USDA Regulations

Head Start participates in the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program. This program has specific nutritional and quantity requirements on the food served to receive reimbursement. This program requires that each child enrolled must have a completed Head Start Enrollment Application on file, for which income verification has been provided. Any child who is enrolled as over-income will need to complete a Free and Reduced Price Meal Application before they start their first day at Head Start. Changes in family income are to be reported to the Nutrition Specialist.

Non Head Start children are not allowed to receive reimbursement for meals at Head Start because of the USDA enrollment regulations. If, on occasion, you choose to have a meal with your child at Head Start, you and any other visitors will be required to pay $2.00 for each meal. (Any time this occurs, you will be responsible for calling the teacher no later than 9:00 a.m. to order your meal.) However, if you volunteer in your child's classroom for the 4-hour duration, you will be provided with meals free of charge. The CACFP is an equal opportunity program and no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, disability, age, sex, or national origin.