Federally Funded Meal Programs Available to Help Feed Texans in Need (9/16/2015)

AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is encouraging Texans in need to utilize programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) that offer nutritious meals to children and adults. Approximately 13,000 adult and child care centers and home-based day cares in Texas are serving free or reduced-priced meals through CACFP, which is federally funded.

CACFP helps Texas families who find themselves in difficult times financially. Assistance programs should be utilized as a temporary bridge to a better economic situation — not as an endless highway. TDA is committed to helping these families with their immediate nutritional needs to assist them in becoming food independent in the future.

Meals that are provided through CACFP are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). CACFP provides nutritious meals to children and adults enrolled in participating child care centers, day care homes and adult day care centers.

Households with children enrolled in a participating center or home who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women; Infants and Children (WIC) 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.

Households with children enrolled in a center or home that does 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. 

Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for free or reduced-price meals for your foster child, contact your child care center or day care home for assistance.

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.

Adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for free 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. 

The information provided on the application will be treated confidentially and be used only for eligibility determinations and verification of information.

USDA prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339, or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, you may request an application from your child care center, adult day care center or day care home provider. An application for free or reduced-price meals cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. Only one application is required per household, and households may apply at any time.

If your application for free or reduced-price meals is denied, you have the right to request a fair hearing from your child care center, adult day care center or day care home.

Verification of the accuracy of your application for free or reduced-price meals can occur at any time.

Child care centers, day care homes and adult day care centers participating in CACFP serve nutritious meals to all participants enrolled in their facilities. To locate a center or day care home participating in CACFP, call (877) TEX-MEAL. Participating locations will also display the official "Building for the Future" poster.

Income Eligibility Guidelines
Ingresos máximos para determinar
For Determining Free and Reduced-Price Benefits
la elegibilidad para el programa de nutrición
July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016
1 de julio de 2015- 30 de junio de 2016