STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING AT-RISK AFTERSCHOOL MEALS SPONSORSHIP KARA PANOWITZ, No Kid Hungry Maryland/ Share Our Strength MELISSA MOORE, Family League of Baltimore City CLARISSA HAYES, Food Research and Action Center

Setting the Scene for Success Partnerships and Planning are Key Mapping and Targeting are Useful Tools Advocacy and Communication is Necessary

What is the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program? School or community site located in a low-income area where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Serves children 18 and under Must follow USDA nutrition guidelines Programs must include an enrichment or educational component

USDA Ex: Food Bank Ex: Baltimore County Public Schools YMCA Community Center Elementary Sites Sites- distribute meals to youth, keep tally of # of students, train with sponsor to adhere to health guidelines Middle Schools High Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)- administers program at state level Sponsor- handles financial aspect, food procurement and distribution to sites

Partnerships Partnerships can be school based or community based, traditional or non- traditional, formal or informal Traditional partner: School Food and Nutrition Services Office, Food Banks, Anti-hunger organizations Non-traditional partner: School Office of Engagement, Office of Attendance, RSVP volunteer organization Formal partner: Dept. of Social Services, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods Informal partner: “Community Champions.” These folks are the unofficial head of the neighborhood (Ex. the “Mayor” of Howard Park)

Planning  Establish goals and regular communication  Shared calendar  Roles and responsibilities chart  Timing- coordinate timely outreach, trainings, etc.

Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger – How it Works!  Led by No Kid Hungry/ Share Our Strength MD and the Governor’s Office for Children  Established goals: serve10% of eligible students  Meets bi-monthly, monthly newsletter, shared calendar  What we do: outreach, address barriers, advocacy  Partners include:  USDA, MSDE, Farmer’s Market Association, Department of Social Services, Food Banks, Maryland Out of School Time Network, Sponsors, Other Service Providers

MD At- Risk Afterschool Meals Workgroup  Meets monthly, monthly OST newsletter  What the group does- planning  Outreach: newsletter, materials, presentations (i.e. Local Management Boards, Elected officials)  Address statewide issues such as health permits  Connect groups statewide to increase sites and share ideas  Leverage relationships  Share opportunities (grants, webinars, conferences, etc).  Partners:  USDA, Maryland State Dept of Education, Governor’s Office for Children  Share Our Strength, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Family League of Baltimore  Maryland Out of School Time Network, Food Banks  Sponsors

County/ City Workgroups  What they do:  Planning and partners!!!  Increase awareness: outreach to potential sites  Who’s involved: sponsors, school system Food and Nutrition Services, sites, DSS, anti-hunger organizations, non-profits focused on youth, elected officials, PTA, faith-based groups, county health initiatives, local management board  Why local?  knowledge of local area, connection to community

Finding the Sites  What is the need? What is your capacity?  Existing contacts  Mapping- 1. USDA Capacity Builder 2. Feeding America Mapping the meal gap 3. State Agency Maps 4. Partner lists- ex. Maryland Out of School Time Network afterschool programs list

Conducting Outreach & Tracking Your Progress  Mailers are good -- meetings are better  Who is my audience?  Outreach form tracks dates of contact, roles, next steps, concerns and solution

Afterschool Meals Advocacy  Who is an advocate?  Four Elements of Advocacy Head Heart Hands Feet

Organize Site Visits Develop Relationships with Elected Officials Share data Share success stories Spread the word Write letters Make calls You are an advocate as long as you are spreading the word about the Afterschool Meals program! Engage the public Educate

Child Nutrition Reauthorization  Current law expires September 30 th, 2015  Opportunity to improve and strengthen this program!

Resources  Food Research and Action Center  FRAC.org  No Kid Hungry/Share Our Strength  USDA FNS    Afterschool Alliance 

Questions for you!  Who do you partner with?  What are your examples of effective advocacy? How do you engage elected officials and agency leaders?  How do you reach out to eligible sites?  Which groups/ organizations/ agencies will you reach out to when you get back home?

Kara Panowitz Melissa Moore No Kid Hungry Maryland Family League of Baltimore Clarissa Hayes Food Research and Action Center