Referral Partner FAQs
To be eligible, clients must have a qualifying illness, compromised nutritional status, and require help with some or all daily activities. Qualifying illnesses include: HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes (with an A1C of over 8% and a severe complication), stage 5 renal disease, congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder “COPD” (stage III or IV), Multiple Sclerosis (RRPS, SPMS, PPMS), ALS (middle or late stages), Parkinson’s (Stage III, IV or V), and Cystic Fibrosis. Anyone currently in hospice care is eligible, regardless of their illness. There are no age or income requirements--eligibility is entirely based on illness status.
To refer a client, please download the intake form from our website. Please return the completed form and supporting documents (if applicable) to us via email (intake@foodandfriends.org), fax (202-635-4261) or mail (Client Services: 219 Riggs Rd. NE Washington, DC 20011). You may also refer a client online through our portal. To do so, please call (202-269-6825) or email (intake@foodandfriends.org) our intake coordinator for a link to the portal.
We require recent labs for clients with HIV and diabetes. If your client is HIV+, please send labs from within the past 6 months showing their current CD4/Viral Load. If your client has diabetes, please send labs from within the past 3 months showing their A1C level. Please see the A1C eligibility requirements below:
- Adult clients: A1C must be over 8%
- Pediatric Type 1 clients: A1C must be over 11%
- Pediatric Type 2 clients: A1C must be over 7.5%
If your client’s A1C does not meet this threshold, but they have another condition like stage 5 renal disease, they may qualify under those categories.
If you are referring someone who is HIV+, lives in Fairfax County, and/or has diabetes YES! If you are referring someone NOT in any of those categories, you only need to send the intake form. For clients with Diabetes, please send labs showing their A1C from within the past 3 months. When referring someone who is HIV+, along with the intake form, please send: proof of residency, proof of income, labs from within the past 6 months showing ther CD4/Viral Load, and proof of insurance. If your patient does not have income or insurance, please email intake@foodandfriends.org and we will send you a verification letter to complete. Income is not a determinant of service. If the client lives in Fairfax County, please send in a proof of income with the intake form.
Please list your email on the referral form so that we can follow up! We will confirm receipt of the referral within two business days. If the client is eligible, our intake coordinator, Mira, will reach out to them within one week to schedule them for their next available delivery day.
- D.C. deliveries are made Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday
- MD deliveries are made Monday, Wednesday, or Friday
- VA deliveries are made on Monday
Our Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) program has 11 specialized meal plans: medically balanced, pureed, vegetarian, dialysis friendly, mild/low fiber, soft, low lactose, no fish, no beef no pork, and shelf-stable. Our Medically Tailored Groceries (MTG) program has 7 specialized meal plans: regular, vegetarian, renal, no dairy, no fish, diabetic, heart healthy. We can combine up to 3 different meal plans.
Our dietitians assess clients to see if they need supplements during a nutrition assessment.
We can deliver to 1 caretaker and 3 dependents (under the age of 18) OR up to 4 dependents (under the age of 18). If the client is a child, we can add one adult caregiver.
Our delivery window for all clients is 10 a.m. -3 p.m. On their delivery day, clients will receive a call from their driver (the phone number may vary as we have both staff and volunteer drivers). Please let your client know to expect a call. Someone must be home to receive the delivery (we cannot leave the food unattended due to food safety reasons).
Clients receiving medically tailored meals receive a delivery every week. Clients receiving groceries receive a delivery every other week.
A dietitian will reach out to your client within two weeks of them starting service. Your client will also be provided with their dietitian’s name and number during their first day delivery.
Please have clients call the Client Services line at 202-269-6820. If clients need to cancel a delivery, we ask that they call 24 hours in advance.
Most clients recertify every 9 months. Clients with HIV recertify annually.
Check whether a client is eligible: Please email Absa at clients@foodandfriends.org
Check the status of a referral: Please email Mira at intake@foodandfriends.org
Check the status of recertification: Please email Sophie at recert@foodandfriends.org