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Massachusetts and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP)

image in article Massachusetts and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP)The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program in the United States that provides financial assistance to child care providers, schools, and other organizations offering nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults in their care. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), CACFP plays a crucial role in promoting the #health-and well-being of individuals in child care settings, adult day care centers, after-school programs, and #emergency shelters.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) exists to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations. This program was established with several key objectives in mind:

Promoting Nutrition:

  • CACFP aims to improve the nutritional quality of meals and snacks served to individuals in participating care settings. By establishing specific nutrition standards, the program encourages the provision of well-balanced and wholesome foods that contribute to overall #health-and well-being. Participating providers must adhere to specific nutrition standards, ensuring that meals include appropriate servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. This focus on nutrition aims to promote #healthy-eating habits from an early age. Understanding the USDA MyPlate food guide is an important step. Check out ChildCareEd’s article: Childhood Nutrition to learn more.

Addressing Food Insecurity:

  • CACFP plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity among children and adults in various care environments. By providing financial assistance to participating child care centers, family child care #homes, afterschool programs, and adult day care centers, CACFP helps ensure that nutritious meals are accessible to those who may face economic challenges.

Supporting Child Development:

  • For child care providers, particularly in #early-childhood-education settings, CACFP supports the healthy #development of young children. Proper nutrition is essential for cognitive development, physical growth, and overall well-being. CACFP helps create an environment where children receive the nutrition necessary for optimal learning and development.

Reducing Health Disparities:

  • CACFP aims to reduce health disparities by ensuring that all participants in non-residential care settings have access to nutritious meals, regardless of their socio-economic background. This helps level the playing field and contributes to long-term health outcomes.

Fostering Good Eating Habits:

  • By promoting nutritious meals and snacks, CACFP assists child care providers in instilling good eating habits in children at an early age. Exposure to healthy food choices and positive eating experiences contributes to the development of lifelong habits that can prevent diet-related health issues.

Enhancing Program Quality:

  • For child care centers and family child care homes, participation in CACFP can contribute to the overall quality of their programs. Financial support allows providers to invest in better food options, educational resources, and improved facilities, creating a more enriching environment for participants.

Meeting Licensing and Regulatory Standards:

  • Many licensing and regulatory standards for child care programs include requirements related to nutrition. CACFP assists providers in meeting these standards, contributing to the overall compliance and quality of child care services.

Key features of the Child and Adult Care Food Program include:

Financial Assistance:

  • CACFP offers cash reimbursements to participating childcare providers and organizations to help offset the costs associated with serving nutritious meals and snacks. These reimbursements are based on the number of eligible meals served and comply with established nutrition standards.

Eligible Participants:

  • CACFP serves various settings, including child care centers, family child care #homes, Head Start programs, after-school programs, adult day care centers, and emergency shelters. Eligible participants in these programs receive nutritious meals through CACFP.

Support for Low-Income Individuals:

  • CACFP targets programs that primarily serve children and adults from low-income households. By providing financial assistance, the program helps ensure that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious meals, supporting their overall #health-and #development.

State Administration:

  • While CACFP is a federal program, it is administered at the state level. State agencies, often within the Department of Education or a similar department, oversee the implementation of CACFP. These agencies establish guidelines, provide training, and monitor participating providers to ensure compliance.

Overall, the Child and Adult Care Food Program plays a vital role in ensuring that children and adults in various care settings receive the nutrition they need for optimal growth, development, and overall well-being. It aligns with the broader goals of promoting health, preventing hunger, and supporting the educational and #developmental needs of individuals in child care and adult care settings.

Massachusetts Child Care CACFP Participation:

Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in the state of Massachusetts involves several steps. Here's a guide to help child care programs in Massachusetts navigate the process:

Contact Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE):

  • The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) administers CACFP in the state. Contact DESE to obtain information about the program, application procedures, and any specific state guidelines.

Review Eligibility Criteria:

  • Ensure that your child care program meets the eligibility criteria for participation in CACFP. Eligible entities typically include child care centers, family child care homes, day care homes, Head Start programs, at-risk afterschool programs, and emergency shelters that provide nonresidential care. 

Attend Training:

  • Participate in CACFP New Institution training that is available on the DESE website. These sessions will cover CACFP regulations, guidelines, and the application process. Training may include information on #menu-planning, nutrition standards, recordkeeping, and other program requirements.

Request and Complete Application Materials:

  • Obtain the CACFP application materials from DESE. You may be able to download the forms from their website or request them directly from the department. Complete the application with accurate information about your child care program.

Develop a Menu that Meets Nutrition Standards:

  • Design a menu that complies with CACFP nutrition standards. Ensure that your meals include appropriate servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Familiarize yourself with the meal pattern requirements specified by CACFP. CACFP Required Meal Patterns can be found here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/programbasics/meals/meal_patterns.htm

Implement Recordkeeping Systems:

  • Maintain all required forms, including but not limited to, Daily Attendance, Menus, Enrollment forms, and Income Eligibility Statements. Accurate and timely recordkeeping is essential for demonstrating compliance with CACFP regulations.

Participate in Monitoring Visits:

  • Monitoring visits occur: 
    • Three (3)* times
    • At least two (2) monitoring reviews must be unannounced
    • Unannounced monitoring should be held at varying times to be unpredictable
    • At least two (2) of the unannounced monitoring reviews must be during an approved meal service
    • At least one (1) monitoring review must occur during a facility/provider's first four (4) weeks
    • No more than six (6) months may lapse between monitoring reviews
  • During these visits, your program's compliance with CACFP regulations will be assessed. Use these visits as an opportunity to address any questions and demonstrate your commitment to program requirements.

Receive Approval:

  • Upon successful completion of the application process and verification of compliance, your child care program will receive approval to participate in CACFP. This approval enables you to start receiving cash reimbursements for eligible meals served.

Implement CACFP Guidelines:

  • Start implementing CACFP guidelines in your child care program. This involves serving nutritious meals that meet program standards, incorporating nutrition education, and maintaining ongoing compliance with program regulations. Look for some Healthy Nutrition Tips with ChildCareEd’s article: 4 Healthy Children Nutrition Tips for Daycare Providers.

Continued Training and Resources:

Family Day Care Home Participation:

Family or group day care homes must be administered by a sponsoring organization that maintains Federal and State regulations and prepares a monthly food reimbursement claim. CACFP sponsors receive Federal reimbursement to:

  • inform providers of program benefits
  • provide training and technical assistance regarding proper nutrition, program duties, and responsibilities
  • maintain program records
  • monitor providers; and
  • distribute payments to providers in a timely fashion.

Child and Adult Care Food Program, Directory of Family Day Care Sponsors:

  • Yours for Children, Inc.
  • Hanscom Air Force Base
    • Mary Lewis, 781-225-6128 mary.lewis.13@us.af.mil
  • Healthy Directions, Inc.
    • Rachel Boudreau (781) 598-4532 healthy_directions@verizon.net 
    • www.healthydirectionsinc.org
  • Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Inc.
  • Child Development Health and Nutrition
    • Deborah Vitali (508) 946-3333 staff@cdhn.us
  • Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.
  • Nurtury, Inc.
  • Clarendon Early Education Services. Inc.
    • Jean Bianchi (781) 275-2720 x 112 jbianchi@clarendonees.org 
    • www.clarendonearlyeducationservices.org
  • Square One
  • Kids Unlimited Services, Inc.
  • Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc.
  • South Shore Stars, Inc.
  • Children’s Aid & Family Service, Inc.
  • Making Opportunity Count, Inc.
  • Provider Resources, Inc. 
    • Donna Greenlay (781) 939-9292
    • dgreenlay@providerresources.org www.providerresources.org/content/cacfp
  • Guild of St. Agnes

Get Started Today:

Enrollment in CACFP provides crucial financial support, offering cash reimbursements to offset the costs associated with providing nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children. This support not only eases the financial burden on child care providers but also enables them to invest in program enhancements and resources, ultimately enriching the learning environment. Furthermore, participation in CACFP ensures that children receive balanced and healthy meals, positively impacting their overall #health-and development. By instilling #healthy-eating habits at an early age, child care providers contribute to the long-term well-being of the children they serve. Additionally, CACFP compliance aligns with licensing standards, fostering regulatory adherence and supporting professional development opportunities. Overall, CACFP participation enhances the quality of child care, promotes health-conscious practices, and contributes to a thriving and well-nourished community of young learners.

Looking for information on child nutrition? ChildCareEd offers several courses that focus on #healthy-eating and child nutrition. 

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