Summer Food Service Program : fact sheet

Summer Food Service Program
FACT SHEET

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), ensures that children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. The Summer Food Service Program began in 1968 and provides nutritious food that's "in" when school is "out."
How does the Program Work?
The SFSP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services. The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) approves sponsor applications, conducts training, monitors program operations, and processes program payments.
Who can Sponsor a Summer Food Service Program?
Sponsors must be organizations that are fully capable of managing a food service program. Sponsors must follow regulations and be responsible, financially and administratively for running the program.
Sponsors of sites must:
Not be seriously deficient Serve low income children Conduct a nonprofit food service Exercise management control over sites
Who can Participate?
All children 18 years of age and under who go to an approved site may receive free meals.
A person 19 years of age and over who has a mental or physical disability (as determined by a State or local educational agency) and participates during the school year in a public or private non-profit school program may also receive free meals.

What Types of Organizations are Eligible to Sponsor the SFSP?
Public or private non-profit schools
Units of local, municipal, county, state or federal government
Private non-profit organizations
Public or private non-profit residential camps
Public or private non-profit universities or colleges participating in the National Youth Sports Program
Community and faith-based organizations

For more information visit decal.ga.gov or call 404-657-1779
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Nondiscrimination Statement: English | Spanish

Summer Food Service Program
FACT SHEET

What is a Meal Site?

THE SITE IS: OPEN CLOSED ENROLLED
CAMP

IF:

BASED ON:

At least 50 percent of children in the area are eligible for free or reduced price School data

school meals (area eligible).

Census data

At least 50 percent of the children enrolled in the program are eligible for free or reduced price school meals or the site is area eligible.

School data Census data Income eligibility forms

A residential or non-residential day camp program which offers a regularly scheduled food service as part of an organized program for enrolled children.

Income eligibility forms List of income eligible
children provided by the school district

Meal Service Requirements
Sponsors may choose from several methods of providing meals. They may:
Prepare and assemble their own meals Obtain meals from a school food authority Obtain meals from a vendor
Open or closed enrolled sites can serve up to two meals; lunch, and either breakfast or snack, every day. Camps may serve up to three meals per day (any combination of breakfast, lunch, supper, or snack).
How are Sponsors Reimbursed for the Meals Served?
Sponsor reimbursements are based on the number of reimbursable meals served multiplied by the federal rate of reimbursement which is determined annually.
At open or closed enrolled sites, reimbursement may be claimed for all meals served that meet Summer Food Service Program guidelines. Sponsors offering the program at camp sites may claim reimbursement only for the program meals served to enrolled children who meet the program's income eligibility standards.
How do Organizations Apply to be a Sponsor?
DECAL receives and processes applications of all organizations wishing to sponsor the SFSP using an online system. Organizations must demonstrate financial viability and be administratively capable to participate in the SFSP as sponsors.
To demonstrate financial viability, organizations must complete and submit the Potential Sponsor Viability Checklist prior to registering/attending training. Organizations that complete training are provided access to enter their SFSP application and submit supporting documentation online.

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Nondiscrimination Statement: English | Spanish