February 9, 2010

TO: Child Care Centers, Outside School Hours Centers, Head Start Programs and Selected Summer Food Service Program Sponsors

RE: Determining Eligibility of Haitian Refugees

The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs recently received guidance from USDA concerning the eligibility of children who were evacuated to the United States as result of the earthquake in Haiti.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) do not require lawful presence in the United States prior to receiving a federal benefit and refugee children are eligible for meal benefits if they enroll in a participating school or institution.

Determining Eligibility for the CACFP and SFSP
Sponsors that require eligibility information can receive certification of the child’s or adult’s homeless status from the agency that assisted with the evacuation or is providing shelter. If the child is not residing in an emergency shelter, the institution should have an adult living with the child complete an income eligibility form indicating that the child is homeless. No further information is required to certify that child’s eligibility.

Determining Eligibility for Host Families
A child or family may temporarily reside with another household and still be considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In these cases, the household size and income of the host family is not taken into consideration in determining the free meal eligibility for the child(ren) designated as homeless.

Additionally, when a host family applies for free and reduced price meals for their own children, the host family may include the homeless family as household members if the host family provides financial support to the homeless family, such as shelter, utilities, clothing or food. In such cases, the host family must also include any income received by the homeless family. The sponsor determines eligibility for the host family in the traditional manner. However, free meal eligibility for the homeless child is based on the documentation provided by the agency that assisted with the evacuation or is providing shelter, even when the child is included on the host family’s free and reduced price meal application.

If you have questions regarding the status of Haitian refugees, please contact your assigned specialist.

Sincerely,

Lynne Reinoso
Manager, Community Nutrition
Child Nutrition Programs
Office of the Superintendent