The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency. States receive federal funding to run their own TANF programs. You can apply for help at your local or county TANF office. Learn more about TANF services in your state.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy by helping them with energy costs. LIHEAP provides assistance in managing costs associated with home energy bills, energy emergencies, weather-proofing, and energy-related minor home repairs. Learn more by contacting the agency that manages LIHEAP in your state.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is known as WIC. The goal of WIC is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 by providing nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, and health care referrals. Most WIC programs provide vouchers that moms can use at approved grocery stores. To learn more about WIC and locate information about WIC in your state.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers food assistance to low-income individuals and families. The federal Food and Nutrition Service works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure help people who are eligible for SNAP benefits. To apply for benefits, or for information about SNAP, contact your local SNAP office.
Child nutrition programs, including school meal programs and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, help fight hunger and obesity by helping schools, child care centers and family child care programs, and afterschool programs pay for healthy meals for children.
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School meal programs provide low-cost or free nutritionally balanced meals to children each school day. School meal programs are available in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care programs. Contact information for the agency that runs school meal programs in your state is available here.
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The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides financial aid to help child care providers pay for nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children. To learn whether your child care provider participates in this program, contact the agency that manages the program in your state.