TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
No. 2007-05
School Business Services
Food and Nutrition Management
Contact: Irene Wimbush
Department of Education
John L. Winn,
ommissioner
C
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instruction 765-5 Revision 1,
Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Determinations for Foster
and Institutionalized Children
(850) 245-9334
SC 205-9334
DATE:
November
17
, 2006
TO:
Sponsors of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk
Programs
FROM:
Diane C. Santoro, Administrator
SUBJECT:
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instruction 765-5 Revision 1, Free and
Reduced Price Eligibility Determinations for Foster and Institutionalized
Children
Food and Nutrition Management (FNM) is reissuing this FNS instruction for sponsors’
guidance/clarification. This instruction sets forth the policy governing free and reduced price
eligibility determinations for foster and institutionalized children participating in the National School
Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs.
For further clarification of the attached policy, the Residential Child Care Institution (RCCI) must
validate each client’s income annually. FNM recommends that this be done on July 1 each year to
coincide with the effective date of FNS issued annual income eligibility guidelines. This may require
the RCCI to complete a new application and develop a new Individual Determination Form (IDF); or
review last year’s IDF data, document any changes or the fact that there were no changes, and sign and
date the form. The income must be confirmed or documented each year.
If you have questions, please contact Michelle Morris at (800) 504-6609 or
michelle.morris@fldoe.org.
DS/iw
Attachments
DIANE SANTORO, ADMINISTRATOR
FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1014 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (800) 504-6609 • www.fldoe.org
Suncom 205-0460 • FAX (850) 245-9263• diane.santoro@fldoe.org
FNS INSTRUCTION 765-5, REV. 1, F/R Price Eligibility Determinations for Foster
and Institutionalized Children
3/19/86
Distribution: 5, 6,11,12,14
Manual Maintenance Instructions: Remove FNS Instructions 765-5 and 765-6 from
Manual. Insert this Instruction.
OPI: CND-100
ACTION BY: Regional Directors
Special Nutrition Programs
SOURCE CITATION: Sections 225.21, 226.23, and 245.3(c)
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR
FOSTER AND INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILDREN
This Instruction sets forth the policy regarding free and reduced price eligibility
determinations for foster and institutionalized children in all Child Nutrition Programs,
i.e., the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, Child Care, and Summer
Food Service Programs.
Foster Child
A foster child is a ward of a court or welfare agency, placed in residence in a private
household. Since the court or agency retains legal responsibility for such a child, the
foster home is, in fact, an extension of that agency and the foster child is considered a
household of one. Confirmation of the court or welfare agency's legal responsibility for
the foster child and the funds provided by the agency for the personal use of the child
may be required at the option of the State agency, school food authority or institution.
For purposes of determining eligibility, the following guidelines are to be used:
1. The foster child is considered a household of one; thus, the foster parents'
household size or income is not used to determine eligibility.
2. Funds provided by the welfare agency which are specifically identified by
category for personal use of the child for items such as clothing, school fees, and
allowances are counted as income. Funds identified for shelter and care, and medical and
therapeutic needs are not considered as income for the child. Where welfare funds
cannot be identified by category, no portion of the provided funds are considered as
income.
3. Funds personally received by the child such as funds received from trust accounts,
monies provided by the child's family for personal use, and earnings from full-time and
regular part-time employment are to be considered as income for the child. Occasional
earnings should not be considered as income.
4. The application must be signed by an adult member of the foster home; however,
a social security number is not needed for the foster child's application.
5. Eligibility officials may verify the foster child's status as a family of one and his
or her income. However, such verification may not delay the approval of a complete
application.
Institutionalized Child
An institutionalized child is one who resides in a residential type facility that the State
has determined is not a boarding school. Such a child is considered a household of one.
Payments from any source, directly received by the institution on a child's behalf shall
not be considered as income to the child. However, the amount of money a child
personally receives or earns from any full-time or regular part-time source, shall be
considered as income. Institutionalized children are not to be categorically certified as
eligible for free or reduced price benefits. A record of each child's income, even if "0",
must be identified on the application or free and reduced price meal eligibility
documentation sheet for residential child care institutions.
/S/Samuel P. Bauer
Director
Child Nutrition Division
