REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 19, 2025
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the California Department of Education for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division, in the amount of $2,089,629, for continued participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or the Director of the Preschool Services Department to electronically execute and submit the grant application and all subsequent application documents required to receive the grant award, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant application in the amount of $2,089,629 for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2025-26 budget and will be included in the 2026-27 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start Preschool (HSP), and State Preschool programs by providing services to eligible children and families through direct services throughout San Bernardino County. The programs provide education, health, cognitive, social/emotional, physical growth and development, and parent-involvement services for children ages zero to five with the overall goal of increasing the school readiness, health, and wellness of young children from economically disadvantaged families.
The State requires PSD to submit an annual renewal grant application for continued CACFP participation, which provides funding for serving healthy meals and snacks to children enrolled in PSD’s EHS, HSP, and State Preschool programs. Upon approval from the Board of Supervisors, the CACFP grant application must be submitted to the State by August 30, 2025. As mandated by the Head Start Program Performance Standards Part 1302 Subpart D (1302.44 - Child Nutrition), PSD is required to provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks to the EHS, HSP, and State Preschool eligible children countywide.
PSD has received CACFP funding since 1965 and will use this funding to provide approximately 659,189 meals and snacks to an estimated 1,471 center-based HS, EHS, and State Preschool eligible children countywide who will receive breakfast, lunch, and snack at an average cost of $3.17 per meal.
The Director of PSD is listed as the principal responsible for program management of this grant, which requires the Delegation of Authority to electronically execute and submit the grant application and all subsequent application documents required to receive the grant award, on behalf of the County.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Bonnie Uphold, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 8, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on August 8, 2025.