Form

2026-2027 Kids in the Kitchen Application

2026-2027 Kids in the Kitchen Application: Deadline September 2, 2026

Program Overview and Goals

The goal of the Junior League of Dallas’ Kids in the Kitchen program sponsored by UnitedHealthcare is to empower youth in grades K-5 to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. The Junior League of Dallas will provide each agency with program materials, including curriculum, training materials, cooking equipment, and funding to purchase food. The format is a five to eight-week after-school program held in the spring semester, January 2027 to April 2027. The lessons each week include the following components:

Education Information & Activities: Each week covers a different healthy lifestyle topic and provides educational information for instructors along with supporting worksheets and activities.

Fitness Activities: A collection of fitness related games and activities that foster a fun and unique exercise experience.

Recipes: Kid-tested recipes that are easy to prepare, use common kitchen equipment, and do not require the use of an oven or a stove.

Parent Information: Nutritional and healthy lifestyle information shared with the parents of the program participants.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN®, JUNIOR LEAGUES’ KIDS IN THE KITCHEN®, and the JUNIOR LEAGUES’ KIDS IN THE KITCHEN logo™ are trademarks of The Association of Junior Leagues International (“AJLI”). The Junior League of Dallas conducts Kids in the Kitchen programs and initiatives under license or permission from AJLI. Kids in the Kitchen was founded in 2006 and is supported by The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) and more than 200 Junior Leagues around the country.

Program Requirements

Agency staff must attend a training session hosted at the Junior League of Dallas Headquarters where they will receive instruction on the curriculum and implementation of the program along with supplies. This session will be held on January 8, 2027, for approximately three hours. The Kids in the Kitchen curriculum and program may be conducted at an agency location between February and March 2027 with program completion by April 2, 2027.

Measurement and reporting are integral parts of the Kids in the Kitchen program and must be provided to the Junior League of Dallas in a timely manner in order to receive full grant funding and eligibility to apply for future grants. Achievements of the Kids in the Kitchen goals are measured through the following methods:

Pre and Post - Tests: Used to obtain information around student food choices, active lifestyle knowledge and attitudes.

Agency Survey: Used to obtain feedback on the curriculum, overall success of the program, and determine opportunities for improvement in the future.

AGENCY INFORMATION

Agency Name

Program Name (if different from above)

Agency Mailing Address

Agency City, State, and Zip Code

Agency Website

Agency Contact Name

Agency Contact Position

Agency Contact Email

Agency Contact Phone

Name and title of the agency staff member authorized to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining your agency's participation in the Kids in the Kitchen program.

Please provide the authorized signatory's email address.

Please provide the authorized signatory's phone number.

Is the agency a previous participant in the Kids in the Kitchen program?

If the agency is a previous participant, please indicate the years of participation.

Please upload a document with the following information for each location where the Kids in the Kitchen will take place: location address, contact at that location, and anticipated number of participants at that location.

Agency Mission Statement

Is the agency part of the 2026-2027 Junior League of Dallas Community Program?

Name for reimbursement checks:

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Junior League of Dallas' commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our policies and we strive to support partners who share this commitment. Please tell us about your agency's diversity and inclusion efforts.

Please state the gender of your agency's governing Board (in percentages, using the following categories: Female, Male, Non-Binary, or list other designation).

Please state the race and ethnicity of your agency's governing Board (in percentages, using the following categories: African American or Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Caucasian, Native American, Multi-Racial).

Please list any other areas of diversity and inclusion in your agency's governing Board that are important to your organization.

Please state the gender of your agency's leadership team (in percentages, using the following categories: Female, Male, Non-Binary, or list other designation).

Please state the race and ethnicity of your agency's leadership team (in percentages, using the following categories: African American or Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Caucasian, Native American, Multi-Racial).

Please list any other areas of diversity and inclusion in your agency's leadership team that are important to your organization.

In what other areas or ways does your agency (e.g., governing Board, agency's leadership, auxiliary, staff, policies, programs) represent the clients and community served within your agency's leadership? Please describe and include statistics as appropriate.

Indicate what steps your agency has taken to advance its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Please select all that apply [use CTRL to select more than one].

Would the students who will be participating in the Kids in the Kitchen program benefit from having the curriculum available in another language?

If you answered yes to the above question, please list the language(s).

Please submit any documentation that supports any items checked above.

Supporting Document 1

Supporting Document 2

Supporting Document 3

Supporting Document 4

CLIENT INFORMATION

Please state the gender of the clients served by your agency (in percentages, using the following categories: Female, Male, Non-Binary, or list other designation).

Please state the race and ethnicity of the clients served by your agency (in percentages, using the following categories: African American or Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Caucasian, Native American, Multi-Racial).

Approximately how many students will be enrolled in your after-school program in the spring?

Approximately how many students will be served by Kids in the Kitchen (grades K-5)?

What is the ratio of staff to children in the program?

What zip code(s) will be served by Kids in the Kitchen at your agency?

Do families pay for after-school services you offer?

If payment is required, what amount do families pay?

What percentage of the children you serve are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program?

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

What needs will Kids in the Kitchen address in your current program?

Are you currently using any other health, nutritional or fitness program?

If yes, please describe the program or curriculum you are using.

AGENCY VOLUNTEER COMPONENT

How many volunteers/staff members will you commit to the Kids in the Kitchen program?

What precautions are taken by your agency to ensure volunteer safety?

Do you perform criminal background checks on your volunteer?

If the response is yes, please upload a copy of the background paperwork required to volunteer.

AGENCY STAFF

Please list the names and titles of staff members responsible for supervising Kids in the Kitchen volunteers:

Name of the staff member(s) who will be the liaison to the Kids in the Kitchen representative from Junior League of Dallas:

Our Kids in the Kitchen program liaison has regular access to a computer.

Our Kids in the Kitchen program liaison will complete and submit all required measurement and assessment activities to the Junior League of Dallas.

Our Kids in the Kitchen program liaison will remain in contact with their assigned Junior League of Dallas representative throughout the five to eight-week program.

EVALUATION

The Kids in the Kitchen program includes an evaluation tool to measure success of the program within the program.

Would your agency require an additional evaluation tool?

If yes, please describe the measurement.

LITIGATION

Does the agency have any pending litigation or administrative procedures?

If yes, please list.

ATTACHMENTS

The following documents are required to provide a complete application to the Junior League of Dallas' Kids in the Kitchen program:

Letter certifying 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or document explaining agency's status

A copy of the most recent W-9 tax statement for reimbursements.

AGENCY SITE VISIT

As part of the application process, agency site visit is required. You will be contacted by a representative of the Kids in the Kitchen program to schedule the site visit in September 2026.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

Agencies chosen to participate in the Kids in the Kitchen program will be notified no later than November 1, 2026.

PRE AND POST TEST

If selected to be an agency to participate in the Kids in the Kitchen program, you will be required to administer and submit a pre-test that will be completed by the children participating in the program. Also, following the completion of the five to eight-week program, you are required to administer and submit a post-test completed by the children who participated in the program. All pre-tests and post-test and applicable receipts must be submitted by April 18, 2027. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of reimbursement of materials and supplies.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Kids in the Kitchen Committee Chair, Brittni Coe, at [email protected].

We acknowledge that the governing entity of our agency approves of our application to the Junior League of Dallas' Kids in the Kitchen program.

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