Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) Amy Schiller Meghan Sears

What is SFSP? SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program created by the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA SFSP reimburses sponsors of sites that provide healthy meals and snacks to children 18 and under in low-income areas during periods when school is not in session. SFSP approves sites that are sponsored by certain types of organizations, typically non-profit organizations, government agencies, schools, camps, and churches.

What is SFSP? The sites are usually in parks, schools, churches, camps, community centers, or other safe, supervised locations. Sites are most commonly located in areas where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals. The sites also usually offer music, sports, crafts, tutoring, or other activities.

History 1968: Special Food Service Program was created, which included summer meals for children 1975: Summer Food Service Program was made into its own program, and served over 1.75 million children at 12,000 sites in its first year 2012: SFSP served over 2.28 million children at 39,000 sites

Legislation 1977: Public Law : Public Law : Public Law (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) 1986: Public Laws and : Public Law (Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989) 1994: Public Law (Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act) 1996: Public Law (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996)

Legislation 1998: Public Law (William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998) 2001: Public Law (Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001) 2004: Public Law (Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004) 2007: Public Law (Section 738 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008) 2009: Public Law (Agriculture Appropriations Act) 2010: Public Law (Section 103 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010)

Eligibility All children 18 and under in areas where at least 50% of children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals Individuals of any age with disabilities if they participate in a school program

Eligibility Public or Private Non-Profit School Food Authority Public or Private Non-Profit Residential Camp Public or private non-profit college or university participating in the National Youth Sports Program A unit of local, county, municipal, State or Federal Government Any other type of Non-Profit organization

Entitlement Yes!

Participation SFSP is one of the most underutilized federal nutrition assistance programs National – Of the 21 million eligible children, only 2.41 million participated during Fiscal Year 2013 (~11.5%.) – In 2013, SFSP provided meals to more than 2.4 million children each day at 42,654 sites during the program's peak month of July. SFSP served about 151 million meals and snacks at a cost to USDA of $427.6 million. – Peak participation occurred during July 2001, and was only ~14% of eligible children West Virginia – 2010: total eligible: 164,00 actual participants: 17,000 eligible non-participants: 147,000 participation rate: 10.35%

Budget National – 1980: $110.1 million – 1990: $163.3 million – 2000: $267.2 million – 2008: $327.4 million – 2012: $398 million – 2013: $427.6 million

Target Population Children 18 and under in low-income areas Individuals of any age with disabilities who participate in a school program

Key Nutrients No specific nutrients were highlighted, but there are required meal patterns that sites must follow: – Breakfast Must contain 1 milk, 1 grain/bread, and 1 fruit/vegetable – Lunch/Dinner Must contain 1 milk, 1 grain/bread, 2 fruits/vegetables, and 1 meat/meat alternative – Snacks Must contain 2 of the four components Juices must be 100% juice, grains must be whole grains or enriched, nuts and seeds may only be half of the meat/meat alternative serving and must be combined with another option to meet the requirement Meals must be eaten at the site, but in some cases, children may take one food item home

Form of Assistance Sponsors are reimbursed by the USDA through the state agency for the costs of eligible meals served at sites. Reimbursement rates cover the cost of food and other expenses to operate the program, such as labor, transportation, other supplies, and other allowable expenses. Sponsors may choose to prepare their own meals at the site, or they may purchase meals from vendors. Camps are only reimbursed for the meals provided to children eligible for free or reduced price school meals Summer 2014 reimbursement rates: Breakfast – Rural/Self-Prep: $ – Urban/Vended: $1.985 Lunch/Supper – Rural/Self-Prep: $3.545 – Urban/Vended: $ Snack – Rural/Self-Prep: $0.84 – Urban/Vended: $0.8225

Rationale Many low-income children and families depend on school for one or two meals everyday during the school year. When school is not in session, these children may be at risk of hunger. SFSP was created to help provide these children with healthy food all year long in the hopes of better performance when school is in session.

Goals & Outcomes Since it is one of the most underutilized food assistance programs, a major goal is to increase awareness of the program and increase attendance Recruit more sponsors and sites Fill the nutrition gap during the summer months for children from low income families Help families stretch food budgets over the summer

Funding & Administration  Funder  USDA  Administrator  Federally- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)  State- education agencies (in most states)

Access & Enrollment To find a site: – Visit: – Call: HUNGRY To become a sponsor: – West Virginia NSLP, CACFP, SFSP State Director Office of Child Nutrition Department of Education 1900 Kanawha Boulevard Building 6, Room 248 Charleston, WV Phone: Fax: NSLP, CACFP, SFSP State Director Office of Child Nutrition Department of Education 1900 Kanawha Boulevard Building 6, Room 248 Charleston, WV Phone: Fax:

Websites food-service-program.aspx#.VCnWqFa0Zg0 food-service-program.aspx#.VCnWqFa0Zg0