The Child and Adult Care Food Program

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides a monthly financial subsidy, training and technical assistance, nutrition education, and food safety information to child development centers, adult day care centers, sponsored day care homes, afterschool programs, and emergency shelters serving nutritious meals and snacks to eligible infants, children, and adults. CACFP meals must meet the Federal guidelines. 

Reimbursements are provided to reduce the net cost of serving healthy meals and snacks to children 12 years of age and under in licensed child development centers and sponsored day care homes; children 18 years of age and under in afterschool programs located in eligible areas as well as in emergency shelters for homeless and runaway youth; and functionally impaired adults and adults 60 years and over in licensed adult day care centers.

Learn More about the CACFP

• CACFP Program Types
• Reimbursement Rates
• Application Process
   

Trainings and Events

• Orientation Training for Prospective Applicants
   

Current CACFP Participants

Successfully Manage the CACFP: The Forms and Information that You Need

• CACFP Institution Responsibility Overview
• Program Management Forms
• Training Resources
• WIC Information
• State Agency Memos
• Why is it important to be Viable, Capable and Accountable?
   

Healthy Menu Planning and Wellness Resources

Resources

• I Am Healthy, I Am Happy Wellness Guide
• CACFP Creditable Food Guide [PDF]
• Infant Feeding Guide [PDF] 
• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
• Let’s Move Child Care
• National Food Service Management Institute
• Nutrition Memos [PDF]

Serving Meals to Infants (ages 0 – 11 months)

• CACFP Infant Meal Pattern Requirements
• Example One-Week Infant Menu [PDF]
• Infant Formula and Food Notification Form
• Infant Menu Template [MS Word]  [PDF]
• Is This Infant Meal Reimbursable?  [PDF]
• Acceptable Infant Formulas
• Non-Creditable Infant Foods [PDF]
• Medical Substitution Form [MS Word] [PDF]

Serving Meals to Children (ages 1 – 18)

• CACFP Child Meal Pattern Requirements
• Example One-Month Child Menu [PDF]
• Child Menu Template [MS Word] [PDF]
• Medical Substitution Form [MS Word] [PDF]

Serving Meals to Adults (ages 18 and older)

• CACFP Adult Meal Pattern Requirements
• Adult Menu Template [MS Word] [PDF] 
• Adult Day Care Medical Substitution Form [MS Word] [PDF]
• Adult Day Care Resource Manual

Serving Culturally Appropriate Meals

• Variations for Meeting Muslim Dietary Guidelines [PDF]
• Variations for Meeting Jewish Dietary Guidelines [PDF]
• Serving Vegetarian and Vegan meals [PDF]
   

At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program

• At-Risk Snack and Supper Program Overview [PDF]
• USDA At-Risk Afterschool Meals Handbook 
• Example Snack and Supper Meals [PDF]
• At-Risk Snack and Supper Menu Template  [Word] [PDF]
• At-Risk Meal Count Form
• Weekly Food Safety Checklist: HACCP Manager Self-Inspection Checklist