Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) What is the Child and Adult Care Food Program? What are the benefits of participating in the program? Which institutions can participate? What is involved in operating a Child and Adult Care Food Program? What are the nutritional requirements for the program? Who is eligible for free and reduced-price meals? How much do institutions get reimbursed? How can we get assistance? Whom do we contact? What Family Day Care Homes are participating in the 2007-2008?* What Centers Homes are participating in the 2007-2008?* What is the Child and Adult Care Food Program? The CACFP provides financial reimbursement to licensed child and adult day care facilities and sponsored day care homes that serve healthy meals and snacks to children under 12 years of age and certain disabled adults. As of January 2007, there were five family day care home CACFP sponsors with 116 individual participating homes, there were 44 independent child and adult day care centers, and there were 19 sponsors of 128 sponsored child and adult day care facilities in the District of Columbia participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. What are the benefits of participating in the program? CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. CACFP reaches even further by providing meals to children residing in homeless shelters, and snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible after school care programs. In addition to providing well-balanced meals and snacks to children and disabled adults, benefits to an organization participating in CACFP include: Monthly reimbursements Training and technical assistance Nutrition education and Food safety Which institutions can participate? Public or private non-profit organizations providing licensed, non-residential childcare services. Family day care homes that have been licensed to provide non-residential childcare can participate through sponsorship by a CACFP approved organization. Family day care homes relative care providers that have been approved by the DC Department of Human Services (DHS). For-profit child care centers receiving compensation under Title XX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of enrolled children or 25 percent of the center license capacity, whichever is less. Or in which 25 percent of the enrolled or participating children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. For-profit childcare centers in which 25 percent of the enrolled or participating children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Public or private non-profit adult day care centers; or For-profit adult day care centers receiving compensation under Title XIX or Title XX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of enrolled adults. However, their primary function must be to provide day care services to the chronically impaired under an individualized plan that includes health, social and related support services. At-Risk After school Programs located in a geographic area served by a school, in which at least 50 percent of the enrollment is eligible for free or reduced price meals. Homeless and Domestic Violence Shelters serving meals to children from birth to twelve years of age. What is involved in operating a Child and Adult Care Food Program? The Child and Adult Care Food Program must be open to all enrolled children without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Free or reduced price meals must be provided to those children who qualify for such benefits according to specified family size and income standards. Meals must be served that meet the nutritional standards established by USDA. Records must be kept to document that the CACFP follows all federal and state rules. Some of the records that must be kept are: Facility License Enrollment form signed by parent Daily menus, including quantity served Daily attendance Number of meals, by type (breakfast, lunch, supper, or supplements), served to enrolled children each day Verification of children's eligibility category Civil rights data Internal control system What are the nutritional requirements for the program? CACFP meals are planned to include foods from the Food Guide Pyramid. Meals can be simple or more elaborate. Participating organizations must serve meals that fulfill the USDA meal pattern requirement. Breakfast (Three items) Lunch or Supper (Five items) Snacks (Two of four groups) Milk Fruit or Juice or Vegetable Grains or Bread Milk Meat or Meat Alternative Grains or Bread Two Different Servings of Fruit and/ or Vegetable Milk Meat or Meat Alternative Grains or Bread Fruit or Juice or Vegetable   Reimbursement is provided for up to two meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or supper) and a snack per day per enrollee. This monetary supplement can help balance your meal service costs. Who is eligible for free and reduced-price meals? Children from families meeting specified income criteria receive meals either free or at a reduced price. Eligibility determinations are made by an official at each institution and are based on family size and income information provided on an application submitted by a parent or guardian. Income eligibility guidelines* are derived from the federal poverty guidelines and are updated annually. How much do child care institutions get reimbursed? Child and Adult Day Care Centers July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 Meals Free Reduced Price Paid Breakfast $1.35 $1.05 $0.24 Lunch/Supper $2.47 $2.07 $0.23 Supplement (snack) $0.68 $0.34 $0.06 At family day care homes, a two-tier system of reimbursements was instituted whereby day care providers located in low-income areas or whose own household is low income, are reimbursed at a higher rate (tier 1 reimbursement) and other providers will be reimbursed at a lower rate (tier 2 reimbursement). Family Day Care Homes July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 Meals Tier 1 Rate Tier 2 Rate Breakfast $1.11 $0.41 Lunch/Supper $2.06 $1.24 Supplement (snack) $0.61 $0.17 How can we get assistance? Nutrition Services program specialists are available to provide schools with free technical assistance on how to operate a Child and Adult Care Food Program. Training is available on such topics as menu planning, proper food storage and preparation, record keeping and reporting, and clarifying federal and local regulations. Whom do we contact? For information on the Child and Adult Care Food Program, contact the District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Nutrition Services Department, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 350N, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 727-6436.