USDA issues nationwide waiver for CACFP at-risk program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a new nationwide waiver for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool Care Component.

The waiver, which remains in effect until Dec. 31, scraps area eligibility requirements for the at-risk program and allows schools and after-school care centers with state agency approval to serve at-risk meals and snacks regardless of location. 

CACFP At-Risk can be operated simultaneously with the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), which last month also received extensions through December. The extension of those two waivers allows schools the continued ability to forgo meal pattern requirements and to serve meals to all students at no charge, as well as to serve meals outside of required group settings and mealtimes.