Program Overview
The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) and is administered by the Indiana Department of Education. The SFSP assists children belonging to underprivileged backgrounds and poor households to buy food items to improve their health conditions during their summer vacations.
Program Objectives
The main aim of the Indiana Summer Food Service Program for Children is to provide the kids from underprivileged families living on a fixed budget with an opportunity to improve their food quality and receive healthy nutrition during their summer breaks. It helps them add valuable nutrition to their diet by purchasing food that is healthy and nutritious.
The program also provides education to individuals and families on how to include healthy food in their diet. This leads them to live a healthy and self- sustaining lifestyle subsequently increasing the quality of life of the people in the state. Through the Summer Food Service Program, the state makes sure that the children are getting nutritious food when they are not attending school during summer breaks.
The job of the agencies running the Indiana Summer Food Service Program is to identify children’s living in poor households whose parents’ income is low. The agencies also work to distribute healthy meals around churches, parks, and playgrounds.
Eligibility Requirements
Only eligible applicants can avail the benefits of the Summer Food Service Program for Children in Indiana and the eligibility requirements include,
- The candidate should be a permanent resident of the state of Indiana
- The candidate must have a US citizenship or legal alien to receive the Summer Food Program for Children
- The candidate must be a high school student with 18 years of age or younger
- The income level of the household should be within the income limit brackets specifies by the federal and the state government
The number of members in the household and the total household income are also very important factors while considering a candidate for the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSPC) in the state of Indiana.
An additional amount will be added per additional person if the size of the household exceeds more than 8 people. It is important to stay in touch with a proper managing agency in your locality to receive accurate guidelines and future policies related to the Indiana Summer Food Service Program for Children.
There are other certain criteria for the Summer Food Service Program for Indiana which decides the eligibility of the candidate. Those are,
- If the children are migrant
- If the children are homeless or don’t live at their home due to factors like abusive parents
- If the children qualify for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Head Start program provided by the state
You can also visit the official website of the Indiana Summer Food Service Program for Children website to check the eligibility criteria of the program. The applicant will have to provide information like,
- Earnings
- Rent or mortgage
- Utility expenses
- Child support expenses
- Day-care expenses
- Other benefit programs you have applied to
- Any other payments
How to Apply
There are multiple ways to apply for the Indiana SFSPC which an applicant can use to apply for the program,
- Online application
After making sure of your eligibility for the Summer Food Service Program for Children, the next step is the application process. You can make your application online by visiting the Indiana SFSP website. Here you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Indiana to access the application form.
- Apply through the local office
To get your child registered for the free summer food program, you will have to get in touch with your child’s school office. The school administration that deals with this program will guide you through the whole application process. In order to find an office near you please visit the Summer Food Service Program site locator. You can also call the SFSPC office by calling the Division of School and Community Nutrition at 1-800-537-1142.
It is important to fill it as accurately and truthfully as possible because false statements can lead you to penalties. Once the application is submitted you cannot change it hence it is advisable to be careful while filling out the application form.
Before filling the application form make sure you have all the required information to speed up the process. Once you have filled out the application form you can return it to the SPSP office either by,
- Fax
- In-person
For Further Information
In case of queries or any extra data required, information about the Indiana Summer Food Service Program is available on the Indiana SFSPC website. It provides information regarding the program policies and guidelines to applicants to help them get a better understating of the program. This makes the applying process very flexible for the applicants who can use any of the above-mentioned methods to apply for the Summer Food Service Program for Children in the state of Indiana. Visit Benefits by State for more insights.
