The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses family child care providers for the nutritious meals and snacks they serve to children in their care. The CACFP program is a great way for providers to earn back the money they spend feeding children, and for children to get the healthy food they need to thrive. Please note: Rates of reimbursement change each year in July. The United States Department of Agriculture meal pattern requirements must be met and all required paperwork must be completed in a timely manner. Action for Children technical assistance monitors are available to provide training and support to providers. At this time Action for Children provides CACFP services for family child care providers.
For Child Care Centers who are interested in participating in the CACFP, please click here.
Why Join the CACFP Food Program?
Nutritious Food for Children
- CACFP encourages healthy eating habits while promoting nutritional education for children.
- CACFP helps make it possible for family child care providers to provide children in their care a variety of nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality protein, fresh dairy products, and whole grain and enriched breads and cereals.
Family Child Care Provider Training
- CACFP offers family child care providers training in nutrition for children, planning nutritious meals and snacks, and many other useful topics.
Money for Providers
- Providers are reimbursed monthly for up to three qualifying meals and snacks, per child, per day.
What Do I Need to Do to Participate?
- Be licensed for family child care, according to Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services guidelines.
- Serve meals to all enrolled children (ages 12 and younger) which meet CACFP requirements at no additional cost to parents.
- Only claim meals actually served to enrolled children.
- Attend one CACFP nutrition training session each year.
- Allow representatives of Action for Children, the Ohio Department of Education, and/or the US Department of Agriculture to come into the provider’s home to review CACFP operations. Visits will be made at least three times in a 12-month period (October 1 through September 30) and are unannounced. Visits are made to provide technical assistance and view the nutritional meals being served, as well as the children in the home.
- Keep all paperwork and required forms up-to-date and accurate.
- Keep records at each meal service of the identification numbers and food served to enrolled children who are present.
Join CACFP Today
If you are interested in becoming part of Action for Children’s Child and Adult Care Food Program, please contact us at 614.224.0222 or email us at cacfp@actionforchildren.org
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, and in Ohio, is administered by the Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. A total of 9 sponsors, including Action for Children, implement the program in Ohio. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
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 Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a 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
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.