The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO), provides kids and teens in low-income areas free snacks and/or meals when school is out.
Returning and potential new summer program operators interested in serving meals when school is out should refer to this webpage for program information and summer initiatives.
There are a number of ways that local organizations can be a part of the summer meals programs.
If your organization is interested in becoming a site that serves summer meals, please contact Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) to see if you are located in an eligible area that can serve summer meals and we can connect you with an organization that can sponsor your meal service. Contact HNS by email at [email protected] or by phone 602-542-8700, Option 1.
If you wish to sponsor your own summer program, organizations must enter into an agreement with the Arizona Department of Education. Start the process by completing the SFSP Prospective Entity Form.
Schools and organizations with a current Food Program Permanent Service Agreement (FPPSA) can review the annual application requirements and deadlines in memorandum HNS 04-2022. Operators must be approved prior to serving summer meals.
The following are Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers that were established to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) in school year 2021-22. The waivers below will remain in effect for operators approved to operate the Seamless Summer Option through September 30, 2022.
#86
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in School Year 2021-22
#87
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for School Year 2021-22
#88
Nationwide Waiver of Meal Times Requirements for School Year 2021-22
#89
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for School Year 2021-22
#90
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for School Year 2021-22
#92
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in School Year 2021-22
Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) submitted the annual request to USDA to extend the following waivers through PY22 summer operations. All four waivers are approved for SFSP operation. Applications for Closed Enrolled Sites requirement and Mealtime restrictions apply to SSO operations.
Meal Service Time Restrictions requirements under 7 CFR 225.16(c)(1) and (c)(2)
Offer Versus Serve requirement at 42 U.S.C.1761(f)(7) and 7 CFR 225.16(f)(1)(ii)
Applications for Closed Enrolled Sites requirement at 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(A)(i)(III) and 7 CFR 225.15(f)
First Week Site Visits requirement at 7 CFR 225.15(d)(2)
Schools and organizations that participate in the SFSP may choose to use the NSLP, SBP, and ASCSP meal patterns or use the SFSP meal pattern.
COs that participate in summer meal service must use the SFSP meal pattern.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) conducts Administrative Reviews (ARs) of all School Food Authorities (SFAs) and Community Organizations (COs) using the following parameters:
New sponsors at least once during the first year of operation;
No less than half of the total number of approved sponsors, with priority given to the sponsors projected to receive the highest reimbursement;
Sponsors that experienced significant prior year operational problems and were recommended by the reviewer to receive a follow-up review, will be reviewed as needed; and
Example of How to Complete the Daily Meal Count Form (Correct) (Incorrect)
upLIFT is a platform created by Health and Nutrition Services to provide program operators information and resources to Learn, be Inspired, Feed participants and Teach your colleagues about the importance of good nutrition and child nutrition programs. upLIFT will focus on summer operations during April, May and June.
April upLIFT is a presentation from STAR School which will cover scratch cooking with local foods to enrich summer menus (Recording) (Slides)
May upLIFT is a presentation from Cave Creek Unified District which will discus how they continuously aim to make meals as interesting and appealing as possible for their students as well as generate excitement for summer meal service and attract participants to their summer meal sites. (Recording) (Slides)
June upLIFT is a presentation from ADE Health and Nutrition Services about highlighting summer menus. This presentation includes information on the outstanding summer menu award Turnip the Beet. The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. Last summer’s Turnip the Beet nominee was Fowler School District. (Recording) (Slides)
The Summer HNS Farm Fresh Challenge is an HNS initiative designed to empower summer program operators to cultivate excitement around fresh and locally sourced foods. Participating operators must complete a series of challenges that promote the tasting, teaching, and connection of participants to foods local to Arizona. Use #AZF2S or #FarmFreshAZ to expand the reach of your promotional efforts on social media!
The Summer 2022 challenge awardees met the Gold and Copper Criteria, which include serving at least five locally sourced ingredients on the menu throughout the challenge period, hosting at least two educational activities with a theme of Arizona food and agriculture, and making at least one announcement to the community about their challenge activities. Challenge participants served 16 different local ingredients from all five components, hosted 13 educational activities that taught students about these ingredients, and made 9 announcements about their challenge activities. Congratulations to all awardees!
Gold Winners:
Humboldt Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District
Copper Winner:
Palominas School District
How do I get involved?
To be a 2023 Challenge Champion, you must complete all activities within a one-week timeframe between June 1 and June 25. At the end of summer meal services, all operators will receive an email via HNS Communications with a link to a survey where you will report details about your challenge participation. Operators who successfully completed the Summer 2023 HNS Farm Fresh Challenge will be recognized by ADE. Keep an eye out for Summer 2023 Challenge criteria information later this school year, we are so excited to see how you TASTE, TEACH, and CONNECT!
The Arizona Department of Education Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) is pleased to announce the availability of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during summer 2023.
The Arizona Department of Education Recognizes Schools for Exemplary Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs
The Arizona Department of Education Health and Nutrition Services is pleased to announce the Program Year 2021-2022 BRAVOcado! awardees for excellent Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) operations. The BRAVOcado! Excellence Award is given to schools that demonstrate exemplary FFVP service and commitment to promoting fruit and vegetable consumption and healthy lifestyles to their students.
The FFVP BRAVOcado! Excellence Award recognizes schools that go above and beyond to operate a phenomenal FFVP program. To be eligible for the award, sites must meet criteria related to variety of produce items served, frequency of service, frequency of nutrition education, frequency of serving local produce, development of site-level and outside partnerships, and more!
The following three School Food Authorities went above and beyond and received the award this year. Congratulations to all awardees!
