State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced newly updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Day Care Home Sponsors and 2012-13 CACFP Center Sites lists are available, showing  low-income families where they may seek low-cost or no-cost meals for children.

“Too many disadvantaged families are still struggling with the most basic need of all, providing nutritious meals for children,” said Torlakson. “I hope these updated lists help direct families to these critical resources.”

One Santa Clarita location is on the list: Santa Clarita Adult Day Health Care, operated by Visiting Nurse Community Services Inc., at 23911 Calgrove Blvd. in Newhall, phone 661-253-0700.

As part of Torlakson’s Team California for Health Kids initiative, he encourages students to be physically active, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink more water. Studies show these factors can lead to better academic achievement in students.

CACFP, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides nutritious food to infants, children, and adults. Under the program, all children enrolled in day care homes receive meals at no charge. Most participating day care centers also provide meals at no charge. In centers that have a separate charge for meals, participants may receive free or reduced-price meals.

Nearly 5,000 local day care centers and 17,000 sponsored family day care home providers in California participate in the CACFP. Families with children in child care centers can qualify for free or reduced-price meals if their household income is equal to or less than the income eligibility guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent income eligibility scales are adjusted for inflation and are higher than the previous year. For example, a family of four that earns no more than $29,965 a year (up from $29,055 last year) can qualify for free meals and snacks. Also, a family of four that earns no more than $42,643 a year (up from $41,348 last year) can qualify for reduced-price meals and snacks. The Income Eligibility Scales for free and reduced-price meals and snacks are attached.

Children who receive California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), Head Start, Early Head Start, or the Even Start Program are automatically eligible for free meal benefits under CACFP. Adults who receive CalFresh, FDPIR, Social Security Income, or Medicaid benefits are also eligible for free meals under CACFP. Institutions serve meals to all participants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, the California Department of Education is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or call 866-632-9992. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 or 800-845-6136 (Spanish). The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Visitors to the interactive CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors list and the 2012–13 CACFP Center Sites list may search for locations by county. For more information on income eligibility for families with children in child care centers, visit the Eligibility Scales for 2012–13 Web page.