Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food program (CACFP) reimburses for meals and snacks served to children up to age 13 enrolled in child care homes. The major focus of CACFP is to serve nutritious meals and snacks in child care homes which care mainly for children from low income households. However, all day care home providers meeting eligibility guidelines may take part in CACFP whether or not they care for children from low income households.
What is a Sponsoring Organization?
Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties is the CACFP sponsoring organization for child care homes in Otsego and Schoharie Counties. As the Sponsor, we provide recruitment, technical assistance and nutrition training. We review monthly attendance and menus, monitor child care programs and distribute monthly reimbursement checks.
To Be Eligible to Participate
Your home must be licensed or registered by the local day care licensing authority, or you must be an enrolled legally exempt day care provider to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. You will receive more information on eligibility when you attend the required Introduction to CACFP class.
CACFP Sets a Standard
The CACFP sets nutritional standards for children.
Through research, nutritionists have
determined what foods are necessary to eat
each day in order to get a complete balance
of nutrients in their diet. The USDA Minimum
Nutritional Requirements are the “bottom
line” because they define what we must eat
each day to stay healthy. The feeding pattern
for the CACFP meets these requirements.
It is therefore a useful guideline for
anyone with children, because it sets the
standard for you to evaluate the nutritional
quality of your meals.
Why Should I Sign Up For CACFP?
CACFP will reimburse you for the meals and snacks that you provide to children enrolled in your child care program. Your CACFP Sponsoring agency will provide training and support in nutrition, feeding children, and buying and cooking food. Also, you can let parents know that you provide healthy foods that meet CACFP guidelines.
Meal Requirements
The meals served in your child care home must include fluid milk, fruits, vegetables, bread or bread alternatives, and meat or meat alternatives.
Recommended Number of Meals and Snacks
The number of meals and snacks which
children need while in care varies depending
on the number of hours that they are
present. These guidelines may help you
decide how many meals and snacks you
should serve each day:
- Less than 4 hours in care ~ 1 snack
- 4 through 5 hours in care ~ 1 snack and 1meal to supply at least 1/3 of child’s food
requirements
- 6 through 9 hours in care ~ 2 snacks and 1
meal
- 10 or more hours in care ~ 2 snacks and 2 meals to supply at least 2/3 of the child’s daily food requirement.
Please see the Provider Updates page for important changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which is administered by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties is the sponsoring agency for Otsego and Schoharie Counties child care homes participating in the CACFP.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is
open to all eligible participants regardless of
race, color, age, sex, disability or national origin.
If you believe you have been treated
unfairly in receiving food services because of
race, color, age, sex, disability or national origin,
immediately write:
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410