REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 18, 2026
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, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or the Director of the Preschool Services Department to electronically 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, 945-6478)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Social Services. The grant amount of $2,089,629 does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2026-27 budget and will be included in the 2027-28 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start Preschool (HSP), and State Preschool programs (SPP) by providing services to eligible children and families through direct services throughout San Bernardino County (County). The programs provide education, health, cognitive, social/emotional, physical growth and development, and parent-involvement services for children ages zero to five years with the overall goal of increasing the school readiness, health, and wellness of young children from economically disadvantaged families.
PSD is required to submit an annual renewal grant application for continued CACFP participation, which provides reimbursement for serving healthy meals and snacks to children enrolled in its EHS, HSP, and SPP programs. With approval from the Board of Supervisors (Board), the CACFP grant application must be submitted to the State of California by August 28, 2026. 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 EHS, HSP, and SPP eligible children countywide.
PSD has received CACFP reimbursements since 1965 and will use this funding to provide approximately 659,189 meals and snacks to an estimated 1,500 center-based eligible children who will receive breakfast, lunch, and snacks at an average cost of $3.17 per meal.
The Director of PSD is listed as the designee for program management of this grant, which requires Delegation of Authority by the Board to electronically submit the grant application and all subsequent application documents required to receive the grant award on behalf of the County.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 27, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on August 4, 2026.