LAKE COUNTY — Disadvantaged families in California can access interactive webpages with up-to-date lists of child and adult care centers offering nutritious meals at low or no cost, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced.
“Having enough nutritious food to eat is a huge contributing factor to a child”s ability to succeed in school and in life,” Torlakson said. “These centers offer an important resource for families, and I hope this information gets them the support they need.”
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nearly 5,000 day-care centers and 17,000 sponsored family day-care home providers in California participate in the CACFP.
Child care centers and day-care home providers participating in this program provide nutritious food to infants, children and adults. All children enrolled in the day-care homes receive meals at no charge. Most participating day-care centers also provide meals at no charge. In centers that have a separate charge for meals, participants may receive free-of-charge or reduced-price meals.
Child care centers can provide free-of-charge or reduced-price meals if families with children in their care meet household income eligibility guidelines. For example, a family of four earning $30,615 a year (up from $29,965 last year) can qualify for free-of-charge meals and snacks. A family of four earning $43,568 a year (up from $42,643 last year) can qualify for reduced-price meals and snacks.
Child care centers or day-care home providers with children in households that receive California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, CalFresh, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, Head Start, Early Head Start or the Even Start Program are automatically eligible at the free-of-charge rate. Adult daycare centers with adults that receive CalFresh, FDPIR, Social Security Income or Medicaid benefits are also eligible for reimbursement at the free-of-charge rate. Institutions serve meals to all participants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
To view the 2013-14 Income Eligibility Scales, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/rs/scales1314.asp.To find day-care home sponsors, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/cacfpsponsormap.asp. For a list of child or adult day care centers, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/cacfpcentermap.asp.
