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Child and Adult Care Food Program

Since 1968 the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) has provided federal funds to child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start, and after-school programs. The program allows child care providers to meet the nutritional needs of young children.

As of 2007, almost 190,000 child care homes and centers participated in the program. To be eligible to participate in the program, a family child care home or child care center must be licensed or approved to provide child care. Public and non-profit private schools that offer before/after-school programs are also eligible to receive funds under CACFP. The program is primarily for non-profits; however, for profit child care centers using Title XX (SSBG) funds to serve 25 percent or more of low-income children are also eligible. Below are the categories of children eligible to receive assistance under CACFP:

• Centers participating in CACFP may be reimbursed for meals served to children 12 years or younger.
• Children of migrant families and children with disabilities may be eligible under this program up to the age of 15.
• All children participating in the Head Start or Even Start program are eligible for CACFP assistance.
• If a child care center operates an approved after school child care program, snacks can be provided, under CACFP, to children ages 13-18.

Centers participating in the program are reimbursed based on the types of meals they serve and the type of care being provided. The program has a means-tested tiered reimbursement rate system. Family child care homes have a two-tiered reimbursement system and child care centers have a three-tiered reimbursement system. Each tier is based on the level of income of the children being served.

As a part of CACFP, inspections are conducted to protect program integrity and ensure that participants are in compliance. Under the program, there are three inspections a year.

Unfortunately, over a ten year period, there has been over a 25 percent decline in the number of child care centers and family child care homes participating in the program. The main reason for the decline is the cumbersome reimbursement process, including the level of reimbursement and the reimbursement amount.

CACFP is likely to be reauthorized in 2009. NACCRRA is working with Congress and other national organizations to try to improve the program. We believe CACFP is an integral component to child care programs and want to see participation increase.