Public Notification - Summer Food Service Program & Child and Adult Care Food Program Waiver Requests

Published on Friday, April 24, 2020

The Rhode Island Department of Education plans on submitting a waiver request for relief from certain regulatory requirements of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), regarding:

• At-Risk Meal Service – This waiver would allow eligible sites to continue to offer meals under the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Program during the summer months, after the close of the regular school year.
• Limitation on Number of Meal Served – This waiver would allow eligible Sponsors to exceed the current limit of two (2) meals per child per day under the SFSP to allow for the service of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. 
• Area Eligibility Extension – This waiver would extend the currently approved waiver of area eligibility requirements, allowing sites to operate under the SFSP even if they do not meet traditional eligibility requirements based on income. 

If granted, these waivers will serve to help communities provide on-going food access for children and youth despite the COVID-19 health crisis. 

For more information on the program, call the Rhode Island Department of Education, Office of Statewide Efficiencies, Child Nutrition Programs at (401) 222-4253 or (401) 222-4698.