What is the CACFP?
The CACFP is a Federal program that aids child and adult care programs in providing healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving care, through reimbursement of care providers for money spent on nutritious meals. This program helps to ensure that children and adults in day care receive proper nutrition.
The program is administered at the Federal level and handed down to fund locally. Usually, your local CCR&R will sponsor the program, providing training, monitoring and disbursement of funds.
Which child care providers are eligible for reimbursement?
Family and group family day care providers.
CACFP provides reimbursement to those providers who are licensed, registered or approved to provide family child care in their home.
Child care centers.
Public or private nonprofit child care centers, Head Start programs and some for-profit centers, which are licensed or approved to provide day care may be reimbursed by CACFP for meals and snacks served to infants and children in their program.
After-school care programs.
After-school care programs in low-income areas can participate in CACFP by providing nutritious meals and snacks to school-aged children and youths through age 18.
Reimbursement Rates
Reimbursement rates can be found at this link from the USDA Food & Nutrition Service website: CACFP Reimbursement Rates
Meal Pattern Charts
Meal Standard Charts, as well as some other helpful information, can be found through the following USDA Food & Nutrition Service website link: CACFP Meal Patterns
Where do I sign up?
To find out more about the CACFP or to find a local sponsor, contact your local CCR&R or follow this link for your State agency: State Agencies
Child Care Village Meal Planning Service
The CACFP is a beneficial program in helping to see that healthy meals and snacks are provided for many children in care. It is a necessary part of the program to see that the nutritional needs of these children are met. Because of this, specific policies regarding the daily nutrition standards being met must be set and followed by caregivers.
The specific meal requirements can be difficult to follow. This is why Child Care Village makes meal planning part of our member benefits. We follow Federal requirements in planning 3 meals and 2 snacks each day. For more information on this part of our service, please see our Child Care Menus page. There you will find specifics on our program as well as our sample daycare menu.
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