Summer Food Service Program for Children

Documenting Site Eligibility

 

I. CAMP SITES

Individual family size and income eligibility forms must be obtained since only those meals served to participants whose family income falls at or below the SFSPC family size and income guidelines are eligible for reimbursement. A copy of the mandatory form you must use to obtain family size and income information is included with the application.

II. EMERGENCY SHELTER FEEDING SITES

If an emergency shelter wants to participate in the SFSPC , then it must establish its eligibility as an open site, an enrolled site, or a camp.Shelters that are located in areas which meet the area eligibility requirements for the SFSPC and open their food service to non-residents as well as residents may qualify to participate in the SFSPC as area eligible sites. If the shelter applies to participate as an enrolled site, individual free meal applications from parents or guardians will not be required. A list of children certified by the shelter's director, is sufficient to document the eligibility of children who are residents of the emergency shelter. The list must include each child's name, age, and beginning and ending dates (if applicable) of residence in the shelter, and the signature of the determining official.An emergency shelter which also elects to participate in the CACFP would be subject to the provisions of FNS Instruction 782-4, Approval of Child Care Institutions for the Summer Food Service Program. This instruction states that a CACFP institution that meets SFSPC eligibility criteria and develops a separate food service program for children who are not enrolled in the CACFP may be approved to participate in the SFSPC. CACFP institutions which do not substantially change their program activities or significantly increase their program enrollment during periods when school is not in session may not be approved to participate in the SFSPC.An institution which is approved to claim reimbursement under both the CACFP and the SFSPC must ensure that a meal served to an individual child is only claimed under one program. The institution must also ensure that it keeps separate records to justify all costs and meals claimed for the CACFP and the SFSPC.

III. NONCAMP SITES (OTHER THAN EMERGENCY SHELTER FEEDING SITES)

In order for a noncamp site to participate in the Program, 50 percent of the children in the local area from which the site is drawing its attendance must be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals (the SFSPC income eligibility standards). Listed below are several methods that you may use to determine a site's eligibility. These methods have been prioritized as follows:

A. Area Eligible Programs:

1. School Data: Contact the elementary school(s) or other schools (elementary schools are more likely to qualify) which draw their attendance from the area which will be served by the site. Request the schools to inform you IN WRITING of the total enrollment of the school and the total number of children who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals. If the percentage of children eligible to receive a free or reduced-price meal is equal to or exceeds 50 percent of the school enrollment, the site is then eligible to participate in this Program. This information is also available from the State Agency.

2. Census Data: If school data is not representative of the children in the area you serve, you may need to use census data. The 1990 census information should be obtained. If a sponsor will serve an area located in a city with a population of more than 50,000, the following tables by tract number should be used: Table P-1, "General Characteristics of Persons" which lists the average number of persons per household and Table P-66, "Income and Poverty Status in 1989" which lists the median income. If a sponsor will serve an area located in a county with a population of less than 50,000, the following tables by county should be used: Table 14, "Summary of General Characteristics" which lists the average number of persons per household, and Table 180, "Income Characteristics in 1989 for Counties" which lists the median income. Our office has census tract information available. You may call the office to see if your site will be located in an eligible census tract area. If you choose this method of determination, a map showing where your site is located must be sent to our office along with your application for participation.

3. Other Data: You can submit information provided by an agency of the State or local government (e.g., departments of welfare, education, or zoning commissions). An explanation of the verifying data must accompany your site's eligibility application for participation. The data must show both average family size and average family income. Less specific data indicating the number of individuals living in poverty within a given area is not acceptable.

B. Enrollment Programs:

1. Any of the above methods may be used to document site eligibility if 50 percent of the children in the local area from which the site is drawing its attendance are eligible for free or reduced price school meals, or;

2. Individual Enrollment Documentation: Eligibility of the site may be based on information obtained from the families of enrolled children who meet the SFSPC eligibility standards. If the percentage of children eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals (the SFSPC eligibility standards) equal or exceeds 50 percent of enrollment, that site is then eligible to participate in the SFSPC. You must use the income eligibility form (application for free and reduced price meals) to obtain information. A copy of the form is included with the sponsors' application packet.