What is the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)?
The Food Program
The technical definition of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as described by USDA on their website: "CACFP provides aid to child and adult care institutions and family or group day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons."
Nationwide the 1.9 billion meals were served in 2015 to 4 million children and 125,000 seniors. (FRAC)
Nationwide the 1.9 billion meals were served in 2015 to 4 million children and 125,000 seniors. (FRAC)
How Does It Work?Child care providers (family child care, centers, after school programs and others) are partially reimbursed for the food they feed the children in their care. Providers have to meet CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements, submit claims, menus and many other types of documentation to their sponsoring organizations or directly to the state. The state then submits their claim to the federal agency and checks are released. Many regulations and factors are put into place for both the providers (meal service providers), sponsoring organizations and states.
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More Than Partial ReimbursementThe food program is more than a partial reimbursement program for food service. It is an indicator of quality child care.
Child care facilities that sign up to be a part of the food program invite unannounced monitoring visits to their program - three times a year. Not only are they serving up to three meals a day to the children in their care, but they are receiving nutrition education to establish healthy habits for the young children in their care. Those on the CACFP show dedication to creating a healthier space and high quality for the children in their care. |
Battling 2 sides of the coinWhen children are in child care upwards of 8 hours a day, they are eating in the least - 2 snacks and lunch (usually more).
This means that child care facilities are a major touchpoint for teaching healthy habits and serving nutrient dense, low caloric foods. This fights the obesity epidemic in young children as well as get foods into the bellies of children who may only be eating while they are in child care. In 2014, 15.3 million children lived in food insecure households. (Feeding America) Nearly 1-3 children (ages 2-19) are obese or overweight. (Alliance for a Healthier Generation) |