Homeless Children in School Nutrition Programs

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Homeless Children in School Nutrition Programs

• Homeless Education Program Illinois

2
McKinney-Vento Homeless Act 2002

• Title X of NCLB Amended this Act in January 2002
• Clarified the definition of homeless children and
  youth
• Required districts to designate a homeless
  liaison

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To expedite delivery of nutritional benefits

• School officials may accept documentation from
• The school district homeless liaison
• The director or case manager of a shelter or
  transitional housing project where the children
  reside

4
Free Meal Eligibility Documentation

• Must consist of one of the following
• Letter from the homeless liaison
• Letter from the director or case manager of the
  shelter or transitional housing project where the
  child resides
• A completed meal application from the homeless
  family

5
Meal Application

• Homeless liaison will complete the application on
  the childs behalf, if the child is an
  unaccompanied youth and is not included on the
  list of homeless students eligible for free meals
• Identify on the application homeless
• Sign the application and indicate that the
  signature is that of the homeless liaison

6
Letter/List from Homeless Liaison or the Shelter
Official

• Name of the child or children involved
• Effective date of eligibility
• Signature of the homeless liaison or the shelter
  director or case manager
• Complete the Homeless Meal Eligibility form
  ISBExxxxx

7
Homeless Child Residing with Another
Household/Host Family

• A child or family may temporarily reside with
  another household/host family and still be
  considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento
  Homeless Assistance Act.
• Doubled-up families will be evaluated on a
  case-by-case basis regarding the homeless status
  by the homeless school liaison

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Household/host family (doubled up)

• In these cases, the household size and income of
  the household/host family is not taken into
  consideration in determining the free meal
  eligibility for the child(ren) designated as
  homeless by the homeless liaison.
• The host family may be eligible with the total
  household size and income considered with the
  homeless family residing in their home.

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Determining Eligibility of household/host family

• School officials must determine the eligibility
  for the household/host family in the traditional
  manner using the total household members and the
  income from all sources.
• Free meal eligibility for the homeless child(ren)
  is based on the documentation from the homeless
  liaison, even when the child is included in the
  household family/s free and reduced price meal
  application.

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Reminders Homeless Liaison

• Update the list when changes occur and notify the
  food service and/or school official regarding the
  date the child left school or is no longer
  homeless.
• The determination of the child as homeless
  continues until the child has moved out of the
  district or the homeless liaison terminates the
  designation of homeless for the child

11
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of
2004

• Amended the Richard B. Russell National School
  Lunch Act to make runaway (unaccompanied youth),
  homeless, and migrant children categorically
  eligible for free meal benefits
• Established the requirement for documenting a
  childs status as runaway (unaccompanied youth),
  homeless, or migratory

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For Assistance

• Contact Illinois State Board of Education
  Nutrition Program for clarification of any issues
  that appear to be inconsistent with the
  information provided.
• 217.782.2491
• Illinois State Board of Education Homeless
  Education Program
• 1-800-215-6379