The Federal Child and Adult Meals Program supports free meals for children and adults in a variety of arrangements based on income-based eligibility. Programs administered by MSDE serve many Marylanders in day care facilities, foster homes, and other assisted living facilities.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) administers the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP). As the state administrative agency for CACFP, MSDE distributes federal funds to licensed or approved day care facilities or family child care homes to provide free healthy meals and snacks to enrolled participants.
All participating facilities and registered children and adults should be aware that they are eligible for meals and snacks through CACFP. All participants will receive the same meal at no additional charge. Meals are available to all participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
“The Child and Adult Care Food Program contributes to the health and development of Maryland’s young children and adults,” said State Superintendent Dr. Carrie Wright. “The availability of nutritious meals and snacks at participating child care centers and day care homes helps children and adults stay well-nourished and ready for each day of learning.”
The amount of reimbursement the center receives is based on the information provided by the household on the CACFP meal benefit application. If your household income is less than or equal to the income listed in the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEG) Household Size Schedule below, the Center will provide free or reduced-price meal reimbursement for meals and snacks provided to participants. receive. IEG adjustments are required by Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and are conducted annually by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary purpose of these adjustments is to directly benefit the children who are most in need. Adjustments are reviewed annually to take into account changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Centers attended by participants who are foster children, household members receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) assistance, or Head Start participants will be served by these participants. Eligible for free meal reimbursement. .
Adult day care centers with members of SNAP households or SSI or Medicaid participants are eligible for free reimbursement for meals provided to these participants.
For information about agencies participating in CACFP throughout Maryland, contact MSDE’s Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (OSCNP) at (410) 767-0219. For information about child nutrition programs administered by the MSDE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs, please visit www.eatsmartmaryland.org.
