1. real food for all™ shhh…confidential Partnership Alignment Strategies: Increasing access to after-school/at-risk meal programs Susan Gallo, PhD, Director of Health Initiatives, Office of Children’s Affairs//City of Denver Kristen Wiley, Director (Colorado), Revolution Foods National CACFP Conference April 22, 2015

2. shhh…confidential Agenda Introductions Where to Begin?  Mapping project/resources The Power of Partnerships  Creating success together Communication in Action  Messaging  Advocacy Resources

3. shhh…confidential City of Denver Overview The City of Denver has approximately 664,000 residents. Our children and youth are diverse—predominantly, White, Latino and African- American. There are five city-wide goals for children, one being decrease the number of children and youth who are overweight or obese. The role of the Office of Children’s Affairs (OCA) is to support City agencies, the community and its service providers in achieving three major goals: 1.Ensure that all children have their basic needs met 2.Ensure that all children are ready for kindergarten 3.Ensure that all children and youth have the opportunity to succeed academically and professionally

4. shhh…confidential City of Denver // Revolution Foods Partnership The focus of the City on healthy food to address obesity Critical to align City goals with food vendor selection Mayor’s Youth Commission Survey Survey of Out-of-School-Time partners Designing the RFP to the City’s requirements in a vendor How to identify what is important to you as an organization/site in determining your food service model Revolution Foods mission/alignment

5. shhh…confidential City of Denver // Revolution Foods Partnership 2012 Partnership through National League of Cities (NLC). Convened cities to inform of meal programs. At this time, At-Risk Meals recently been expanded to all states. Initial pilot summer 2012—nearly 60,000 meals at 14 sites (mostly recreation centers). Worked closely together in alignment of common mission. Equipment loans, close communication with vendor. Cities Combating Hunger through Afterschool and Summer Meal Programs(CHAMPS) grant 2012-13 for promotion and equipment. Expanded to At-Risk Program sponsor.

6. shhh…confidential Snacks and Supper and Summer Meal Programs

7. shhh…confidential City of Denver // Revolution Foods Partnership Feedback and communication essential Important to reach out, particularly around concerns Challenges of providing healthy food to children in food desserts Feedback on meals that kids don’t like, as well as those they do! Education Listening to children, youth and staff Connection of Revolution food staff to site staff Strategize together to reach children New sites, particularly in under-represented areas of Denver New cities—Englewood, Longmont and Aurora

8. shhh…confidential Where to Begin? Mapping Project – Prioritizing Sites USDA Capacity Builder: http://www.fns.usda.gov/capacitybuilder http://www.fns.usda.gov/capacitybuilder

9. shhh…confidential Where to Begin? Mapping Project – Prioritizing Sites

10. shhh…confidential Where to Begin? Mapping Project – Prioritizing Sites

11. shhh…confidential Power of Partnerships Hunger Advocacy Local Food Bank(s) Public-Private Partnerships Public School Districts City of Denver Youth Coalition

12. shhh…confidential Aligning goals – feeding kids! Establishing regular communications  Who to include?  How frequently?  Where are the gaps in service? Sharing success stories – engaging adults Identifying potential barriers to successful programs Sharing of resources  Grants  Best Practices Power of Partnerships

13. shhh…confidential Meals Served per Site 2013-2014 School Year

14. shhh…confidential Communication in Action Messaging varieties:  Initial partner outreach  Messaging to sites//communities Engaging community stakeholders  Advocacy  Breaking down barriers Sharing success stories  Effectively increasing participation

15. shhh…confidential Resource s  USDA Mapper http://www.fns.usda.gov/capacitybuilder  Anti-Hunger groups // Food Bank search http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/  FRACC http://frac.org/  National League of Cities // Grants http://www.nlc.org/  Share Our Strength Best Practices http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/