Author: Nutrition Department, Illinois State Board of Education
Updated Guidance Based on USDA Q&As
Please see the following message from Illinois State Board of Education’s Nutrition Department based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Questions and Answers for the Child Nutrition Programs document released Aug. 21.
CACFP Child Care Homes: School-age children who are attending school virtually and who also are enrolled and attending child care during the day may receive meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Family Day Care Home providers can be reimbursed for up to three meal services per child per day. The combination of allowable meal services includes two meals (breakfast, lunch, supper) and one snack or one meal and two snacks. However, providers should inform the parents that the meals are being served at the provider’s Family Day Care Home and duplicate school meals should not be picked up.
CACFP Child Care Centers: School-age children who are attending school virtually and who also are enrolled and attending child care during the day may receive meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Child Care Centers can be reimbursed for up to three meal services per child per day. The combination of allowable meal services includes two meals (breakfast, lunch, supper) and one snack or one meal and two snacks. However, centers should inform the parents that the meals are being served at the center and duplicate school meals should not be picked up.
CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Sites: At-risk afterschool care centers providing non-congregate meals must comply with the requirement to provide an education or enrichment activity (7 CFR 226.17a(b)(1)). However, under the non-congregate and parent pick-up waivers, these activities may be conducted virtually or in other non-congregate ways. Program operators may consider offering online homework assistance, activity packets, electronic games and books, or other e-learning activities for the children to partake in at home. For example, the USDA’s Team Nutrition offers a variety of online games, books, and nutrition education activities for children at https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/digital-nutrition-resources-kids. Although children are not required to participate in or complete the activity in order to receive an afterschool meal or snack, the afterschool care center must offer the activity.
Nutrition Department, Illinois State Board of Education
100 N. First St., Springfield, IL 62777
cnp@isbe.net, www.isbe.net/nutrition
