USDA has released several memos regarding program operations as it relates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The purpose of this State Agency Memo is to inform all participants of these USDA memos and highlight major changes and recommendations. This information pertains to all participants and sponsors but may not be applicable to all. Please read through the memo in its entirety. We highly recommend clicking through to read each of the USDA memos in their entirety as well. If you have any questions please reach out to myself or your designated program specialist.

CACFP 22-2016: Taking Food Components Off-site in the At-Risk Afterschool Component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program
The purpose of this memorandum is to extend to the at-risk afterschool component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) the flexibility to take certain food items off-site. This flexibility is currently permitted in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Due to the nature of the at-risk afterschool component of the CACFP and its similarities with the SFSP and NSLP, this allowance only applies to the at-risk afterschool component of the CACFP.

CACFP 24-2016: Conducting Five-Day Reconciliation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, with Questions and Answers
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify policy, answer questions, and consolidate guidance regarding the requirement found under 7 CFR 226.6(m)(4) and 226.16(d)(4) that all reviews of day care homes and sponsored centers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) include the reconciliation of meal counts with enrollment and attendance records for five consecutive operating days. This memorandum supersedes CACFP Policy 07-2005, Conducting a Five-Day Reconciliation in Centers Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

CACFP 03-2017: Q&A: Purchasing Goods and Services Using Cooperative Agreements, Agents and Third Party Services
This memorandum provides general guidance on the various procurement groups FNS has identified, how to use each group in a way that complies with Federal procurement standards, and supersedes SP 35-2012, Procuring Services of Purchasing Cooperatives, Group Purchasing Organizations, Group Buying Organizations, etc., dated June 12, 2012. This memorandum applies to all Child Nutrition Program operators.

Although participating in intergovernmental and inter-agency agreements can offer greater economy and efficiency for procurement or use of common or shared goods or services (2 CFR 200.318(e)), Program operators participating in these agreements must  still conduct competitive procurement in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.318-.326 and applicable program regulations and guidance.  

CACFP 04-2017: Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs
The purpose of this memorandum is to revise guidance on the use of school and census data to establish area eligibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the At-Risk Afterschool component of CACFP, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).  In 2014, Food Nutrition Service (FNS) consolidated previous guidance, simplified the area eligibility determination process to reduce administrative burden on State agencies and Program operators, and clarified how the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) relates to area eligibility determinations.  This memorandum further streamlines program administration by removing the requirement that FNS Regional Offices approve weighted average calculations.  This memorandum supersedes:  SP 10-2015, CACFP 04-2015, SFSP 03-2015, Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs, November 21, 2014.

Related Content: The Child and Adult Care Food Program - CACFP State Agency Memos