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Child and Adult Care Food Program
WHAT IS CACFP?
The CACFP is a Federal program that provides money for serving nutritious meals to children in licensed family day care homes. Serving infants and children ages zero through twelve, this program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered at the Oklahoma State level by the Oklahoma Department of Education. Opportunities, Inc. oversees the program in family day care homes in these counties: Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Grant, Woodward, Major, Garfield, West part of Noble, Ellis, Dewey, Blaine, Kingfisher, Roger Mills, Custer, Caddo, Canadian, Beckham and Washita.
WHY PARTICIPATE IN THE CACFP?
Participating in the food program is truly a win/win/win situation! The children win because they’re eating nutritious meals and snacks; your child care business wins because families looking for child care will appreciate the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children will receive balanced meals (not to mention that they won’t have to pack meals and snacks for their kids!); you win because the financial reimbursement helps you with your food expenses, and the nutrition training you receive can benefit your own family as well!
WHY IT PAYS TO JOIN:
Child care providers sometimes question “Does it make sense for me to join the food program?” The answer is YES, consider the following:
Extra income: Whether you are Tier I or Tier II, the reimbursement you receive form the food program is extra income, even after taxes. Your food costs count as a business expense, so you only pay taxes on the amount of reimbursement that is more than your food expense. Bottom line: more money coming in will mean additional taxes paid on that additional income, but also more overall profit. This would be true of extra money coming into your household because you raised your rates, your spouse received a raise or you are receiving reimbursement form the food program.
Better Nutrition: The reimbursement from the food program enables you to purchase high quality, nutritious food. The guidelines help children receive increased dietary iron and important vitamins A and C, as well as set habits for healthy eating that will last as they grow older. I addition, you will have access to nutrition information, training and support that will not only benefit your child care families, but your own family as well.
Better Marketing: Child care studies have shown that the key indicator of a top-quality child care home is participation in the food program. Joining the food program will relieve parents of the responsibility for providing meals for their children in child care and reassure them that their children will receive carefully planned, nutritious meals. The reimbursement will not only help you keep your food costs down, but will also enable you to charge competitive rates.
How Much Money Can You Receive For Meals/Snacks?
(July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 rates) Tier I rates are based on family day care homes that qualify for either school eligibility data or census data or incomeTier ITier II on providers who can demonstrate that their house-hold meets the free or reduced-price eligibilityBreakfast $1.24 $.45 standards.Lunch/Supper $2.32 $1.40Snacks $.69 $.19 Tier II rates are for all other providers who do not meet theabove criteria. There are options to get the higher rate ofreimbursement.Meals provided must meet USDA requirements for meal patterns and portions.
What Types of Meals Must be Served?
Breakfast: Milk
Juice or Fruit Bread or Cereal Protein (optional)Lunch/Supper: Milk
Meat or Protein Fruit or Vegetable (a serving of each or 2 of either one)
Bread or Grain
Snacks: Choose any two of these four groups:
Milk
Fruit or Vegetable
Bread or Grain
Meat or Protein
Benefits of the food program:
•You will receive monthly checks to help cover food costs.
You will receive monthly checks to help cover food costs.•You may be able to claim your own children if you meet the low income guidelines.
You may be able to claim your own children if you meet the low income guidelines.•You will receive training that will improve your skills and increase your knowledge of nutrition, food preparation and record keeping.
You will receive training that will improve your skills and increase your knowledge of nutrition, food preparation and record keeping.•Each child in you home will receive nutritious meals daily.
Each child in you home will receive nutritious meals daily.Provider Responsibilities:
•To attend at least 1 CACFP training meeting, in your area, each fiscal year.
To attend at least 1 CACFP training meeting, in your area, each fiscal year.•To maintain daily paperwork.
To maintain daily paperwork.•To maintain proper records of menus, enrollments etc.
To maintain proper records of menus, enrollments etc.•If applies, to annually have your income approved.
If applies, to annually have your income approved.All food program sponsors must follow the same federal guidelines and pay you the same amount of reimbursement. Opportunities, Inc., CACFP would like to offer our services as your sponsor. We believe that our forms are simpler. They are on carbonless paper so no need to make copies. Paperwork can be done on the computer via this web page by using the form links below.
CACFP Forms:
For more information contact Jo Anne Jones, Program Director, at 1-800-375-7284 or 580-623-7283 and ask for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Being on the food program is a sign of professionalism and it shows your concern for the nutritional health of children. It’s a benchmark of quality that benefits you and the children in your care.
Serving Northwest Oklahoma
for the past 45 Years.
Updated May 2011
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Opportunities, Inc., Community Action Agency is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have a speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity
