Facts about CACFP and Afterschool Care Snacks

1.   What are "Afterschool Snacks?"
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) now offers cash reimbursement to help organizations serve free snacks to children in afterschool care programs. Afterschool snacks give children a nutritional boost and draw them into supervised activities that are safe, fun and filled with learning opportunities.

2.  How can children benefit from the snack service?
Afterschool snacks help ensure that children receive the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow. Organized, structured, and supervised programs that provide snacks allow children to think and behave better, and help them make the grade!

3.  Is my afterschool care program eligible?
In order for a site to participate, your program must be "area eligible." Additionally, your afterschool care program must provide children with regularly scheduled educational or enrichment activities in a supervised environment. Contact your State agency for further information regarding program eligibility.

4.  What type of snacks must be served in my program?
In order to be reimbursed, the snacks must contain at least two different components, out of the following four: a serving of fluid milk; a serving of  meat or meat alternate; a serving of vegetable(s) or fruit(s) or full strength vegetable or fruit juice; a serving of whole grain or enriched bread and/or cereal.

5.  How much money will my organization get for serving snacks?
 Reimbursement rates are based on the National Average Payments (NAP), which are adjusted annually, every July 1.

6.  How is "area eligible" defined?
An afterschool care program site is "area eligible" if it is located in the attendance area of a school where at least 50 percent of the enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Afterschool care programs can use free and reduced price meal data from elementary, middle, and high schools to document a site as "area eligible."

7.  How do I apply for afterschool snacks?
Contact your CACFP State agency to participate. In most cases, the CACFP State agency will be your State Department of Education.

8.  When do the reimbursements begin?
As soon as the State agency approves your application, reimbursement will be earned for the snacks you serve to eligible children and youth, through the age of 18.

9.  What records must be maintained?
Your State agency will provide you with specific information on the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. You will need to maintain a roster or sign-in sheet for participating children. Additionally, you must record and report the total number of snacks you serve each day, and document compliance with the meal pattern for CACFP. Your State agency will be able to provide you with a copy of the CACFP meal pattern.

10.  Can I receive reimbursement during the summer months?
You may only receive reimbursement for afterschool snacks served in CACFP during times of the year when school is in session. However, your program may be able to participate in our Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the summer months, and receive reimbursement for providing nutritious meals and snacks to children and youth in your program. Your State agency can also provide you with information on participating in the SFSP this summer.

11. Can my organization get reimbursed for serving suppers too?
Afterschool care programs in Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania can receive CACFP reimbursement for suppers. If your program operates in one of these seven States, you can maximize the nutritional benefits available to low-income youth by serving them snacks and suppers.

12.  Who administers the program?
CACFP is administered at the Federal level by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Within individual States, the Program is administered by a State agency, in most cases through offices in the State Department of Education. At the local level, the program is administered by participating institutions or organizations.