Nutrition News & Views

January 28, 2000
Children Can Now Receive Nutritious Snacks After School - January, 2000/No. 1

Extension Agents: Are Your County's Schools and Child Care Institutions Aware of This Reimbursable Program?

"For too many children, going home means being hungry…and these are the times when children are most likely to get into trouble," said Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Service, during a recent speech.

Children can work on a project they enjoy or find out about something new in an afterschool program and enjoy a nutritious snack at the same time. Many schools, child care centers, and families are unaware that they can take advantage of USDA's NEW Afterschool Snacks program.

New legislation which passed on October 31, 1998 provides cash reimbursements to schools and eligible child care providers for the snacks they serve to children and youth through age 18 in an organized after school program. If good records were kept, cash reimbursements are available retroactive to when the law was passed.

Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program, and their afterschool program must provide educational or enrichment activities in an organized, structured, and supervised environment after the end of the school day. These activities could include arts and crafts, homework assistance, life skills, and computer or remedial education.

Child care providers must be a public or private nonprofit organization or an eligible for-profit organization operating an afterschool care program. Child care programs must also provide educational or enrichment activities in an organized, structured, and supervised environment after the end of the school day, on weekends, or on holidays during the school year.

Some schools and childcare centers are already taking advantage of this program. To meet the requirements, a nutritious and well-balanced snack must be served. "Ensuring the health and well-being of the nation's children is one of the USDA's highest priorities." Emphasized Watkins.

Food and Nutrition Service wants to get the word out about this incredible opportunity to schools and child care providers! For additional information or to apply, please contact your Child Nutrition State Agency or the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

Distributed by Barbara McLaurin, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., Human Nutrition Specialist, MSU Extension Service, January 2000

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