The purpose of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, as set forth by the National School Lunch Act, is to provide meal assistance in nonresidential child care situations.
Section 17(a) of the National School Lunch Act limits participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program to nonresidential institutions providing child care.
This study presents the first nationally representative profiles of FDPIR participant and program characteristics, and the food-assistance needs and preferences among this particular target population. This executive summary provides a brief historical perspective on the program, describes the objectives and methodology of the evaluation, and summarizes the major finding.
Prior to 1982, school districts were not required to verify the income or household size declared by households that applied for meal benefits. It was assumed that households were correctly reporting their income, and children from households that applied and declared a sufficiently Low income were given free or reduced-price meals. From 1982 to the present, the verification of household income for at least some of the approved application s for meal benefits has been part of each school district's responsibilities.