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What is CACFP

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

childcare centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States.

Who is eligible to participate?

Eligible participates include public or private nonprofit childcare centers, for-profit childcare centers, Head Start Programs, and other institutions licensed or approved to provide nonresidential daycare services.

For-profit centers must have at least 25% of enrolled children receiving Title XX funds (childcare subsidy) or meet the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced meals. ​

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Public, private nonprofit, and some for-profit* adult daycare facilities which provide structured, comprehensive services to adults 60 years of age and over as well as functionally impaired, nonresident adults may participate in CACFP. 

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How does CACFP work?
CACFP reimburses participating licensed or registered child and adult care centers for meals served to eligible children and adults. It is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.​


What meals are reimbursement?
Approved facilities can receive reimbursement for either 2 meals and 1 snack or 2 snacks and 1 meal per child, per day. 


How much reimbursement will I receive?
The reimbursement rate is determined by the USDA income guidelines and varies based on whether participants are classified as free, reduced, or paid.

 

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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