Overview
The Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) program usda.gov administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The goal of CACFP is to help children develop lifelong healthy eating habits through the service of nutritious meals.
Children birth through 12 years of age can participate if enrolled in a non-residential, licensed facility.
The Child & Adult Care Food Program in Child Care Sites
The Child Care and School Age sites directly operated by Cambria County Child Development Corporation participate in the Child & Adult Care Food Program. Parents receive the assurance that high quality meals are being served to their children at no cost to them. Participating in the CACFP enriches and improves the quality of childcare.
All sites encourage good eating habits by promoting fresh fruits and vegetables and discouraging sweet snacks. The children enrolled in the all day child care sites receive breakfast, lunch and an afternoon supplement (snack); the school age sites provide breakfast on school delay days and an afternoon snack everyday. All locations follow a “no nut rule”: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans as well as peanut butter and nut oils are not served in any form due to the frequency and the severity of nut allergies. peanutallergy.com
Meal Requirements:
Meal requirements are the same for Child Care sites and Family and Group homes
Infant meals patterns differ; one type of formula for infants is offered at all facilities.
The Child & Adult Care Food Program in Family and Group Homes
Cambria County Child Development is the only sponsor of the Child & Adult Care Food Program in Cambria and surrounding counties. Regulated home and group providers from Cambria, Somerset, Blair, and Indiana counties can participate under the sponsorship of CCCDC. Participation guarantees reimbursement to providers for meals served to enrolled children; the reimbursement in turn helps providers afford more nutritious choices for the children in their care.
Meals are reimbursed to providers on a Tier system that is based on the provider’s home school district, the provider’s family income, the clients’ income or Census Data. Call for current reimbursement rates and/ or income guidelines.
In order to participate, the home provider must:
- Be a PA regulated Family or Group Child Care Facility operating in a private residence
- Serve meals to enrolled day care children according to the CACFP meal pattern
- Keep accurate records
- Attend annual training sessions
As a participating provider you will receive reimbursement for meals that adhere to the guidelines. A provider may claim up to 2 meals and 1 snack per child, per day.
Online claim filing is available at no charge to the Provider.