WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- ASFSA President-elect Marcia Smith, SFNS, will be the guest for ASFSA's February online chat, scheduled for Thursday, February 22, from 4 to 5 p.m. EST. Smith, foodservice director for Polk County (FL) Schools since 1983, will discuss how to implement a successful After-School Snack Program.
In the past, school foodservice operations could elect to assist after-school care programs by providing snacks under the restrictions imposed by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Often, this made a program too unbearable for school foodservice programs to help out. In 1998, the Child Nutrition Authorization Act made it much easier for school foodservice operations to offer the After-School Snack Program. The number of programs and districts interested in offering such a program has grown in recent years.
During the chat, Smith will discuss how her district has developed a popular After-School Snack Program that offers snacks that are both nutritious and appealing. Polk County Schools first began serving after-school snacks to children enrolled in Kidcare programs with assistance from private providers in 1988. In spring 1999, the school foodservice department took over the operation. Currently, the district serves 1,000 snacks a day at 50 sites.
The chat should provide a valuable opportunity to learn what makes an After-School Snack Program work, whether you are a school foodservice professional or school administrator.
All ASFSA members and the general public are invited to participate in the chat. To participate, log on to the World Wide Web and go to ASFSA's home page at http://www.asfsa.org, Your Child Nutrition eSource, on the day of the chat. There will be instructions on the ASFSA home page for connecting to the chat. A transcript of the chat will be available through the Web site within three days, as well.
ASFSA also has scheduled a chat for March 22, 2001, at 4 p.m., EST, on the subject of expanding school breakfast programs. ASFSA will host chats every fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. EST. In January, Mary Beth Flowers (VA) was the guest for ASFSA's point-of-sale systems online chat. The transcript for this chat is now available at http://www.asfsa.org.
ASFSA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 58,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. Founded in 1946, ASFSA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
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CONTACT: American School Food Service Association (ASFSA)
(703) 739-3900
Joseph Haas, ext. 122
Laura Hanley, ext. 116