The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps family and group day care centers, as well as child and adult care facilities, by providing funding for meals. These centers use the funds to offer healthy meals and snacks to children, elderly people, and those with disabilities. The program reimburses centers for serving qualifying meals and snacks at either free, reduced-price, or compensated rates. At day care centers, all meals are provided at no cost. Centers that serve children in low-income areas or meet certain low-income criteria can receive higher reimbursement rates. In this post, we’ll explore the eligibility criteria for this U.S. program and how centers can apply for it.
USA Child and Adult Care Food Program
Child care centers and homes participating in the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) receive reimbursement for providing healthy meals and snacks to both children and adults in their care. This program helps support child care centers, adult day care centers, day care homes, after-school programs, and emergency shelters by covering the costs of nutritious food that meets federal standards.
For day care centers, reimbursement is available for up to two meals and one snack per day for each eligible child or adult. Emergency shelters can receive reimbursement for serving three meals a day. After-school care facilities can offer one meal and one snack per day.
For more information about this program, you can refer to the USA Child and Adult Care Food Program details.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)- Overview
| Title | USA Child and Adult Care Food Program |
| Year | 2024 |
| Name of the Country | United States of America |
| Name of the Agency | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| Name of the Program | Child and Adult Care Food Program |
| USA Child and Adult Care Food Program Eligibility 2024 | Qualified Childrens and Adults |
| Category | Finance |
| Official Web Portal | www.benefits.gov |
USA Child and Adult Care Food Program Eligibility 2024
The USA Child and Adult Care Food Program provides support based on the age of the children and adults involved. Here’s a simple breakdown of who qualifies for the program in 2024:
- Children in Child Care Centers and Day Care Homes: Must be 12 years old or younger.
- Children of Migrant Workers: Must be 15 years old or younger.
- Children in After-School Care Centers or Emergency Shelters: Must be 18 years old or younger.
- Adults in Adult Day Care: Must be 60 years old or older.
These age guidelines help determine eligibility for receiving benefits from the program.
How to Apply for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in 2024
If you’re interested in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and wondering how to apply, it’s actually quite simple. There isn’t a formal application process you need to follow. Instead, just reach out to your state agency for information on nutritional meals for children and adults.
For more details, you can also call 1-866-348-6479 or 1-877-842-6273. We’ve included some extra information below that might be helpful as you learn more about the CACFP.
| Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number | 10.558 |
| Current Method of Tribal Eligibility | Program not specific to American Indians and Alaska Natives, but they are eligible |
| Funding Type | Mandatory |
| Matching Funds Required | No |
CACFP Rates 2024
CACFP Rates 2024 are provided by the Federal Government as well as the state Government. We will see these rates below:
Daycare Home Federal Reimbursement
| Tier | Breakfast | Lunch | Snacks |
| Tier I | $1.66 | $3.15 | $0.93 |
| Tier II | $0.60 | $1.90 | $0.26 |
DayCare Centre Federal Reimbursement
| Breakfast | Lunch | Snacks | |
| Free | $2.37 | $4.43 | $1.21 |
| Reduced | $2.07 | $4.03 | $0.60 |
| Paid | $0.39 | $0.42 | $0.11 |
| At Risk | NA | $4.43 | $1.21 |
Administrative Reimbursement for Sponsoring Organization for Day Care Homes
| Number of Day Care Homes | Rate |
| Initial 50 Day Care Homes | $147 |
| Next 150 Day Care Homes | $112 |
| Next 800 Day Care Homes | $87 |
| Additional Day Care Homes | $77 |
FAQ
What meals are covered by CACFP reimbursement?
CACFP covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. All meals need to follow USDA guidelines, which emphasize healthy grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and low sugar and fat content.
How does CACFP figure out how much to reimburse?
The reimbursement amount depends on the number of meals served and whether the participants qualify for free, reduced-price, or paid meals. The USDA sets the rates each year, which vary by meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack) and the type of facility (like a day care center or child care home).
Can people who aren’t enrolled receive meals at CACFP facilities?
No, CACFP reimbursements are only for meals served to enrolled participants. Facilities need to carefully track and report the number of meals given to eligible participants to ensure they receive proper reimbursement and stay compliant.