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 2026 fiscal year begins October 1, 2025 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, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
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 | $28,953 | $2,413 | $1,207 | $1,114 | $557 |
| 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 | $1,631 | $1,505 | $753 |
| 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 | $2,055 | $1,897 | $949 |
| 4 | $59,478 | $4,957 | $2,479 | $2,288 | $1,144 |
| 5 | $69,653 | $5,805 | $2,903 | $2,679 | $1,340 |
| 6 | $79,828 | $6,653 | $3,327 | $3,071 | $1,536 |
| 7 | $90,003 | $7,501 | $3,751 | $3,462 | $1,731 |
| 8 | $100,178 | $8,349 | $4,175 | $3,853 | $1,927 |
| Each additional family member add | + $10,175 | + $848 | + $424 | + $392 | + $196 |
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
See training opportunities for potential sponsors.
For more information on these programs, contact the Department’s Division of Nutrition Support at (225) 342-3720 or email [email protected].
Nondiscrimination Statement Effective 7/9/25:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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