CHICAGO — State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and the Illinois State Board of Education announced that funding is available for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to help a variety of organizations provide healthy meals to children.

“Children have been made more vulnerable than ever during the pandemic,” Peters said. “This program will help community-based organizations and over 1,000 child care centers provide kids with healthy meals.”

Individuals in households who participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits. The USDA Household Income Eligibility Guidelines determine eligibility to receive free meal benefits for families that do not receive TANF or SNAP benefits.

If a household’s income falls within or below the listed guidelines, a member of the household should contact their child care center or day care home provider to learn about benefits of the CACFP. They may be required to complete an application and provide income, TANF or SNAP information.

Children enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start programs at approved Head Start facilities and foster care children who are legal responsibilities of the state or court also receive free meal benefits. Parents or guardians should contact their child care center or day care home provider to find out if they participate in CACFP.