Child and Adult Care Food Program
Encyclopedia
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a type of United States
Federal assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to States
in order to provide a daily subsidized food service for an estimated 3.2 million children and 112,000 elderly or mentally or physically impaired adults in non-residential, day-care settings. The program is commonly referred to as the Child Care, Child Care Food, Adult Care, or Adult Care Food Program, and is often operating in conjunction with other child and adult day-care programs, such as the Head Start. Its federal identification number, or CFDA number, is 10.558.
(FNS) administers the program through grants-in-aid
to States. The program is administered within most States by it’s designated educational agency, such as New York’s Education Department. In certain States, the program is administered by an alternate agency, such as the State department of health, family and/or social services. At the discretion of the State’s Governor, different agencies may administer the program’s child-care and adult day-care components, such as Wildwood C.A.C.F.P in Colorado. In the State of Virginia, the program is directly administered by the Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO).
Actual federal assistance provided to States and their designated agencies are in the form of cash reimbursement for meals served, and any other donation by the USDA to provide such meals. Program funds are provided to States through letters of credit issued under the FNS Agency Financial Management System. The States, in turn, use the funds to reimburse institutions for costs of actual operations (e.g. providing meals), as well as to support State administrative expenses. Generally, a State’s claim to cash reimbursement from the USDA is computed by first determining the number of meals served (by category and type), and multiplying the amount of service by a per-unit payment rate, also known as the “reimbursement rate.” The “type” of meal refers to the kind of meal service for which the institution seeks reimbursement, such as breakfasts, lunches, snacks, supplements, and dinners served. The “category” refers to the type of economic need of the child or adult to whom a meal is served, which can be categorized as “paid,” “reduced price,” or “free” meals.
Child-care, adult day-care, and outside-school-hours centers may charge a single fee to cover tuition, meals, and all other day care services to recoup certain costs, however the vast majority of these centers operate non-pricing (free) programs. Nevertheless, all institutions must determine the eligibility of children and adults enrolled at these centers (e.g. low-income, mentally or physically disabled, etc.) for free or reduced price meal
s because such eligibility determinations affect the reimbursement rates for meals served to the participants. Homeless children residing at a participating homeless shelter are considered categorically eligible for meals served by that shelter. After-school at-risk programs, emergency shelters, and family day care homes are prohibited from charging separately for meals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to States
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
in order to provide a daily subsidized food service for an estimated 3.2 million children and 112,000 elderly or mentally or physically impaired adults in non-residential, day-care settings. The program is commonly referred to as the Child Care, Child Care Food, Adult Care, or Adult Care Food Program, and is often operating in conjunction with other child and adult day-care programs, such as the Head Start. Its federal identification number, or CFDA number, is 10.558.
Program benefits
The program’s benefits consist of nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, adult day care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, after-school at-risk programs, family and group day care homes, and homeless and emergency shelters. These centers and shelters can be public and private non-profit centers, proprietary organizations, schools, private homes, and elderly centers, among others, on condition that they all comply with Federal, State and local licensing and approval requirements.Administration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition ServiceFood and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , was established on August 8, 1969. FNS is the federal agency responsible for administering the nation’s domestic nutrition assistance programs...
(FNS) administers the program through grants-in-aid
Federal grant
In the United States, federal grants are economic aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of...
to States. The program is administered within most States by it’s designated educational agency, such as New York’s Education Department. In certain States, the program is administered by an alternate agency, such as the State department of health, family and/or social services. At the discretion of the State’s Governor, different agencies may administer the program’s child-care and adult day-care components, such as Wildwood C.A.C.F.P in Colorado. In the State of Virginia, the program is directly administered by the Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO).
Actual federal assistance provided to States and their designated agencies are in the form of cash reimbursement for meals served, and any other donation by the USDA to provide such meals. Program funds are provided to States through letters of credit issued under the FNS Agency Financial Management System. The States, in turn, use the funds to reimburse institutions for costs of actual operations (e.g. providing meals), as well as to support State administrative expenses. Generally, a State’s claim to cash reimbursement from the USDA is computed by first determining the number of meals served (by category and type), and multiplying the amount of service by a per-unit payment rate, also known as the “reimbursement rate.” The “type” of meal refers to the kind of meal service for which the institution seeks reimbursement, such as breakfasts, lunches, snacks, supplements, and dinners served. The “category” refers to the type of economic need of the child or adult to whom a meal is served, which can be categorized as “paid,” “reduced price,” or “free” meals.
Child-care, adult day-care, and outside-school-hours centers may charge a single fee to cover tuition, meals, and all other day care services to recoup certain costs, however the vast majority of these centers operate non-pricing (free) programs. Nevertheless, all institutions must determine the eligibility of children and adults enrolled at these centers (e.g. low-income, mentally or physically disabled, etc.) for free or reduced price meal
Reduced price meal
Reduced price meal is a term used in the U.S.A. to describe a federally reimbursable meal served to a child who applies for and qualifies because the family’s income is between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty threshold...
s because such eligibility determinations affect the reimbursement rates for meals served to the participants. Homeless children residing at a participating homeless shelter are considered categorically eligible for meals served by that shelter. After-school at-risk programs, emergency shelters, and family day care homes are prohibited from charging separately for meals.
See also
- Head Start Program
- Food Stamp ProgramFood Stamp ProgramThe United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , historically and commonly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal-assistance program that provides assistance to low- and no-income people and families living in the U.S. Though the program is administered by the U.S. Department of...
- Nutrition Assistance for Puerto RicoNutrition Assistance for Puerto RicoNutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico or NAP is a federal assistance nutritional program provided by the US Department of Agriculture solely to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a self-governing dependency of the United States. It provides over $1.5 billion in supplemental economic resources to help...
- Federal assistance in the United StatesFederal assistance in the United StatesIn the United States, federal assistance, also known as federal aid, federal benefits, or federal funds, is defined as any federal program, project, service, and activity provided by the federal government that directly assists or benefits the American public in the areas of education, health,...
- Child care management softwareChild care management softwareChild care management software also referred to as child care administrative software or daycare accounting software is a term used to describe a unique category of business software designed specifically for use by child care centers, preschools and similar child oriented facilities...