Child and Adult Care Food

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving supervised care services. The program plays a vital role in improving the quality of care and making it more affordable for many low-income households.  In addition to care, CACFP helps make afterschool programs more appealing to at-risk youth. By offering nutritious meals and snacks in programs serving low-income areas, centers can increase participation and know that youth are having a healthy meal or snack.

General Information and Resources

• FNS USDA Official CACFP Webpage
• Federal Regulations
• USDA CACFP Handbooks
• USDA Policy Memos
• Institute of Child Nutrition - CACFP Resources
• National CACFP Sponsors Association

Online Trainings

• CACFP Training System
• VTAOE CACFP YouTube Playlist
• VTAOE CACFP New Manager's Training YouTube Playlist
• CACFP Back to Basics: Foodservice
• CACFP Back to Basics: Administrators

Apply to Participate

Child care centers, adult day care centers, family child care homes, afterschool care programs, and homeless or emergency shelters are all institutions that are potentially eligible to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

• Statement of Intent to Participate
• CACFP Application Renewal Instructions

Reimbursement and Eligibility

• School Meal and CACFP Reimbursement Rates 2024-2025
• Income Eligibility Guidelines

Meal Planning and Nutrition

• Food Buying Guide
• CACFP Crediting Handbook
• Standardized Recipes
• USDA Webinars and Trainings

Financial Management 

• CACFP Financial Management Summary
• Financial Management in CACFP - 796-2 Revision 4
• CACFP General Ledger
• Guidance for Management Plans and Budget Handbooks
• CACFP Donated Foods Log
• CACFP Program Labor Time Log

Sponsoring Organization Administration

• Sponsor Monitoring Procedures
• Pre-Approval Visit Form for Sponsors
• Planned Monitoring Schedule
• Monitoring Review Log
• Site Review Form Instructions
• Site Review Form for Sponsors
• Household Contact Procedure

Training Requirements

• Annual Training Requirement
• CACFP Training Checklist
• Training Certification Sheet

Procedures and Additional Documents

• CACFP Claim Review Procedure
• Administrative Review Procedures
• CACFP Appeal Procedure
• CACFP Procurement Procedure
• CACFP Serious Deficiency for Institutions Procedure
• Building for the Future Poster 

Reference Documents fro

Back to Top