Delaware Parents Association

CACFP is a Federal program that provides reimbursement for healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving
day care. It plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families.

CACFP provides reimbursement to participating day care homes, centers and relative caregivers for meals served
to participants in their care. The reimbursement is to offset your cost involved with serving nutritious meals. It is administered
at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Education administers the CACFP in Delaware.

As a Day Care or Relative Caregiver this program is free to join and you will receive:

* Monthly Cash Reimbursement for meals served to each child that meets USDA guidelines. The limit for meals
reimbursed per day is three per child. One of the meals must be a snack. You will be able to continue serving nutritious
meals and snacks despite rising food costs.

* Technical Assistance – recordkeeping, menu planning, creditable foods.

* Free Nutrition Information and Training.

* Monthly Feedback regarding your claim.

* Forms that provide carbonless copies for your records.

CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Day Care Homes Effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012
Meal Type Tier I		Meal Type Tier II
Breakfast	$1.24	Breakfast	$.45
Lunch/Supper	$2.32	Lunch/Supper	$1.40
Snack	$.69	Snack	$.19

CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Centers Effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012
	Free	Reduced	Paid
Breakfast	$1.51	$1.21	$.26
Lunch/Supper	$2.77	$2.37	$.26
Snack	$.76	$.38	$.07

BENEFITS TO THE CHILD
The Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) offers lifetime benefits. Proper nutrition during the early years of childhood ensures appropriate development and reduces physical and educational problems later in life. The preschool years are when eating patterns and habits are being established that may determine the quality of one’s diet throughout life. Children who are in day care with providers who participate on the CACFP are given the opportunity of nutrition education by providers who understand their role in shaping attitudes toward the acceptance of nutritious foods. Providers create an atmosphere that instills a positive, curious attitude about food from the earliest years.

BENEFITS FOR THE PARENTS
Parents are assured that their children will be served high quality meals. The benefit is
children are less likely to experience fatigue and illness, and less time a parent must be absent
from work. The child is also more likely to be healthy, happy and develop at a normal physical, emotional and intellectual pace.

BENEFITS FOR THE FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER
Providers receive valuable nutrition education that helps them know the proper foods to feed children in amounts appropriate for these young age groups. They receive help through
nutrition education and personal visits from CACFP staff in understanding how to encourage
positive eating habits that will benefit a child throughout life. They help children make
healthy choices for their meal and snack foods that will last a lifetime.

BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY
Because of the CACFP, federal tax monies are returned to the provider’s state and invested in the health of the community’s children. The added revenue is a means of helping to keep
child care costs down for employees working in the community. Since only regulated providers are eligible to participate in the program, this provides an incentive for unlicensed providers to comply with local child care ordinances.