09.19.2016 Soon, hundreds of thousands of low-income students will be better connected to free and reduced-price school meals. California has been approved to expand the use of Direct Certification with Medicaid through a statewide USDA demonstration project.
Direct certification is an existing, paperless process that utilizes program data (i.e. CalFresh, CalWORKS, and foster care) to connect low-income students to free school meals. However, the reach of CalFresh among eligible Californians is persistently low. In comparison, the reach of Medicaid is tremendous: 1 in 3 Californians is now enrolled in Medicaid. In addition to increasing access to free and reduced-price school meals, the expansion of Medicaid Direct Certification will reduce paperwork and administrative burden for the State, schools, and families alike.
CFPA’s fact sheet on Medicaid Direct Certification. PDF
Check out the infographic. link
Learn more about CFPA’s school meal enrollment advocacy.
Questions? Contact Elyse Homel Vitale at 510.433.1122 ext. 206.
