Child and Adult Care Food Program

mom and child eating healthy snackThe Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a program that provides healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving day care. It plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it healthy meals more affordable for low-income families.

This program is available to a variety of day care types:

Child Care Centers

Public or private nonprofit child care centers, Head Start programs, and For-Profit centers which are licensed or approved to provide day care may serve meals and snacks through CACFP. Eligibility for this program is for children age 12 or younger.

At-Risk Afterschool Meals Programs

Community-based programs that offer enrichment activities for at-risk children and teenagers, after the regular school day ends, can provide free snacks through CACFP. Eligibility for this program is for children age 18 or younger.

Homeless Shelters

Emergency shelters which provide residential and food services to homeless families may participate in CACFP. Unlike most other CACFP facilities, a shelter does not have to be licensed to provide day care. Eligibility for this program is for children age 18 or younger.

Adult Day Care Centers

Public, private nonprofit, and some for-profit adult day care facilities which provide structured, comprehensive services to functionally impaired, or adults over age 60 may participate in CACFP.

Family Day Care Homes

CACFP provides reimbursement for meals and snacks served to small groups of children receiving nonresidential day care in licensed or approved private homes. A family or group day care home must sign an agreement with a sponsoring organization to participate in CACFP. Eligibility for this program is for children age 12 or younger.