About CNOP
The Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP) is a free service administered by Project Bread through a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Since 1996, the CNOP has worked to increase participation in the School Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs throughout the state. Though CNOP staff are available to assist all school districts within MA, the program targets approximately 40 low-income communities that have a high percentage of children eligible for free and reduced price school meals to ensure that these children participate in the federal nutrition programs.

School Breakfast
Over 293,000 students in Massachusetts (nearly 31%) are entitled to free or reduced-price meals through the Federal School Meals Programs, a vital resource for families that need to supplement their food budget. Almost 80% of eligible children participate in the School Lunch Program statewide, yet only 34% of these students eat breakfast at school. As a result, too many children begin the school day hungry, distracted, and unable to learn effectively. Research confirms that participation in the School Breakfast Program leads to academic and behavioral improvement.

During the school year, the Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP) works with food service directors, school administrators, nurses, students, and parents to promote the benefits of the School Breakfast Program and design individualized strategies to increase participation in breakfast. We have found that when schools make breakfast a part of the school day by serving it after the first bell, students are more inclined to attend.

Summer Food Service Program
When the academic year ends, many children lose access to the regular meals they enjoy through school programs. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) offers free meals to children eighteen years old and younger at community sites throughout Massachusetts. As with the School Breakfast Program, many families are unaware of this important resource. Only nineteen percent of the children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year take advantage of the Summer Food Service Program. The CNOP works with community partners, such as school systems, local government, and social service agencies, to increase awareness of the program and encourage greater participation among children in the community.