Feeding America's children after school

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Feeding America's children after school

By Alexis Steines Posted: Dec 07, 2012

Ensuring all kids have access to afterschool meals was the theme of the latest webinar hosted by the Afterschool Alliance. The webinar, “Feeding America’s Children After School,” was held this past Wednesday and featured speakers that discussed how afterschool programs can successfully implement the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program.

The At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program is a federal child nutrition program that was expanded to every state through the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Afterschool programs that are located in or near a school with 50 percent or more of enrolled students participating in the National School Lunch Program are eligible to participate in the program.

The At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program provides a reimbursement rate of $2.86 per meal to each participating afterschool program. As many afterschool programs are suffering financial challenges, this is a welcome source of additional funds and helps provide a needed service. However, results from a recent Afterschool Alliance survey found that 54 percent of afterschool program providers did not know that this program existed.

This webinar featured speakers from an afterschool program providing meals through the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program and a school nutrition program staff member. Lynn Sobolov, program manager at Excel Beyond the Bell in Montgomery County, MD, discussed how the afterschool programs she operates partner closely with the Montgomery County Public Schools food and nutrition department. Veneice Smith-McCain, outside school hours coordinator for the Boston Public Schools shared her suggestions for approaching and working with your school district’s nutrition department.

Also featured on the webinar were two organizations supporting the Afterschool Alliance’s outreach efforts in this area. Signe Anderson, child nutrition policy analyst with the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), shared some of the resources her organization provides to afterschool programs seeking to provide meals. Jeff Rowe, executive director of E S Foods, discussed how his company is supporting afterschool meal expansion efforts and is working to help end childhood hunger.

A recording of this webinar is now available, along with the presenters’ slides and additional resources. Be sure to join us next Wednesday for our next webinar, which will focus on STEM in afterschool.

Funding

Now open: The New York Life Foundation offers grants up to $100,000 for OST programs serving middle school youth - apply now!

The New York Life Foundation’s 2024 Aim High grant competition is now open for applications! A total of 40 grants totaling $1.8 million will be awarded to afterschool, summer, or expanded...