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 Does it Pay 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. In 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.
CACFP Forms: Infant Meals CACFP In & Out Totals CACFP Weekly Meals E-mailed Forms Instructions Tier I & II CACFP In-Out Form CACFP IN-OUT TIMES FORM
| Meal: | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 1.19 | 0.44 | Lunch/Supper | 2.21 | 1.33 |
| Snacks | 0.66 | 0.18 |
Tier I rates are based on family daycare homes that qualify for either elementary school eligibility data or census data or income on providers who can demonstrate that their household income meets the free or reduced-price eligibility standards.
Tier II rates are for all other providers who do not meet the above criteria. There are options to get the higher rate of reimbursement.
Meals provided must meet USDA requirements for meal patterns and portions.
Breakfast: Milk
Juice, Fruit, or Vegetable
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 from 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 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. • 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 maintain daily paperwork. • To maintain proper records of menus, enrollments etc. • 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 as well. 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. Email: CACFP@opportunities-inc.org
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.
Opportunities, Inc. CACFP food program does not discriminate and all children of FDCH's under their sponsorship will be offered meals at no separate charge regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and that there is no physical segregation of, or other discrimination in the course of food service. The CACFP is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap, write to Oklahoma State Department of Education, Child Nutrition Program Division - Room 310, 2500 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599.