Child and Adult CARE Food Program Extends Access
Program sponsors serve nutritious meals and snacks for childcare and adult day care participants
AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller encouraged Texans to explore the benefits of accessing nutritious meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers this federally funded program operating at approximately 13,000 sites in Texas, including adult day care centers, childcare centers, home-based day cares and afterschool programs. TDA and these partners are working to promote healthy lifestyles by ensuring eligible children and adults can enjoy nutritious free or reduced-price meals and snacks in CACFP.
“Texas families can rely on TDA’s CACFP partners to provide the essential nutrition that young children and older adults need to stay healthy and active,” Commissioner Miller said. “Each year, CACFP delivers around 200 million nutritious meals and snacks across Texas. I encourage families to take advantage of this valuable resource and support the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to ensure healthy food is available through CACFP.”
This October, schools and CACFP providers can take Commissioner Miller’s Farm Fresh Challenge and earn recognition for serving more Texas products and providing agricultural education opportunities. The Challenge helps CACFP sponsors and Texas school nutrition teams promote Farm Fresh practices and connections to Texas agriculture. For more information about the Challenge, visit SquareMeals.org/Farm Fresh Challenge and for more information about CACFP, visit SquareMeals.org/CACFP.
Benefits
CACFP meals are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and meet specific nutrition standards. Participants receive a balanced meal that can include Texas products.
At centers and day care homes that include meals as part of tuition, meals will be available to enrolled participants at no separate charge. Meals served at eligible at-risk afterschool programs are free to all participants in the program.
At centers and day care homes where meals are charged separately from tuition, the following groups automatically qualify for free meals:
- Children in households getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; or who are enrolled in Early Head Start; Head Start or Even Start Programs; or who receive Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits automatically qualify for free meals through participating CACFP providers.
- Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts are eligible for free meals. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for free meals for your foster child, contact your participating childcare center or day care home for assistance.
- Adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for free meals.
The following groups may qualify for free or reduced-price meals depending on their eligibility information as indicated in their application:
- Children in households that do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. See the chart below for income eligibility guidelines.
- Parents or guardians who become unemployed may apply for free or reduced-price meals on behalf of their children at any time during the period of unemployment.
- Children and adults in households participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- Adults who do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. See the chart below for income eligibility guidelines.
Meals are made available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
