursable meal each day, through CCFP.  Each child 13-18 may receive a snack, through NSLP if on a school site, or through CCFP elsewhere.

There are no application forms for their parents or guardians to fill out for the snacks, if the program operates in the attendance area of a school in which at least 50 percent of the enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. 

If a program chooses to serve meals, income eligibility applications must be taken from each participating child.

All reimbursable meals and snacks are served in group settings, at no cost to the child or to the child’s parents or guardians.

What kinds of food do afterschool programs serve?

Menus can include fresh fruit, milk, vegetables, pizza.  Meal patterns are available at: http://www.frac.org/html/building_blocks/nutritionalguidelines.html 

 How are programs reimbursed?

Afterschool programs, or their sponsoring school district, receive federal monthly payments for serving meals and snacks, which meet federal nutritional guidelines, to eligible children.  Reimbursement rates are available for July 1, 2002-June 30, 2003.

 How can my program get started?

If you operate on a school campus, contact your food service director.  If you operate at a community site, contact the Nutrition Services Division with the California Department of Education, 1.800.952.5609.

Outreach Materials

• Flyer describing the opportunity for help with afterschool nutrition in PDF format can be found here.
• Free and Reduced-Priced Meal applications (20 languages)

• The US Department of Agriculture, the federal agency which oversees the program, has put together answers to other common questions at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/afterschool/FAQs.htm 

For additional information or further assistance, please contact Matt Sharp, California Food Policy Advocates, by calling (213) 252.8233 or matt@cfpa.net.