Resources
Nutrition Program
DCYF’s Nutrition Programs are designed to ensure that young people's basic nutrition needs as well as to help youth establish a healthy relationship with food. The nutrition programs include the Afterschool Meal and the Summer Meal Programs. You will also find information about DCYF Nutrition Standards and USDA’s Nondiscrimination Statement.
Looking for an Afterschool or Summer Meal Site Near You?
The CA Meals for Kids mobile application can help you find nearby Afterschool and Summer Meal Programs Sites through your iOS, Android, or Microsoft device.
Find sites by physical location, county, city, zip code, and site name (even partial site names!), and filter services by meal types (lunch, snacks, etc).
Free Meals and Food Assistance
Visit our Free Meals and Food Assistance page to access resources for people in San Francisco who are looking for free meals, benefits for food assistance, and more.
The 2024 Summer Meals Program
Sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered locally by the DCYF, sites in every SF neighborhood will offer free breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks to children and youth ages 18 and under every Monday through Friday from June 10 to August 16, 2024. No proof of need, registration, or identification is required in order to receive a meal or snack. The only requirement: arrive at a designated site during their serving time.
The Afterschool Meal Program
The Afterschool Meal Program is a USDA federally-funded child nutrition program that provides free afterschool snacks and suppers in high need areas in San Francisco to any youth age 18 and under.
2023-2024 Afterschool Meal Program
DCYF will provide school year meals from Tuesday, September 5, 2023 through Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Please email nutrition@dcyf.org with any questions.
5th Annual SF Youth Nutrition Art Contest
San Francisco-based youth were invited to submit art to our annual nutrition art contest. The theme of the art contest was what healthy food means to you. Congratulations to our winning artists!
Information about Nutrition standards for DCYF Grantees
In an effort to demonstrate a commitment to health and nutrition, DCYF has developed the following standards for food and beverages made available to youth at DCYF-funded programs:
DCYF-funded programs make healthy foods and beverages available to participants, limit unhealthy foods, emphasize appropriate portion sizes, and encourage staff to model healthy eating behaviors. Programs encourage youth to drink water, and avoid serving sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda or sports drinks.
DCYF’s standard is not intended to restrict food resources for youth, but instead support nutrition and create healthier environments for children, youth and families.
For the 2018-2023 grant cycle, all programs serving food to youth must have in place a formal, written nutrition policy. This policy must describe the type of food and beverage that will be provided to youth and the program's approach to how and when these items will be served.
A sample template of a written nutrition policy can be found by clicking here.
For the full DCYF Nutrition Standards and Policy Guidelines, please click here.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
Updated as of February 2023, posted April 2024
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; orFax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
Email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.