Benefits of the Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. Unless you are in a very high-income area and keep your center at near capacity with private pay parents, it is a no brainer to participate in the Federal Food Program. By following the program, complete and file by the designated deadline, reimbursement will cover food costs, labor cost for food preparation as well as some administrative program costs.
By opting out of participating in the Federal Food Program, you are leaving money, often significant sums, on the table. For example, a center may spend $4,500 on food and another $1,000 for kitchen staff each month, and by participating in the Federal Food Program, you would probably have recovered most if not all of the cost. That’s $5,500 to utilize in program improvements, staff wages and benefits. What childcare owner couldn’t use an additional $5,500 per month in cash flow.
Below you can read more about The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and what the program covers. For more information, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp.
Eligible public or private nonprofit child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, Head Start programs, and other institutions which are licensed or approved to provide day care services may participate in CACFP, independently or as Householded centers. These centers receive cash reimbursement for serving meals to enrolled children and adults that meet Federal nutritional guidelines.
The CACFP meal pattern varies according to age and types of meal served. Centers and day care homes may be approved to claim up to two reimbursable meals (breakfast, lunch or supper) and one snack, or two snacks and one meal, to each eligible participant, each day. Emergency shelters may claim up to three reimbursable meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) to each eligible resident, each day. Afterschool care programs may claim reimbursement for serving one meal and one snack to each eligible participant, each day.
Reimbursement for centers is computed by claiming percentages, blended per meal rates, or actual meal count by type (breakfast, lunch, supper, or snack) and eligibility category (free, reduced price, and paid). The state agency assigns a method of reimbursement for centers, based on meals multiplied by rates, or the lesser of meals multiplied by rates versus actual documented costs.
The National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) has been the leading national organization for sponsors who administer the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) since 1986, providing education, information on legislation, regulation and advocacy issues, and resources to support the essential work of the CACFP community who ensure that every child has access to nutritious food year-round.