FNS Instruction (112.94 KB)
The purpose of this Instruction is to clarify issues which have been raised in the past concerning the approval of child care institutions as sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Residential child care institutions which qualify as schools and are approved to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) should remain on the NSLP since they are eligible to receive the benefits on a year-round basis. Such institutions should only be approved to participate in the SFSP if they develop a separate food service program for children who are not enrolled in the residential school program. Institutions which are approved for both the NSLP and the SFSP must ensure that the same children are not served in both programs, and separate records must be kept for each program.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) institutions which have not substantially changed their program activities or have not significantly increased their enrollment may not be approved to participate in the SFSP. Institutions may be approved on a year-round basis for the CACFP and are eligible to receive reimbursement for serving up to two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal per day. (An additional snack or meal may be served to those children remaining in child care centers for 8 or more hours.) In addition, it is recognized that CACFP institutions are set up to provide organized and structured activities to enrolled children as well as providing a food service. Therefore, it is reasonable that such institutions should remain in the CACFP and should not be approved for the SFSP.
CACFP institutions which have sufficient changes in their activities or enrollment or develop a separate food service program for children who are not enrolled in their CACFP, and meet Program (SFSP) eligibility criteria, may be approved to participate in the SFSP. Institutions which are approved for both the CACFP and the SFSP must ensure that the same children are not served meals in both programs, and separate records must be kept for each program. However, prior to approving such an institution for the SFSP, the administering agency should take a close look at the institution's program operations. The determination to either approve the institution for participation in both the CACFP and the SFSP or to remain solely in the CACFP should be based on the institution's program objectives.
Finally, sponsors participating in the CACFP as after-school recreation programs may serve suppers to enrolled children who receive other meals from a sponsor in the SFSP.