Georgia’s At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program Available to Eligible Schools

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Institutions are reimbursed for serving nutritious after-school snacks or supper meal

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) announced that schools offering an after-school program with educational or enrichment activities may be eligible to participate in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This program reimburses institutions that serve nutritious after-school snacks and/or a supper meal to children up to 18 years old in a structured environment after-school.

“Schools can be an ideal place to host after-school programs and serve meals,” said Sonja Adams, director of Provider Services for DECAL’s Nutrition Division. “They have the facilities, equipment, staff, and skills needed to prepare and serve food. With extracurricular activities already occurring at many schools, an after-school meal or snack is a natural fit.”

With one in six families struggling with hunger, many feel financially stretched providing nutritious food for their children to eat after school. According to a survey administered by No Kid Hungry, a campaign that engages the public to make ending child hunger a national priority, a quarter of low-income parents worry that their children don’t have enough to eat between lunch at school and breakfast the following day. The CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program allows educational and enrichment programs to provide children with the nutrition they need to keep learning, growing, and playing after the final bell rings.

Institutions may qualify to participate in the At-Risk Afterschool component of the CACFP if at least half of the students at the school are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or if the school is within the attendance boundary of a public school that meets the threshold.

Qualifying eligibility data is available at at decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/EligibilityData.aspx.

To learn more about participating in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), contact Cindy Kicklighter at cindy.kicklighter@decal.ga.gov or at 404-656-3221.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

People with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  • mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  • fax: 202-690-7442; or
  • email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Contact:

Reg Griffin
DECAL Communications Director
404-656-0239
reg.griffin@decal.ga.gov

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-739-0043
william@gafcp.org

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Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system. The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is a public-private partnership created by the State of Georgia and investors from the private sector to assist communities in addressing the serious challenges facing children and families. GaFCP also serves as a resource to state agencies across Georgia that work to improve the conditions of children and families. Georgia KIDS COUNT provides policymakers and citizens with current data they need to make informed decisions regarding priorities, services, and resources that impact Georgia’s children, youth, families, and communities.