Noting that accessible, healthy meals lead to successful students, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced this week that low-income families in California can find updated lists of child and adult care centers offering nutritious meals at little or no cost through the California Department of Education’s website.
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.
Nearly 9,000 local child care centers and 18,000 sponsored family day care home providers in California participate in the The Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Meals are free or at a reduced price depending on household income guidelines. For example, a family of four earning $31,525 per year can qualify for free meals and snacks. A family of four earning $44,863 a year qualifies for meals and snacks at a reduced price.
The income eligibility scales are available here.
If you would like to find a child or adult day care center near you, visit the CACFP Center website, and click on Orange County on the interactive map.