FAQs About Sponsors
1. How does SFSP work?
2. Who can sponsor SFSP?
3. What is a site?
4. Who is eligible to get free meals?
5. How many reimbursable meals can be served?
6. How are SFSP meals prepared?
7. How else can I help?
1. How does SFSP work?
SFSP is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). FNS decides overall program policy and publishes regulations and payment rates. State education agencies administer SFSP in most States. Other State agencies may also be assigned to run the program. The State agency approves sponsor applications, conducts training of sponsors, monitors SFSP operations, and processes program payments. Sponsors sign agreements with their State agencies to run the program. SFSP reimburses approved sponsors for serving meals that meet Federal nutritional guidelines. Sponsors receive payments from USDA, through their State agencies, based on the number of meals they serve. All meals are served free to eligible children.
2. Who can sponsor SFSP?
Sponsors must be organizations that are fully capable of managing a food service program. To be a sponsor, you must follow regulations and be responsible, financially and administratively, for running your program. Which types of organizations are eligible to sponsor SFSP?
* public or private nonprofit schools
* units of local, municipal, county, tribal, or State government
* private nonprofit organizations
* public or private nonprofit camps
* public or private nonprofit universities or colleges
3. What is a site?
A site is the physical location, approved by the State agency, where you serve SFSP meals during a supervised time period. There are five types of sites:
Your
site is: |
if |
based
on |
open |
at
least half the children in the area are eligible for free and
reduced-price school meals |
area
eligibility data from the local school or census block group |
|
at
least half the children enrolled in the program are eligible for
free and reduced-price school meals |
income
eligibility statements describing the family's size and income |
camp |
it
offers a regularly scheduled food service as part of a
residential or day camp program |
an
individual child's eligibility for free and reduced-price meals |
migrant |
it
primarily serves children of migrant workers |
appropriate
certification from a migrant organization |
NYSP |
it
is a college or university participating in the National Youth
Sports Program |
a
child's enrollment in NYSP |
4. Who is eligible to get free meals?
All children 18 years of age or younger who come to an approved
open site or to an eligible enrolled site may receive meals. At
camps, only the children who are eligible for free and reduced-price
meals may receive SFSP meals. People over age 18 who are enrolled in
school programs for persons with disabilities may also receive
meals.
5. How many
reimbursable meals can be served?
Most sponsors may be approved to receive
reimbursement
for serving lunch and one other meal service. A small number of
sponsors serve breakfast only, or breakfast and snack. Snacks are
called supplements in SFSP. If your site primarily serves migrant
children, or you run a residential or day camp, you may be eligible to
serve up to three reimbursable meals each day. If you run a camp, you
may claim reimbursement only for the meals that are served to a child
who qualifies for free and reduced-price meals. Ask your State agency
which types of meals may be served for reimbursement at your proposed
sites.
6. How are SFSP meals Prepared?
A sponsor may prepare its own
meals,
purchase meals through an agreement with an area school, or contract
for meals with a food service management company (vendor). If your
site has its own kitchen, you may want to prepare meals yourself. If
your kitchen is not on the premises, you may still want to prepare
your own meals, and then transport them to the site. Meals that you
prepare yourself receive a slightly higher rate of reimbursement. You
would receive “self-prep” rates, whether you prepare the meals
from scratch or purchase the components and assemble the meals
yourself. Many government and private nonprofit sponsors lack the
kitchen facilities to prepare meals themselves. In that case, you may
arrange to purchase meals from a school or another public or private
food supplier with approved meal preparation facilities.
7. How else can I help?
Become a Sponsor - Make an investment in the children in
your community. If your organization already provides services to
the community, and has capable staff and good management practices
to run a food service, you can administer SFSP.
As a sponsor, you
will:
* attend your State agency's training
* locate eligible sites
* hire, train, and supervise staff
* arrange for meals to be prepared or delivered
* monitor your sites
* prepare claims for reimbursement
Run a Site - Some organizations do not have the
financial or administrative ability to run the program, but they can
supervise a food service for children, along with recreational or
enrichment activities, at a site.
If you supervise a site, you will:
* attend your sponsor's training
* supervise activities and meal service at your site
* distribute meals by following SFSP guidelines
* keep daily records of meals served
* store food appropriately
* keep the site clean and sanitary
Be a Vendor - Organizations with kitchens and food
service staff, including schools, commercial companies, or public or
nonprofit institutions, can participate in SFSP as vendors. Instead
of administering or supervising a meal service site, a vendor sells
prepared meals under an agreement or a contract with an approved
SFSP sponsor.
As a vendor, you will:
* register with the State agency, if required
* meet appropriate health and sanitation standards
* prepare meals meeting Federal nutritional guidelines
* deliver meals on schedule
* keep delivery records
* fulfill the terms of the agreement or contract
Volunteer - Even if your organization cannot take on
the responsibilities of a sponsor or a site, you can team up with a
sponsor to provide:
Arts
and Crafts
Mentoring
Dramatics
Computers
Music
Reading
Coaching
Life Skills |
Entertainment
Tutoring
Kite Flying
Athletics
Games
Gardening
Cooking
Swimming |
Or any
other activity that makes summer fun!
Last modified:
10/30/2008
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