Department outlines eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price meals
BATON ROUGE, La.—The Louisiana Department of Education’s Division of Nutrition Support today announced it is seeking applications from eligible institutions interested in administering the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federally funded program that provides healthy, affordable meals to both children and adults. The program’s 2025 fiscal year begins October 1, 2024, and applications are accepted year-round.
The program is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service Program. It is federally funded, but administered by individual states. Program participants receive meals and snacks through daycare centers, afterschool programs, emergency shelters and homes, among other locations. CACFP meals will be provided at sites under contract with the state education department, or at homes or daycare centers operating under agreements with sponsoring organizations under contract with the agency.
Eligibility
CACFP eligibility is based on the following income scales effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Households with incomes less than or equal to these levels are eligible for reduced price meals.
Reduced Price Meal Eligibility:
Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $26,973 | $2,248 | $1,124 | $1,038 | $519 |
2 | $36,482 | $3,041 | $1,521 | $1,404 | $702 |
3 | $45,991 | $3,833 | $1,917 | $1,769 | $885 |
4 | $55,500 | $4,625 | $2,313 | $2,135 | $1,068 |
5 | $65,009 | $5,418 | $2,709 | $2,501 | $1,251 |
6 | $74,518 | $6,210 | $3,105 | $2,867 | $1,434 |
7 | $84,027 | $7,003 | $3,502 | $3,232 | $1,616 |
8 | $93, 536 | $7,795 | $3,898 | $3,598 | $1,799 |
Each additional family member add | +$9,509 | +$793 | +$397 | +$366 | +$183 |
In addition, the following individuals are automatically eligible:
All child care participants who are in foster care and/or enrolled in Head Start centers
All child care participants who are recipients of the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formally Food Stamps), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) assistance units, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)*; and
All adult care participants who are recipients FITAP, SNAP, FDPIR, SSI or Medicaid.*
*This applies to centers and homes receiving federal assistance from the CACFP.
Additional Information
For training opportunities for potential sponsors, click here (will open in new tab).
For more information on these programs, contact the Department’s Division of Nutrition Support at 1-877-453-2721 or (225) 342-3720 or email childnutritionprograms@la.gov.
Nondiscrimination Statement effective 5/22:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Compliant Form which can be obtained online at: USDA Program Nondiscrimination Complaint Form PDF (will open in new tab), from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.