Policy Memo 203
DOH-CACFP: Number 203 (06/18), Supersedes Number 135 (07/09)
TO: Sponsoring Organizations
FROM: Dwight LaDu, State Director, Child and Adult Care Food Program
SUBJECT: The Summer Food Service Program and CACFP
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this memo is to review CACFP's existing policy regarding the Summer Food Service Program and CACFP. Although the policy has not changed, CACFP is re-issuing the policy to update the link to additional information.
Background Information
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to children, 18 years and under, in low-income areas during the summer school vacation. The SFSP is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of USDA, the NYS Education Department and local schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and camps. SFSP meal service may be held in schools, churches, parks, community centers, housing projects, playgrounds, pools and other public sites where children gather.
Some family day care home providers and day care centers take their day care children to a SFSP site for the free meals. Providers or centers may take children to open or open restricted sites for free lunch or snacks.
- Open Sites: all children eat free in communities where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free/reduced price school meals (Tier l areas). Public schools often operate open sites.
- Restricted Open sites: sites that meet the open site criteria, but are restricted for safety, control or security reasons
You can identify SFSP sites in your service area by visiting https://hungersolutionsny.org/ (navigate to Information and Resources, then Summer Meals) in June each year.
As a reminder, if a provider or center brings day care children to a SFSP site, that meal or snack cannot also be claimed in CACFP. This would be a serious violation of CACFP regulations.
Please contact a CACFP Nutritionist at 1-800-942-3858 if you have questions. Choose option 3 for a Homes' nutritionist or option 4 for a Centers' nutritionist.
