Child and Adult Care Food Program eligibility guidelines revised

Kentucky Department of Education

News Release


Media Contact: Jessica Fletcher

Chief Communications Officer

Office: (502) 564-2000, ext. 4611
Cell: (502) 229-1915
Jessica.Fletcher@education.ky.gov

Advisory 19-101

 

July 15, 2019

Child and Adult Care Food Program eligibility guidelines revised

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set the income eligibility guidelines for students and adults to participate in free, reduced-price meal programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for 2019-2020. The CACFP is federally funded through the USDA and is administered by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Division of School and Community Nutrition.

The program provides for nutritious meals and snacks for qualifying participants attending childcare centers, daycare homes, Head Start programs, adult day cares, homeless shelters and afterschool programs. The program also works to establish positive eating habits at the earliest stages of development; reduces future health care and education costs by encouraging proper early development; and provides training and support of local center personnel.   

Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Meals are used to determine each participant’s eligibility.

Income Guidelines for Free, Reduced-Price Meals

Effective July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020

Family Size Free Meals Monthly Income Free Meals Yearly Income Reduced-Price Meals Monthly Income Reduced-Price Meals Yearly Income
1
$1,354
$16,237 $1,926 $23,107
2 $1,832 $21,983 $2,607 $31,284
3 $2,311 $27,729 $3,289 $39,461
4 $2,790 $33,475 $3,970 $47,638
5 $3,269   $39,221 $4,652 $55,815
6 $3,748 $44,967 $5,333 $63,992
7 $4,227 $50,713 $6,015 $72,169
8 $4,705 $56,459 $6,696 $80,346

For each additional family member add:

+$479 +$5,746 +$682 +$8,177

Children who are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits. Adult participants who are members of SNAP, FDPIR households, who receive Social Security Income (SSI), or are Medicaid participants, also are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits.

Centers participating in the CACFP agree not to charge a separate fee for meals above the cost of tuition. Independent institutions and sponsoring organizations must enter into agreements with the KDE to assume responsibility for CACFP operations. KDE assists institutions and sponsors by providing consultation, training, resources and materials needed to make the program successful.

For more information about the CACFP, contact KDE, Division of School and Community Nutrition, at (502) 564-5625 or visit the CACFP homepage.