Overview

Child Nutrition Programs  |   Program Guidance  |   Resources  |   Nutrition Education

Children in your community do not need to go hungry this summer. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). These programs end when school ends for the summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps fill the hunger gap by providing nutritious meals and snacks for children ages 18 and younger.

Site Locator

Find a Summer Meal Location

SFSP Quick Links

• Administration Guide SFSP (USDA)
• Annual Training for SFSP Sponsors ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
• Claim Submission Schedule for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Connecticut Summer Meals Sponsor Directory (CSDE)
• Food Safety for Summer Meals (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
• Income Guidelines for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Meal Patterns for the SFSP ("How To" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage): meal patterns, requirements for meal pattern components, resources, meal modifications, noncreditable foods
• Meal Service for the SFSP ("How To" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage): congregate meals, family style meal service, meal service requirements, offer versus serve (OVS)
• Menu Planning for the SFSP ("How To" section of SFSP webpage): crediting foods, farm to summer, menu forms, menu planning, production records, recipes, resources, sample SFSP menus
• Nutrition Guide: SFSP (USDA)
• Online Application and Claiming System for Connecticut Child Nutrition Programs (CNP System) (CSDE webpage
• Operational Memoranda for the SFSP (CSDE webpage)
• Policies and Procedures for the SFSP ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
• Program Guidance for the SFSP (CSDE webpage)
• Records Retention Requirements for the Summer Food Service Food Program (CSDE)
• SFSP Reimbursement Rates (CSDE's Reimbursement Rates for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
• Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  Effective October 1, 2022, this final rule simplifies program requirements for SFSP program operators, improves the customer experience for participating children and families, and strengthens the integrity of the program. SFSP sponsors must comply with the provisions of this rule effective May 1, 2023.
  • Final Rule 87 FR 57304: Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  • USDA webpage: Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP
• Summer Meals Updates electronic newsletter for SFSP and SSO sponsors (What's Next" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
• USDA Report: Consolidated Report of FNS and Selected State Agencies’ Controls Over SFSP (USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG))

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)