Child and Adult Care Food Program

Definitions

• Adult day care center
• Agency
• At-risk afterschool center
• Child care center
• Child Nutrition Information and Payment System
• Day care home (DCH) provider
• DCH sponsor
• Eligibility
• Independent center
• National School Lunch Program
• Reimbursement
• School-aged center
• School Breakfast Program
• School Food Authority
• School Nutrition Programs
• Sponsors
• Sponsors of unaffiliated centers
• Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Part 226
• Title III, Part C of the Older American’s Act
• Title XIX of the Social Security Act
• Title XX of the Social Security Act

Adult day care center: Public or private nonprofit adult day care center approved to provide nonresidential adult day care services to adults that are 60 years or older or functionally impaired.

Agency: The general term for any organization that has a CACFP agreement with the Nutrition Services Division. This includes DCH sponsors, child care centers, and adult day care centers.

At-risk afterschool center: A licensed or license-exempt center that administers the At-risk Afterschool Meals component of the CACFP.

Child care center: A variety of public or private nonprofit child care centers, Head Start programs, outside-school-hours care centers, and other institutions which are licensed or approved to provide child care services. Private for-profit centers that serve low income children may also be eligible. Does not include day care home sponsors or providers.

Child Nutrition Information and Payment System: The online database used by the Nutrition Services Division to receive and maintain agency applications and to process claims for reimbursement.

DCH provider: A family day care home provider that participates in the CACFP under the umbrella of a day care home sponsor.

DCH sponsor: A nonprofit or public agency that has a current, valid program agreement with the Nutrition Services Division to sponsor one or more DCH providers for the CACFP.

Eligibility: The state of having the ability to participate in the CACFP based on specific criteria according to the program type.

Independent center: An agency that operates a center at one single physical site. Independent centers enter into an agreement with the California Department of Education (CDE) to assume financial and administrative responsibility for program operations.

National School Lunch Program:The program that assists schools and other agencies to provide nutritious lunches to children at free or reduced-prices.

Reimbursement: CACFP operators claim snacks and meals served to eligible adults and children to receive payment for these claims.

School-aged center: Also known as outside-school-hours care center; a licensed or license-exempt center that provides organized nonresidential child care services to children during hours outside of school.

School Breakfast Program:The program that assists schools and other agencies in providing nutritious breakfasts to children at free or reasonable prices.

School Food Authority:An administering entity for the operation of a school meal program. It can receive federal meal reimbursements for administering the meal programs. A school food authority may be the governing body that is responsible for the administration of one or more schools and has the legal authority to operate the National School Lunch Program or be otherwise approved to operate the National School Lunch Program (e.g., a school district, several school districts, individual schools, charter schools, and County Offices of Education). It may also be a public center.

School Nutrition Programs:Within California, any of the following programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Seamless Summer Option, or Special Milk Program.

Sponsors:Sponsoring organizations that are entirely responsible for the administration of the CACFP for: (a) one or more DCH providers; (b) two or more centers (see definition of centers); (c) a center that is a legally distinct entity from the sponsoring organization (see definition of sponsor of unaffiliated centers), or (d) any combination of the above.

Sponsors of unaffiliated centers or sponsor of independent centers: A sponsoring organization of two or more centers that are unaffiliated with the sponsor. Sponsors of unaffiliated centers enter into an agreement with the CDE to assume financial and administrative responsibility for program operations.

Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Part 226: The Code of Federal Regulations is the permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government of the United States. 7 CFR, Title 7, Part 226 is the federal regulations for the CACFP.

Title III, Part C of the Older American’s Act: Provides grants to states and U.S. Territories to support nutrition services including nutritious meals, nutrition education, and other appropriate nutrition services for older adults in order to maintain health, independence, and quality of life. Meals and nutrition services are to be served in a congregate setting or delivered to the home, if the older adult is homebound. Adult day care centers on the CACFP may be in receipt of these funds.

Title XIX of the Social Security Act: Provides federal grants to the states for medical assistance programs. Centers on the CACFP may have clients who are categorically eligible by way of Title XIX.

Title XX of the Social Security Act: Provides funding to counties for local social services programs to preserve families. The funds are used to strengthen, restore, maintain, or improve the participant’s ability to be self-supportive and independent. Centers on the CACFP may have clients who are categorically eligible by way of Title XX.

Background

The earliest federal meal assistance program for preschool children in day care was the Special Food Service Program for Children (SFSPFC) year-round component, established by Public Law 90-302 in 1968. Authorized initially as a three-year pilot program, it provided reimbursement specifically limited to meals served in day care centers, settlement houses, and recreation centers which provided child care services in areas with high concentrations of working mothers and where poor economic conditions existed. Congress reaffirmed support for this limited assistance in 1972, when Public Law 92-433 extended SFSPFC authorization through fiscal year 1975.

1975: Congress Enacted Public Law 94-105

Established and authorized for three years the separate Child Care Food Program (CCFP) and mandated a number of significant changes:

• For the first time, child care institutions and facilities were required to meet certain licensing or approval standards to participate;
• Eligibility was extended to any public or private nonprofit organization providing nonresidential child care services, regardless of location; and
• Application procedures and reimbursement formulas were patterned after the National School Lunch Program free and reduced-price eligibility requirements, based on the household size and income of each enrolled child.
  

1978: Congress Enacted Public Law 95-627

Established several new provisions including the availability of advance payments on request to participating centers; a broader definition of "children" to include disabled persons over 18 years of age; and the expansion of eligibility to include Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC). Also the CCFP was permanently authorized by this law.

1981: Congress Enacted Public Law 97-35

Reduced the eligibility age limit from 18 to 12 years, except for migrant workers' children who can participate through age 15 and disabled persons attending eligible institutions and facilities. It also set a limit on the maximum number of reimbursable meals at two meals and one supplement (snack) or one meal and two snacks per child per day.

1988: Congress Enacted Public Law 100-435

Provided for an additional reimbursable meal or snack for children in attendance at child care centers for eight or more hours per day.

1989: Congress enacted Public Law 101-147

Authorized state agencies to take center renewal applications and agreements on an every-other-year basis, and, with the passage of the 1987 Older Americans Act, amended Public Law to allow for participation by selected adult day care centers in the CCFP. The addition of an entirely new age bracket promoted a new provision the program and led to a name change from the CCFP to the CACFP.

1994: Congress enacted Public Law 103-448

Further amended the renewal application process to allow centers, at the discretion of the state agency, to reapply at three-year intervals. This law contained several other provisions, including automatic eligibility for Even Start.

1996: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193)

Reduced the maximum number of meals which may be claimed for reimbursement by child care centers participating in CACFP to a maximum of two meals and one snack, or one meal and two snacks, regardless of the length of time a child is in attendance.

1998: Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-336)

Several provisions in this law affected the administration of CACFP for child care centers:

• Authorized OSHCCs, in areas where Federal, State or local licensing or approval is not required, to participate in CACFP by meeting state or local health and safety standards.
  
  
• Removed reference to an institution’s receipt of Title XX funds as an acceptable form of approval when federal, state, or local licensing or approval is not available.
  
  
  • Transferred authority over Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) homeless sites to CACFP.
    
    
  • Permanently reinstated categorical (automatic) eligibility for free meals in CACFP for prekindergarten children participating in the Even Start Program.
    
    
• Provided funding on an entitlement basis for the demonstration projects conducted in the states of Kentucky and Iowa. Under these demonstration projects, for-profit child care centers in these two states were eligible to receive CACFP reimbursement if at least 25 percent of the children enrolled in the center, or 25 percent of its licensed capacity, were determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
  

2010: Hunger Healthy Kids Free Act

The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (Act) of 2010 (Public Law 111-296) identified the CACFP as a nutrition program that contributes to the healthy growth and development of young children. The Act was signed into law by President Obama on December 13, 2010. Section 331 of the Act amended Section 17(d)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 United States Code 1766) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from requiring edit checks to detect block claims or unannounced follow-up reviews related to block claims (Public Law 111-296). The Act also provided for improved access to nutrition assistance through Program expansion, outreach, and provisions that make it easier for children to get nutritious meals when they are away from home. Some provisions of the Act, which pertain to the operation of the CACFP by child care centers:

• Expanded CACFP afterschool meals for at-risk children to all States;
  
  
• Added nutrition and wellness to the Program purpose statement;
  
  
• Allowed for fluid milk substitutes;
  
  
• Required fluid milk substitutes for non-disabled children to be nutritionally equivalent to milk (same as existing requirement for schools);
  
  
• Required all child care centers to make water available at meal times and throughout the day;
  
  
• Required CACFP State agencies to enter into permanent agreements with institutions;
  
  
• Required one-time application to CACFP, with annual updates of licensing and other information; and
  
  
• Expanded automatic eligibility for free meals to a foster child who is the responsibility of the State or placed by a court.
  

2011: Improving Management and Program Integrity Rule

Child and Adult Care Food Program Improving Management and Program Integrity Rule by the Food and Nutrition Service. This final rule incorporated into the CACFP regulations modifications, clarifications, and technical changes to the two interim rules published by the Department on June 27, 2002 and September 1, 2004.

2012: Less-than-arms-length Transactions

Issued Amendments Related to the Act, published in the Federal Register. Required renewing institutions to certify that they have no unreported less-than-arms-length transactions or other potential conflicts of interest and that any anticipated less than-arms-length transactions or other potential conflicts of interest in the upcoming year have been disclosed to the State.

2015: USDA Proposed Rule: CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions

The USDA released a proposed rule to update the CACFP meal requirements. The new rule promoted more fruits, vegetables and whole-grains in the diets of CACFP participants, and reduced fat, sugar, and salt in program meals. The USDA reported that the enhanced meal standards will be cost-neutral to states, as no additional funding for meal reimbursements were provided in the Act.

2016: USDA Proposed Rule: Child Nutrition Program Integrity

Child Nutrition Program Integrity, A Proposed Rule by the Food and Nutrition Service released for public comment. This rule proposed to codify several provisions of the Act affecting the integrity of the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Special Milk Program for Children, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and State Administrative Expense Funds. For the status of this rule, visit the Federal Register Child Nutrition Program Integrity web page .

2016: USDA Final Rule: CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements

(7 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 210, 215, 220) As part of the Act, USDA made the first major changes in the CACFP Meal Patterns since the Program’s inception in 1968. This rule required centers and day care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program to serve more whole grains and a greater variety of vegetables and fruit, and reduced the amount of added sugars and solid fats in meals. In addition, this final rule supported mothers who breastfeed and improved consistency with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and with other CNPs.

2017: Implementation of New CACFP Meal Pattern

Implementation of the rule began on October 1, 2017.

2018: CACFP turns 50!

CACFP celebrated its 50th birthday. Throughout CACFP’s 50-year history it has updated its nutrition standards to better align with the Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This ensures that children have access to healthy food and can learn about the connection between nutrition and a healthy lifestyle from an early age. Without CACFP, care providers would struggle to provide children with healthy food options. We celebrate all this program has done in its 50-year history to provide millions of children access to healthy food in order to lead successful lives.

How to Apply

Please Note: As part of the State of California’s consolidation of early learning and child care programs that will be taking place in 2021, the CACFP will be transferred to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) on July 1, 2021. In efforts to successfully transition this program, the California Department of Education is temporarily not accepting new CACFP applications.

It is expected that the program staff will begin accepting new CACFP applications shortly after the transition. For CACFP application inquiries before July 1, 2021, please contact us at CACFPinfo@dss.ca.gov. Information on how to contact the CACFP unit after July 1, 2021 will be forthcoming.

Below is an overview of the CACFP application process. Interested organizations must contact the assigned Community Nutrition Specialist to receive specific steps and deadlines.

Steps to Apply

• Step 1: Contact the CACFP specialist assigned to your county by phone or by email at CACFP Contact List web page.
  
  
• Step 2: The specialist will complete a prescreening questionnaire over the phone; during the phone call the specialist will either deem you eligible or not eligible to apply for the CACFP. If you are deemed eligible, the specialist will follow up with an email containing application instructions and deadlines based on your agency type.
  
  
• Step 3: Once the specialist has received and reviewed the requested documentation by the deadline, the specialist will determine if you meet the performance standards that demonstrate Viability, Capability, and Accountability. If you do, you will be given access to the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) , where you will complete and submit an online application for your agency.
  
  
• Step 4: When your application in the CNIPS is complete, a specialist will schedule a visit to your center. This visit includes staff training on all program requirements
  

Please note: The CACFP application process generally takes several months from the initial application date until a final determination is made.

Administrative Manual

The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) developed the CACFP Administrative Manual which provides both state and federal guidance on critical compliance areas of the CACFP. Requirements outlined in this manual apply to all CACFP agencies, except where noted. The CDE revises the CACFP Administrative Manual as program updates take place; agencies are ultimately responsible for complying with all current state and federal regulations, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Instructions, USDA policy memoranda, and CDE management bulletins.

To view the manual, visit the CDE CACFP Administrative Manual web page.

Meal Pattern Requirements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service has provided reference charts describing the meal pattern requirements for infant, children, and adult participants in all CACFP program types. Program operators participating in any component of the CACFP: Child Care, Adult Day Care, Emergency Shelter, and the At-risk Afterschool Snack component must comply with the meal pattern requirements below.

Moreover, program operators operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), NSLP Snack Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, and Summer Food Service Program serving children under six years of age (not comingled with children over six years of age) must comply with the infant and child meal pattern requirements below.

Meal Patterns	Description
Infant Meal Pattern (PDF)	Infant meal pattern for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for infants ages birth through 11 months.
Child Meal Pattern (PDF)	Child meal pattern for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for children ages 1 through 18 years.
Adult Meal Pattern (PDF)	Adult meal pattern for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for adults in adult day care homes and centers.

Additional Meal Pattern Information

For meal pattern information, including upcoming workshop and conference information, online courses, resources, policy guidance, and compliance, visit the California Department of Education CACFP Meal Patterns web page.

Claiming

Program operators participating in the CACFP must submit a claim to receive their reimbursement funding.

To submit an electronic claim, visit the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) . The CNIPS is the California Department of Education (CDE) online system for administering claim reimbursement for all Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).

Please note: All claims must be submitted within 60 days after the month served. For example: A claim for the month of June (June 1–30), must be submitted by August 29 (60 days after the last day of June).

Claiming Resources

• For CNP annual reimbursement rates, visit the CDE Rates, Eligibility Scales, & Funding web page.
  
  
• To view claim submission resources and worksheets, visit the Nutrition Services web page, select the CACFP tab, and scroll down to the Claim Submission Information and Worksheets sections.
  
  
• For standard questions regarding submitting claims for all components of the CACFP, visit the CACFP Administrative Manual, Section 5.1: Claims for Reimbursement web page.
  
  
• To contact a claims analyst regarding your claim completion or payments, visit the Nutrition Services web page, select the Analyst Directory tab, and scroll down to the analyst in your county.
  

Policy Guidance

CACFP Operators are required to administer their programs in compliance with the following state and federal policy.

Resource	Description
Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Part 226	The Code of Federal Regulations is the permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government of the United States. 7 CFR, Title 7, Part 226 is the federal regulations for the CACFP.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) CACFP Policy Memo web page	The USDA issues federal policy memorandum related to operating the CACFP as changes are made to the program.
USDA CACFP Handbook web page	The USDA provides guidance handbooks for all CACFP agency types. Program operators are required to read and abide by the policy and information provided in these handbooks.
California Department of Education (CDE) CACFP Management Bulletins web page	The CDE issues state specific management bulletins that incorporate federal and state policy related to operating the CACFP in California.
CDE CACFP Administrative Manual	The CDE Nutrition Services Division developed the CACFP Administrative Manual which provides state and federal guidance on critical compliance areas of the CACFP for all agencies, including centers and day care home sponsors.

Compliance

The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) monitors compliance of operators participating in the CACFP including child and adult care centers, At-risk afterschool care centers, emergency shelters, and day care home sponsors by conducting an administrative review (AR). ARs occur approximately every three years. The AR is mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is a compliance and evaluation process designed to ensure CACFP Operators are meeting program requirements. The following resources can assist program operators with preparing for the review.

Resource	Description
Meal Pattern Documentation Checklist	All CACFP Operators may use this checklist to determine whether they are meeting the CACFP meal pattern documentation requirements for reimbursable meals and snacks. To download the document, log into the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) , select the CACFP box, select applications, select downloadable forms, and select Form ID CACFP 89.

Trainings

• CACFP Mandatory Training
• Prospective Sponsors Trainings
• In-person Elective Trainings
• All CACFP Online Trainings
  

CACFP Mandatory Training

The CACFP federal regulations (Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 226.17[b][10]) require that all CACFP Operators, including child and adult care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, emergency shelters, and day care home sponsors, ensure that at least one person with administrative responsibilities for the CACFP complete state agency-provided CACFP Mandatory Training annually.

New CACFP Operators who joined the CACFP in the current program year are not required to complete that current program year’s CACFP Mandatory Training. For example, CACFP Operators who joined the CACFP in the 2020–21 program year are not required to complete the 2020–21 CACFP Mandatory Training. However, those program operators will be required to complete the 2021–22 Mandatory Training.

Day care home providers are never required to complete the state agency-provided CACFP Mandatory Training.

CACFP Mandatory Training always includes civil rights compliance and additional topic(s) that may change each program year. The training topic(s) are determined based upon new regulations, common administrative review findings, or frequently asked questions.

The California Department of Education (CDE) will notify CACFP Operators each program year when the CACFP Mandatory Training is available and provide instructions on how to fulfill the training requirement. For more information about CACFP Mandatory Training requirements, including who in the agency is responsible for completing the requirement and training relevant staff, access the CDE Management Bulletin CACFP-03-2019, Training Requirements in the CACFP web page.

Prospective CACFP Operator Trainings

During the CACFP application process, county CACFP specialists will require prospective CACFP Operators to complete a series of online trainings, depending on agency type. The required online trainings by agency type are listed the tables below. These trainings are designed to instruct prospective CACFP Operators on the requirements needed to successfully operate the CACFP. Prospective CACFP Operators must complete all training requirements, including the Civil Rights and Complaints in the CNPs online training,prior to operating the CACFP and claiming meals for reimbursement.

For more information on training requirements in the CACFP, access the CDE MB CACFP-03-2019, Training Requirements in the CACFP.

Please note: The CDE recommends that prospective CACFP Operators complete the steps outlined in the Apply tab before viewing any of the online trainings below.

Child Care

Adult Day Care

At-risk Afterschool Care Centers

Emergency Shelter

Course Name	Description
Nutrition and Physical Activity (NPA) Forums	The NPA Forums highlight and demonstrate methods for integrating nutrition education, edible gardens, wellness policies, and physical activity into child care center classrooms and family child care homes. Participants will learn ways to create learning environments that maximize opportunities for children to develop healthy eating habits and to move their bodies to learn. These forums provide a unique platform where early childhood educators can express challenges and develop solutions toward supporting active living and healthy eating environments. To register for the NPA Forums, visit the California Preschool Instructional Network Child Care NPA Forums web page .
Meal Quality (MQ) Forums	The MQ Forums focus on enhancing the nutrition environment of early child care programs through improved food preparation and service. The forums highlight healthy meal planning, food purchasing, food preparation, culinary skills, recipe development, and kitchen safety. Participants are exposed to a variety of recipes and techniques to assist with the creation of meals to bolster health and wellness. These forums provide a unique platform where cooks from early child care programs will engage in culinary techniques in a professional kitchen environment. To register for the MQ Forums, visit the California Preschool Instructional Network Child Care MQ Forums web page .

All CACFP Online Trainings

To view a catalog of online trainings related to the CACFP, select the CACFP tab on the CDE CNP Course Catalog web page. These online trainings were developed to assist CACFP Operators with staff training, career development, and compliance needs.

Resources

• Forms
• General Resources
• Nutrition and Meal Patterns
• Best Practices
  

Forms

General Resources

Resource	Description
CDE CACFP Center Sites web page	A list of locations that provide free or low cost, nutritious meals through their participation in the CACFP.
CDE CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors web page	A list of California day care home sponsors operating the CACFP.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Buying Guide web page	The online manual assists sponsors in buying the appropriate amount and type of food and to determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements for the CACFP.
California Department of Industrial Relations Workplace Postings web page	The California Department of Industrial Relations requires all California employers, including child care institutions and day care centers, to post information related to wages, hours and working conditions in an area frequented by employees where it may be easily read during the workday.

Nutrition and Meal Patterns

Best Practices

Contacts

For a list of the CACFP specialists contact list, visit the California Department of Education CACFP Contacts List web page.

General Contact Information