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Meal Pattern Minute: CACFP Funds for a Garden

October 4, 2024

Can CACFP funds be used for supplies for an edible garden?

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October Virtual Events

October 2, 2024

Check out these virtual events coming up this month at NCA!

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USDA Announces $200 Million for CACFP Providers

October 1, 2024

Today, October 1, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $200 million for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

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NCA 2024 Advocacy Round-Up

October 1, 2024

CACFP advocacy is central to the mission of National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) and NCA is continuously working to support and advocate for you! This year, we’ve ramped up our advocacy work to help raise awareness and expand and improve the CACFP.

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One Year After Vital Supports Ended: Disheartening Drop in CACFP Participation

September 30, 2024

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Keep Kids Fed Act provided flexibilities that were critical for the ability to continue to provide nutritious meals and maintain operation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sourcing Local Foods

September 27, 2024

Where can local foods be sourced to serve in the CACFP?

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October Virtual Events

October 2, 2024

Check out these virtual events coming up this month at NCA!

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NCA in Minneapolis, MN: Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2024 

September 27, 2024

As the cross-section of nutrition education and early childhood education continues to expand in its ever-growing research, efficiencies, policies, practices, operations, and, primarily, its programs, the National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) continues to solidify its footprint as a leading educator on the subject at the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics’ Food and Nutrition Conference Expo (FNCE) 2024.

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September Virtual Events

August 26, 2024

Check out these virtual events coming up this month at NCA!

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More Virtual Events in August

July 31, 2024

Check out these virtual events coming up this month at NCA!

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NCA Receives Gold Level Partner Recognition from MyPlate

July 30, 2024

NCA achieved recognition as a gold level MyPlate Partner for continued work on developing and promoting resources that promote the unified vision of providing nutrition education.

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Scholarship Recipients Announced for Virtual Summit 2024

July 29, 2024

The 2024 CACFP Virtual Summit Scholarship winners have been announced! View the list of all 85 winners.

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USDA Announces $200 Million for CACFP Providers

October 1, 2024

Today, October 1, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $200 million for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

Read More

NCA 2024 Advocacy Round-Up

October 1, 2024

CACFP advocacy is central to the mission of National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) and NCA is continuously working to support and advocate for you! This year, we’ve ramped up our advocacy work to help raise awareness and expand and improve the CACFP.

Read More

One Year After Vital Supports Ended: Disheartening Drop in CACFP Participation

September 30, 2024

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Keep Kids Fed Act provided flexibilities that were critical for the ability to continue to provide nutritious meals and maintain operation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Read More

What is Advocacy

September 26, 2024

Advocacy might seem scary, some of our most active advocates admit to being intimidated by advocacy before they got started, but it can be simple. Advocacy can be as simple as telling your friend about your job or posting a picture of the meals you make on social media (really!).

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Advisory on Parent and Caregiver Mental Health and Well-Being 

September 9, 2024

The United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, released an Advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents, stating an urgent need to support parents, caregivers, and families. Surgeon General’s Advisories are public statements that call the American people’s attention to a critical public health issue that require immediate awareness and action.

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USDA Request for Comment: Documentation Related to Meal Pattern Final Rule

August 27, 2024

USDA FNS is seeking input from CACFP and SFSP operators on the documentation requirement for operators serving primarily American Indian or Alaska Native children to show their eligibility for the menu planning option allowing them to serve vegetables to meet the grains requirement.

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.

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We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!

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Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.

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NCA Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.

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New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

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New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Shelf-Stable Yogurt

April 5, 2024

Is shelf-stable yogurt reimbursable in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Quiche

March 29, 2024

What is needed to serve quiche as part of a reimbursable meal?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Soy Milk Beverages

March 22, 2024

Are all soy beverages creditable in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Cheese Products

March 8, 2024

What is a cheese product, and is it creditable?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Disability-Accommodated Food from Home

March 1, 2024

If a parent of a child with a disability provides all food components for a meal, can the provider be reimbursed for the meal?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Tomato-Based Pizza Sauce

February 23, 2024

Can you credit tomato-based pizza sauce as a vegetable component?

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.

Read More

We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!

Read More

Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.

Read More

NCA Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.

Read More

New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

Read More

New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

Read More

Hunger Doesn’t Take A Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report 2024

August 22, 2024

FRAC’s latest report, Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report 2024, reveals a drop in the number of children receiving nutrition over the summer following the loss of pandemic-era waivers.

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ECE Nutrition and Physical Activity Practices Decreased During Pandemic

July 16, 2024

A report published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice examined changes in nutrition and physical activity-related best practices in ECE settings in Illinois from 2019 as compared to 2022.

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CACFP Family Day Care Home Participation Study

July 5, 2024

The “USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Family Day Care Home Participation Study” focuses on current and former CACFP participants among FDCH providers. These providers serve a critical need within the child care system, frequently offering longer hours of care (often at a lower cost) than other types of providers to children in their own communities and neighborhoods. This study is the first national study to ask former providers why they left. The study spans 2019–2023, which coincides with the COVID-19 public health emergency, so it provides a unique look at FDCHs during that time.

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CACFP Participation Among U.S. Childcare Providers

June 26, 2024

The “USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program Participation Among U.S. Childcare Providers” examines the characteristics of childcare centers and day care home providers by whether they participated in CACFP or not.

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Healthy Tots Helps Address Food Insecurity in D.C.

April 18, 2024

Across the nation, racial inequities have impacted access to federal nutrition programs for people of color. The report by D.C. Hunger Solutions aims to address how racial inequities contribute to hunger and poverty among residents of color in the District of Columbia and to lack of access to federal nutrition programs.

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Leveraging CACFP for Farm to ECE

February 5, 2024

When combined, the CACFP and Farm to Early Care Education (Farm to ECE) activities can have an extraordinary impact on children, child care providers, and local communities. FRAC’s report aims to support child care providers to access CACFP and utilize it for eligible Farm to ECE activities by highlighting the mutually beneficial synergy between these initiatives.

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Power of the Food Program: Schools

September 25, 2024

The CACFP is operated any many different settings, including child care, adult care, and emergency shelters. The CACFP also has an At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) component that allows sites to serve children and teenagers 18 and under up to one snack and a supper. Not only are eligible sites able to serve meals after the school day, but they can also provide a meal and snack on weekends and during school closures.

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Congressman Molinaro Visits New York Child Care 

September 4, 2024

Congressman Marc Molinaro visited Jessica’s Daycare in his home district (NY-19) to witness child care and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) firsthand.

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Stopping Food Insecurity in its Tracks

August 27, 2024

Hear from three outstanding CACFP sponsoring organizations about the work that they do with CACFP providers to ensure the children and adults in their care receive nutritious meals.

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Sponsor Spotlight: Lana Taylor with Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

August 20, 2024

Lana Taylor is the Executive Director of Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (BGCIN) that represents all Boys & Girls Club organizations across Indiana. Hear from Lana!

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Sponsor Spotlight: Susan Ison of Helping Hands

August 8, 2024

Susan Ison is the Executive Director of Helping Hands, Inc. which is a sponsoring organization (sponsor) of family child care homes and child care centers across the Wasatch Front of Utah. They sponsor about 200 family child care homes and 12 child care centers, ensuring nutritious meals for around 2,300 children.

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Sponsor Spotlight: Deborah Gillison-Wilson with Georgia Nutritional Services

August 6, 2024

Deborah Gillison-Wilson is the Founder and Executive Director of Georgia Nutritional Services which is a sponsoring organization of CACFP and SFSP across Georgia. They sponsor 165 child care centers, 32 family child care homes, 35 At-Risk Afterschool programs, 2 Adult day care centers, and around 17 SFSP sites. Hear from Deborah!

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