Child and Adult Care Food Program

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a type of United States Federal
assistance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to States in order to
provide a daily subsidized food service for an estimated 3.3 million children and 120,000 elderly or
mentally or physically impaired adults[1] in non-residential, day-care settings. It is a branch within the
Policy and Program Development Division of theChild nutrition programs, along with the School
Programs Branch, which runs the National School Lunch Program. [2] The program is commonly
referred to as the Child Care, Child Care Food, Adult Care, or Adult Care Food Program, and is
often operating in conjunction with other child and adult day-care programs, such as the Head Start.
Its federal identification number, or CFDA number, is 10.558.[2] Section 17 of the National School
Lunch Act, and US Department of Agriculture issues the program regulations under 7 CFR part 226.[3]
Contents
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1 Program benefits

2 Administration

3 See also

4 References

5 External links

Program benefits[edit]
The programs benefits consist of nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible children and adults
who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, adult day care centers, outside-schoolhours care centers, after-school at-risk programs, family and group day care homes, and homeless
and emergency shelters. These centers and shelters can be public and private non-profit centers,
proprietary organizations, schools, private homes, and elderly centers, among others, on condition
that they all comply with Federal, State and local licensing and approval requirements. [2] Through
CACFP, children and older adults gain access to "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."[1]

Administration[edit]
The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the program
through grants-in-aid to States. The program is administered within most States by its designated
educational agency, such as New Yorks Education Department. In certain States, the program is
administered by an alternate agency, such as the State department of health, family and/or social
services. At the discretion of the States Governor, different agencies may administer the programs
child-care and adult day-care components, such as Wildwood C.A.C.F.P in Colorado. In the State of
Virginia, the program is directly administered by the Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Regional
Office (MARO).[2]
Actual federal assistance provided to States and their designated agencies are in the form of cash
reimbursement for meals served, and any other donation by the USDA to provide such meals.

Program funds are provided to States through letters of credit issued under the FNS Agency
Financial Management System. The States, in turn, use the funds to reimburse institutions for costs
of actual operations (e.g. providing meals), as well as to support State administrative expenses.
Generally, a States claim to cash reimbursement from the USDA is computed by first determining the
number of meals served (by category and type), and multiplying the amount of service by a per-unit
payment rate, also known as the reimbursement rate. The type of meal refers to the kind of meal
service for which the institution seeks reimbursement, such as breakfasts, lunches, snacks,
supplements, and dinners served. The category refers to the type of economic need of the child or
adult to whom a meal is served, which can be categorized as paid, reduced price, or free meals.
[2]

Child-care, adult day-care, and outside-school-hours centers may charge a single fee to cover tuition,
meals, and all other day care services to recoup certain costs, however the vast majority of these
centers operate non-pricing (free) programs. Nevertheless, all institutions must determine the
eligibility of children and adults enrolled at these centers (e.g. low-income, mentally or physically
disabled, etc.) for free or reduced price meals because such eligibility determinations affect the
reimbursement rates for meals served to the participants. Homeless children residing at a
participating homeless shelter are considered categorically eligible for meals served by that shelter.
After-school at-risk programs, emergency shelters, and family day care homes are prohibited from
charging separately for meals.[2]