Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

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, such as 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 professionals 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 (two meals and one snack, or two snacks and one meal).

• Serve meals to all enrolled children (ages 12 and younger) who 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.

Am I Eligible?

• Be licensed for family child care, according to the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services guidelines.
• Have at least one non-resident child enrolled and attending your Family Child Care program

Requirements

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. Child care centers interested in participating in the CACFP can get more information below.

Remain licensed for family child care, according to the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services guidelines.

Providers are reimbursed monthly for up to three qualifying meals and snacks, per child, per day (two meals and one snack, or two snacks and one meal). The CACFP will reimburse you for two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal per eligible child.

You can receive reimbursement for eligible children in your care, as long as at least one child you look after isn’t your own, and your family meets income requirements.

Payments start approximately two months after you submit your initial claim, and Action for Children provides free software to easily record and submit your monthly meal information. Your payment amount depends on factors like your income and where you live.