State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Updated List of Programs Serving Nutritious Meals to Low-Income Families
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that disadvantaged families in California can find updated lists of child and adult care centers offering nutritious meals at low- or no-cost through the California Department of Education's Web site.
"When children eat well and have access to nutritious meals, they are healthier and more successful students as a result," Torlakson said. "I encourage families to use the services these centers provide."
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nearly 9,000 local child care centers and 18,000 sponsored family day care home providers in California participate in the CACFP.
These facilities provide nutritious food to infants, children, and adults. Most participating child care centers provide meals at no charge. In centers that have a separate charge for meals, participants may receive free or reduced-price meals.
Meals are free or reduced price depending on household income guidelines. For example, a family of four earning $31,525 a year (up from $31,005 last year) can qualify for free meals and snacks. A family of four earning $44,863 a year (up from $44,123 last year) also qualifies. The Income Eligibility Scales for 2015–16 for free and reduced-price meals and snacks are included below.
Families also qualify for free meals if they receive benefits from 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. Adult day care centers with adults that receive CalFresh, FDPIR, Social Security Income, or Medicaid benefits are also eligible for reimbursement at the free rate. Institutions serve meals to all participants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.*
To find day care home sponsors in your area, visit the interactive CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors Web page and search by county. For a child or adult day care center, visit the interactive 2015–16 CACFP Center Sites Web page and search by county.
Free Eligibility Scale: Meals, Snacks
Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $15,301 | $1,276 | $638 | $589 | $295 |
2 | 20,709 | 1,726 | 863 | 797 | 399 |
3 | 26,117 | 2,177 | 1,089 | 1005 | 503 |
4 | 31,525 | 2,628 | 1,314 | 1,213 | 607 |
5 | 36,933 | 3,078 | 1,539 | 1,421 | 711 |
6 | 42,341 | 3,529 | 1,765 | 1,629 | 815 |
7 | 47,749 | 3,980 | 1,990 | 1,837 | 919 |
8 | 53,157 | 4,430 | 2,215 | 2,045 | 1,023 |
For each additional family member, add: | $5,408 | $451 | $226 | $208 | $104 |
Reduced-Price Eligibility Scale: Meals and Snacks
Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $ 21,775 | $ 1,815 | $ 908 | $ 838 | $ 419 |
2 | 29,471 | 2,456 | 1,228 | 1,134 | 567 |
3 | 37,167 | 3,098 | 1,549 | 1,430 | 715 |
4 | 44,863 | 3,739 | 1,870 | 1,726 | 863 |
5 | 52,559 | 4,380 | 2,190 | 2,022 | 1,011 |
6 | 60,255 | 5,022 | 2,511 | 2,318 | 1,159 |
7 | 67,951 | 5,663 | 2,832 | 2,614 | 1,307 |
8 | 75,647 | 6,304 | 3,152 | 2,910 | 1,455 |
For each additional family member, add: | $7,696 | $642 | $321 | $296 | $148 |
* In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) 
or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax at 202-690-7442, by e-mail atprogram.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax at 202-690-7442, by e-mail atprogram.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.# # # #
Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Nutritious Meals to Low-Income Families - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):
