Child
and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program
(CACFP) is where
healthy eating becomes a habit. The
CACFP began in 1968 as an extension of the National School Lunch
program to
address the nutritional needs of children in child care homes and
centers. Since
then, the CACFP has reimbursed millions
of licensed child care providers and centers across the country for
part of the
cost of nutritious meals and snacks served to the children in their
care.
The CACFP is funded by the United
States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and is administered at the state level through the
Department of Education.
As a sponsoring organization, First
Chance Center
is responsible for:
- Training
and monitoring providers to ensure compliance
with USDA standards
- Providing
educational materials regarding
nutrition to participating home and child care providers and centers.
- Providing
assistance in meals/snack planning and
preparation.
What are the advantages of being a
CACFP provider?
- CACFP
reimbursement helps offset food costs so
caregivers are better able to furnish high-quality, nutritious meals
and snacks
to the children in their care. This
means additional income is available without having to raise your day
care
rates.
- Nutrition
education received through CACFP
participation teaches caregivers how to provide a balanced and
nutritious diet
for children in their care and their families, as well as themselves.
- Caregivers
participating with the CACFP receive
nutrition-related materials to share with children and parents.
- By
offering nutrition education and financial
resources, the CACFP helps prevent under-nutrition, which according to
The
Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition at Tufts University, can have
detrimental effects on the cognitive development of children and their
later
productivity as adults.
For further information you can e-mail
Jeanice Satterfield
or call 812-723-2273
.