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At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program

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What is the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program?

 Two boys playing with trains at the Neighborhood Resource Center

The At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program is a component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) that offers federal funding to afterschool programs that serve a meal and/or snack to students in low-income areas. The program may also operate on the weekend and during holiday breaks from school. Meals that are served must be accompanied by an educational or enrichment activity.

NEW! Meal Enhancement Toolkit

The Meal Enhancement Toolkit for the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program provides information and resources to enhance meal service operations for school divisions and community organizations in the Commonwealth. This toolkit includes ways to enhance the program, sample menus, Farm to CACFP information, best practices, and more! 

How to Apply

CACFP sponsors must complete an annual application renewal in the Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Program’s (VDOE-SCNP) online application system. Renewal applications must be submitted by the sponsor and approved by the VDOE-SCNP by October 31, in order to claim meals served in October.

New organizations interested in sponsoring the CACFP must complete an extended application, including a pre-application checklist, prior to accessing the application in the online system.  

New Sponsors

For Community Organizations:

  1. Send inquiry email to Maggie Parker at Maggie.Parker@doe.virginia.gov
  2. Complete pre-application checklist and send to your CNP Regional Specialist
  3. Receive access to online application system SNPWeb
  4. Complete application in SNPWeb and receive final approval to operate

For School Food Authorities (SFAs):

  1. Contact your SNP Regional Specialist to express interest in serving the CACFP
  2. Receive access to CACFP module and application in SNPWeb
  3. Complete application in SNPWeb and receive final approval to operate

Application Resources

§ 22.1-207.4:2 (Effective July 1, 2022) Participation in the Afterschool Meal Program

B. Each school board that governs a local school division that contains any public elementary or secondary school that has a student population that qualifies for free and reduced-price meals at a minimum percentage of 50 percent in the prior school year and simultaneously offers educational or enrichment activities and is consequently eligible to participate in the Program shall apply to the Department to participate in the Program for each such school to subsequently and simultaneously serve federally reimbursable meals and offer an afterschool education or enrichment program, pursuant to FNS guidelines and state health and safety standards. The Department shall administer the Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and shall conduct the processes for application to the Program, approval for participation in the Program, and monitoring of schools participating in the Program.

Program Requirements

Site Eligibility

Meal Pattern

Civil Rights

Health and Food Safety

U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbooks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published several handbooks that are helpful for sponsoring organizations to reference and understand the program regulations.

Farm to CACFP

Early childhood is the ideal time to start healthy, sustainable eating habits for children. Farm to CACFP links local farm producers to educational settings with the objective of serving locally-grown, healthy foods to young children, providing nutrition education, and improving child nutrition.

How to Claim

The current reimbursement rates per meal for CACFP are as follows:

2023-2024 CACFP Meal Reimbursements
CACFP Meal Free Reduced Paid
 Breakfast 2.28 1.98 0.38
 Lunch/Supper 4.25 3.85 0.40
 Snack 1.17 0.58 0.10

Sponsors must submit claims for reimbursement for each month of operation. Claims must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the end of the month.

Training

The VDOE-SCNP offers videos via the Articulate e-learning platform, Rise.com. Other helpful training resources can be found on the Training & Resources page.

Outreach Toolkit

Promote the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program using these customizable toolkits created by No Kid Hungry:

More Helpful Links

Reference the following links for helpful information about school and community nutrition programs, nutrition education, and ongoing webinar/training opportunities.