Economic Security
CalFresh Resources for College Faculty Working With Foster Youth
CalFresh is an important resource for college students and for current and former foster youth who are food insecure or at risk of food insecurity, however because of restrictive federal rules regarding CalFresh and college students and confusion about how to consider foster care payments when determining CalFresh eligibility, the CalFresh application process can be challenging for this population. The documents and resources below are intended to assist college campus faculty and other supportive adults with navigating the CalFresh application process with this population.
CalFresh Tools and Resources
FAQ on Non-minor Dependents & CalFresh: This document answers 18 frequently asked questions about young adults participating in extended foster care applying for and accessing CalFresh.
Prescreening Tool: College faculty and staff can use this tool to pre-determine if a student is potentially eligible for CalFresh.
Student Eligibility Criteria Template: College faculty and staff can provide this document for students to provide to their county CalFresh eligibility worker to verify that the student is participating in an “exempting” program.
CalFresh Process Cheat Sheet: This document walks through the CalFresh application Process.
CalFresh Application Tutorial: This tutorial was provided at the California Community College Basic Needs Summit.
GetCalFresh.org: A website that allows you to apply online for CalFresh from mobile phone (or computer) available in some counties.
CalFresh Outreach Video: This video is designed as a basic introduction to the CalFresh application process.
CalFresh Guidance Issued by CDSS
ACL 21-58 (May 21, 2021): CalFresh Student Eligibility: Verification of Exemptions
ACL 21-11E (March 3, 2021): CalFresh Student Eligibility: COVID-19 Relief Package
ACL 20-114 (October 28, 2020): CalFresh Student Eligibility: Work Study Verification Letter and Form
ACL 20-34 (July 26, 2020): CalFresh Student Eligibility: Puente Project
ACL 20-08 (February 12, 2020): CalFresh Student Eligibility Handbook
ACL 19-32 (April 22, 2019): CalFresh Student Eligibility: Clarification Regarding CalGrants for Community College Students
ACL 18-27 (April 2, 2018): CalFresh Student Eligibility: Implementation of Assembly Bill 214
ACIN I-68-17 (October 2, 2017): CalFresh Treatment of Non-Minor Dependent (NMD) Foster Care Income
ACL 17-05 (February 14, 2017): CalFresh Student Eligibility
ACL 15-70 (September 17, 2015): CalFresh Student Elgibility
