Operating nutrition programs year-round offers many benefits to sponsors, program sites, and kids.
By learning about key similarities and differences between the Summer Food Service Program and CACFP Afterschool Meals Program as well as the available streamlining flexibilities, you can maximize the potential of these programs.
Summer meals sponsors and sites can be an asset to the CACFP Afterschool Meals Program since they have experience and expertise running a federal child nutrition program. Likewise, CACFP sponsors and afterschool programs can provide needed access to meals during summer break.
Many trusted locations provide year-round programs and services to children, so it makes sense to offer meals and snacks year-round. However, sponsors and sites sometimes encounter barriers and extra work when trying to transition between programs.
Our chart can help you understand the similarities and differences between the Summer Food Service Program and the CACFP Afterschool Meals Program in order to better manage the transition and identify areas to promote streamlining.
This guide can help state agency officials work with the SFSP staff to identify areas for streamlining, sharing, and simplification. This guide includes a summary of pertinent USDA memos that provide options for streamlining.
Additionally, the Nutrition Hubs model is an effective way to maximize all of the federal nutrition programs and operate programs year round. Learn more by visiting our Schools as Nutrition Hubs page.
The Afterschool Meals Program can also be used by both school and non-profit sponsors to serve meals and snacks on weekends, holidays, school breaks and closures. This resource explains the program options and flexibilities for serving meals on non-school days during the 2021-2022 school year.
Navigate the transition between Summer and Afterschool Meals with this helpful side-by-side comparison of requirements. This chart highlights key differences and similarities in the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program and the Summer Food Service Program.
For many kids, libraries are a safe haven both after school and during the summer. This case study tells how a library in the Las Vegas area worked with a sponsor to fill kids' bellies in addition to their minds by offering both summer and afterschool meals.
Weekends, holidays and other days off school make up more than one third of the year. This often creates a gap in service for hungry kids, but it doesn’t have to: this tells you how child nutrition programs can serve kids every day of the year.
This resource provides guidance and best practices for SFSP state agency officials interested streamlining and cross-promoting Summer Meals and CACFP Afterschool Meals.
