On September 18, 2020, USDA released policy memo "COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #58, Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program At-Risk Afterschool Care Component." This waiver is in effect until December 31, 2020 with the intention to increase access to nutritious snacks and meals for children. FNS has waived the eligibility requirement that at-risk afterschool programs must be located in the attendance area of a school in which at least 50% of the enrolled children are certified eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
"FNS waives for all states the area eligibility requirements under 42 U.S.C. 1766(r)(1)(B) and 7 CFR 226.17a(i) to allow schools and afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to operate the CACFP at-risk afterschool care component. This waiver is effective immediately and remains in effect until December 31, 2020."
This waiver "will complement the waivers already in place for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Allowing CACFP at-risk afterschool care programs to provide a meal and snack, regardless of their location, similarly addresses the continued need to serve communities impacted by COVID-19. "
Read the waiver here.
Note: A common question we hear is if enrichment is still required. The answer is yes, there is not a waiver in place for the enrichment requirement for At-Risk Afterschool programs, however virtual enrichment is an acceptable means.
Join your CACFP community November 17th and 18th for the 29th Annual CCFP Roundtable Conference. There will be many opportunities for you to network and dialogue with our community as we enjoy the carefully curated sessions focused on policy & advocacy, business management & technology, racial & social justice and, of course, CACFP during the pandemic. Register here: https://bit.ly/ccfprtconf2020
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