Overview of the New York State CACFP  

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that reimburses child care providers for providing healthy meals and snacks to children in child care. Each day more than 2.6 million children participate in CACFP.  CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of child care.  Participants’ nutritional needs are supported on a daily basis through USDA meal standards.  

Reimbursable Meals 

Breakfast, lunch, supper and morning, afternoon and late night snacks may be reimbursed.  A maximum of two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal may be claimed per participant per day. Meals and snacks must provide a minimum number of food components in defined serving sizes to qualify for reimbursement. Food components include fluid milk, fruits and vegetables, breads and bread alternates, and meat and meat alternates.

Benefits

Children

• From birth to twelve years of age receive nutritious meals and snacks

• Receives meals based on USDA meal standards for young children

• Develop good, healthy eating habits

Child Care Providers

• Encourage positive eating habits in children

• Enhance the quality of care provided

• Receive FREE nutritional training

• Receive recipes and resources for preparing meals

• Receive in-home technical assistance

• Reduce out-of-pocket food expense

• Receive monthly reimbursement checks

 Who is Eligible

• Registered or licensed child care providers

• Providers that are in the process of becoming a registered or licensed child care provider 

  and

• Enrolled /Legally Exempt Providers

 Responsibilities of Participants in the CACFP

• Offer children nutritious meals and snacks in accordance with USDA guidelines.

• Introduce children to a variety of foods

• Comply with rules set by Federal Government, New York State Department of Health, and the Child Care Resource Network

• Keep daily attendance of children being served

• Keep daily menus of foods served

• Participate in the nutritional training and education offered annually

• Provide children with a safe and healthy environment for eating

• Allow the sponsoring agency to visit your home at least 3 times a year to review meal service and program records

• Submit monthly Menu and Attendance Records  by the 4^th day of each month

10 Reasons Why I Should Participate in the CACFP

1.    It’s free!
2.    You will receive approximately $75.00 per month per child for meals served to your 
       day care children.  
3.    Encourage positive eating habits in children.
4.    Enhance the quality of care provided.
5.    Receive FREE nutritional training.
6.    Receive recipes and resources for preparing meals.
7.    Receive in-home technical assistance.
8.    Reduce out-of-pocket food expense.
9.    FREE record keeping web-based program for those with internet access. With the web-based program, you can doing daily planning, cycle menus, electronically maintain daily attendance records and electronically submit your claim.
10.  Have your monthly reimbursement check deposited directly into your checking account.   
 

CACFP Policy and Procedure Handbook