At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program

What is the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program?

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.

• Understanding Afterschool Snacks and Meals
• Supper Makes Cents: FAQ

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 Jon Tirk at Jon.Tirk@doe.virginia.gov
2. Receive access to online application system SNPWeb
3. 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

• Mapping Tool: use this mapping tool to identify areas of greatest need in your community
• Starting Afterschool Meals: FAQ

§ 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

• 2024-2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines

Meal Pattern

• CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements:
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch and Supper
  • Snack
• ICN CACFP Meal Pattern Training

Civil Rights

• VDOE 2023 Civil Rights Training through Virtual Virginia
• Institute of Child Nutrition Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs Course
• Civil Rights Training Record Sample (Word)

Health and Food Safety

• NEW! Food Safety Toolkit (PDF)

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.

• At-Risk Afterschool Meals Guide
• Guidance on Management Plans and Budgets
• CACFP Crediting Handbook

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.

• Virginia Department of Health: Farm to CACFP
• USDA: Farm to CACFP
• Feed VA
• National CACFP Association: Farm to CACFP

How to Claim

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

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:

• Afterschool Meals: Food, Friends, and Fun FAQs
• Afterschool Outreach Postcard

More Helpful Links

• Food Buying Guide
• 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in School Nutrition Programs
• Institute for Child Nutrition
• School Nutrition Association
• School Nutrition Association of Virginia
• Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
• USDA MyPlate
• USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals
• USDA Team Nutrition Healthy Schools
• USDA Team Nutrition Resource Library
• USDA CACFP Best Practices