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This webpage has been copied from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cc/cacfpmanualsec4-4.asp at CDE.
As we are implementing the child care transition to CDSS, there may be additional modifications made to these webpages.


CACFP Administrative Manual Section 4.4

Table of Contents
Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms

Section 4: Day Care Home Reimbursement Determination

4.4 Meal Benefit Form for Parents (Tier II Homes)

If a provider’s home does not qualify for Tier I, the provider’s home is classified as Tier II.  Meals and snacks served to the provider’s own children, with the exception of a provider’s foster child, do not qualify for any reimbursement in a Tier II home.

The sponsor must inform the provider that the enrolled children’s household can attempt to qualify the provider for the Tier II high reimbursement for the meals and snacks served to the child(ren). Tier II high rates are reimbursed at the same rate as Tier I.

If a provider elects to have eligible children identified, either the provider or the sponsor may distribute the Meal Benefit Form (MBF) for Parents (Tier II Homes) to families of all enrolled children. For reasons of confidentiality, providers are not permitted to learn the identity of the eligibility of the children in their care. MBFs can be mailed by children’s families directly to the sponsor. MBFs can also be returned to the provider in a sealed envelope with the Letter to Parents/Guardians signed by the child’s household authorizing the provider to collect and submit the MBF to the sponsor on behalf of the family.

The sponsor must determine which children are eligible for Tier II high reimbursement based on categorical or income eligibility. Providers that receive Tier II high for some enrolled children and Tier II low reimbursement for other enrolled children are considered Tier II Mixed providers.

Categorical Eligibility

A child’s household can be categorized as eligible for Tier II high reimbursement if anyone in the child’s household receives any of the following benefits:

  • CalFresh benefits;

  • CalWORKs payments; or

  • FDPIR benefits

The child’s household can also be categorized as eligible for Tier II high reimbursement if the child:

  • Participates in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Even Start;

  • Receive FRPMs through the NSLP or SBP

The MBF for a categorically eligible parent’s household must contain the following information:

  • Name(s) and birth date(s) of all children enrolled for care and birth date

  • Certification of each child’s participation in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Even Start, if applicable

  • Certification of each child’s eligibility for NSLP or SBP benefits, if applicable

  • Case number for CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, if applicable

  • Signature of the adult household member completing the form

Household income and the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member completing the form are not required.

Income Eligibility

A child’s household can be categorized as eligible for Tier II high reimbursement if the child’s household size and income falls within the limits of the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines .

The MBF for an income-eligible parent’s household must contain the following information:

  • Name(s) of all children enrolled for care and birth dates of each

  • Names of all household members

  • Income received by each household member, identified by source of income, if applicable. Each household member who does not have an income must also be identified and must have an indication of zero income on the application. Zero income may be indicated by checking a no income box, or by writing zero, no income, or $0

  • Parent or guardian signature

  • The last four digits of the SSN of the adult household member completing the form or checks the box that says Check here if no SSN

Note: MBFs with blank income fields will be processed as no income .

Certification

The MBF for Parents must also contain the sponsor’s certification, located at the bottom of the last page, which consists of the following:

  • Total household income

  • Signature of the eligibility official

  • Certification of eligibility status: Tier II high or Tier II low

  • Certification date for eligibility

Duration of Parent’s Categorical or Income Eligibility Determination

Determinations of eligibility for Tier II high reimbursement, by either categorical or income eligibility, are valid from the first day of the month in which they are made. A certified MBF for Parents is valid from the first day of the calendar month in which it is certified for established child(ren) until the last day of the same calendar month in the following calendar year. For example, a MBF for established child(ren) certified on September 10, of the current calendar year is valid from September 1, of the current calendar year until September 30, of the following calendar year.

Foster Children

Foster children are automatically eligible to participate in the CACFP and are always reimbursed at the Tier II high rate in a Tier II home.

Foster children must be legally placed in a home by an approved foster care agency. The State of California must approve the guardian’s home to care for foster children.

Reference : 7 CFR , sections 226.2, 226.15(f), 226.23(e)(1), 226.18(b), 226.18(e); MB USDA-CACFP-02-2012 Transmission of Household Income Information, MB 06-219 Eligibility of Day Care Home Provider’s Residential and/or Own Children; and USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals, USDA Eligibility Guidance for Family Day Care Homes

Questions:   Kayla Christensen | kchristensen@cde.ca.gov | 916-324-6153

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.