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The Child and Adult Care Food Program:
An Important Resource for Feeding
Children & Youth in Domestic Violence Shelters

Now domestic violence shelters can use the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federal entitlement program, as a resource for feeding children and youth. Expanding this resource is critical since many women with children are seeking refuge from domestic violence in shelters all across the country.

Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, shelters will be able to receive reimbursement for food and meal preparation costs and ongoing training in the nutritional needs of children. Shelters participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program will be reimbursed for meals and snacks served to children age 18 and under.

Domestic violence shelters will operate under special rules that take into account the difficult circumstances of families escaping domestic violence. Shelter providers will not have to ask families to prove their income or fill out any applications for children served through the food program. Instead the shelter will receive a full reimbursement for each child fed who is eligible under the age criteria.

This new opportunity will bring significant resources into often limited shelter budgets. For each child served, shelters can receive food program reimbursement for up to three meals or two meals and one snack each day. Participating shelters will receive $1.23 for each breakfast, $2.24 for each lunch or supper and 61¢ for each snack. For each child served, shelters can receive food program reimbursement of more than five dollars a day. For a shelter serving 20 children each day, this reimbursement can equal more than $41,000 per year.

To apply for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, contact your State Child and Adult Care Food Program agency. For a list of state agency contacts or more information on this important program, visit the Food Research and Action Center's website at www.frac.org or contact Geri Henchy at ghenchy@frac.org.