Eligible facilities can apply for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

JANS – According to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Child Nutrition (OCN) federal reimbursement funds are available to organizations serving healthy meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The OCN is seeking applications from eligible facilities that want to participate in the CACFP.

The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the OCN and provides monthly federal reimbursements to eligible institutions for serving healthy, affordable meals to children and adults older than age 60 who are enrolled for care. The funding is provided for eligible organizations to help cover expenses for meals and snacks. Organizations that may qualify to participate in CACFP include:

Childcare centers serving meals and snacks to children who are enrolled for care;

Family day care home providers participating under a sponsoring organization;

Head Start programs serving meals and snacks to enrolled children;

At-risk afterschool care programs providing education and enrichment activities for eligible children in eligible areas;

Emergency or homeless shelters providing temporary residence and food service to children; and

Adult day care centers providing structured, comprehensive services to nonresident adults who are age 60 or older

CACFP also plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care as well as making it more affordable for many low-income families. Federal income guidelines determine a participant’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals through the CACFP. Children who receive benefits through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically eligible to receive free meals through the CACFP at participating facilities.

Adults who receive SNAP benefits, FDPIR benefits, or Social Security Income (SSI) or are Medicaid participants are categorically eligible for free meals at participating facilities. To learn more about participating in the CACFP, contact Susie Q. Evans-Gater at susie.evans@mdek12.org.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to follow USDA income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and After School Snack Program. Families with children who are unable to pay the full price of the meals are encouraged to apply for benefits. The income eligibility guidelines for reduced-price meals (Program Year 2026-2027) can be located via the following link: https://www.fna.usda.gov/schoolmeals/income-eligibility-guidelines.