Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Afterschool Snack and Supper Program, healthy meals and snacks can be served to children and teenagers at participating afterschool programs.

When school is out and parents are still at work, children need a safe place to be with their friends, with structured activities and supportive adults.

Afterschool programs that serve meals and snacks draw children and teenagers (ages 18 and younger) into constructive activities that are safe, fun and filled with opportunities for learning. The food gives them the nutrition they need to learn and grow.

Places where children and teens participate in an afterschool program. They can be located in many types of places, such as schools, libraries, community centers or non-profits.

Afterschool programs may participate independently or under a sponsoring organization that will manage most of the paperwork responsibilities, some even provide the meals.

To participate, programs must:

1. be organized primarily to provide care for youth after school or on the weekends, holidays, or breaks during the regular school year.
2. provide organized, regularly scheduled activities.
3. include educational or enrichment activities, like arts and crafts, computer lessons, or homework help; and
4. be located in an eligible area.

• CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Guide
• CACFP Program Operator Guidance
• OSSE CACFP Program

• CentroNia
• Capital Area Food Bank
• Child Care Resources
• DC Public Schools
• DC Department of Parks & Recreation
• Eagle Public Charter School
• Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School
• Monument Academy Public Charter School

Organizations must submit an application to Office of the State Superintendent of Education to participate in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of CACFP. Applicants must describe how they meet the eligibility criteria. The state agency will do a pre-approval visit of applying institutions to confirm the information in the application and to further assess the institution’s ability to manage CACFP.

Programs must provide educational or enrichment activities that are open to all children in an organized, structured and supervised environment. Although there are no specific requirements for the types of educational and enrichment activities a program can offer, examples include, but are not limited to, arts and crafts, homework assistance, life skills, remedial education and organized fitness activities. Organizations should contact OSSE for assistance in determining if an activity is eligible.