For 40 years, the National CACFP Association has been committed to strengthening the Child and Adult Care Food Program by supporting the professionals who make it work every day. Training and professional development have always been central to that mission.
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Is there an added sugar limit when serving flavored milk to ages 6 and older?
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Each year, the National CACFP Association celebrates Farm to CACFP Week, a national campaign that highlights the many ways child and adult care programs can connect local food, gardening, and agriculture education with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Through these efforts, providers can strengthen community food systems while helping participants build lifelong healthy habits.
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Cheri Wood is the Nutrition Manager at Community Action Partners of North East Missouri (CAPNEMO). As a community action organization, CAPNEMO operates many programs including their sponsorship of the CACFP for Head Start and Family Child Care Homes.
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Learn how to identify gluten-free foods and get a yummy gluten-free snack recipe.
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Each year, the National CACFP Association celebrates Farm to CACFP Week, a national campaign that highlights the many ways child and adult care programs can connect local food, gardening, and agriculture education with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Through these efforts, providers can strengthen community food systems while helping participants build lifelong healthy habits.
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The National CACFP Association (NCA) believes that education and training should be within reach for everyone who serves children and adults in their care. That commitment is why NCA is awarding 92 scholarships to the 2026 CACFP Virtual Summit, providing recipients with free participation in four days of expert-led sessions and connection with peers from across the field.
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https://www.einpresswire.com/article/918726319/national-cacfp-association-opens-call-for-presentations-at-2027-national-child-nutrition-conference-in-chicago
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The National CACFP Association proudly announces U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as the recipient of the 2026 Friend of CACFP Award. This honor recognizes decision-makers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening and advancing the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through leadership, advocacy and meaningful legislative action.
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NCA leaders brought the CACFP story to Las Vegas radio ahead of the 40th annual National Child Nutrition Conference.
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This March, National CACFP Week earned recognition at every level of government, from Congress to state capitals and local districts. The annual education and information campaign, sponsored by the National CACFP Association (NCA), is observed each year during the third week of March and highlights the vital role the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays in combating hunger and promoting nutrition.
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August 5, 2026 In June 2026, USDA released a notice of Agency Information Collection Activities: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) National Disqualified List. This notice is of a routine collection of information, where State agencies share information on organizations and individuals who have been found seriously deficient so USDA can place them on…
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USDA has released the Reimbursement Rates for 2026-2027. Rates are effective from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
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The USDA has released the cash-in-lieu value of USDA foods for 2026-2027. The value has increased by one and a half cents.
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Over the past few months, USDA recently released both a final rule and guidance on the expansion of fluid milk options in child nutrition programs, guidance on non-congregate SFSP program integrity, and announced information collection for the CACFP National Disqualified List. Keep reading to see what you’ve missed and stay up to date with CACFP policy!
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USDA published a final rule that allows CACFP operators to offer whole or reduced-fat milk to participants ages two and up. Here’s what the research says about milk fat in early childhood.
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USDA released guidance with recommendations for State agencies to ensure program integrity for non-congregate meals in the SFSP.
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Behind every CACFP meal is a system of oversight designed to maintain public trust and protect the people the program serves. Sponsoring organizations ensure compliance, accountability and continued access to nutritious meals while providing ongoing technical assistance. Here are resources that explain how program integrity is upheld in the CACFP.
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Exciting news! Head Start programs have an opportunity to access one-time supplemental funds to support nutrition services and healthy eating for enrolled children and families. You can use this funding for staff training on resources and educational opportunities to help your program improve outcomes for children and families and align with USDA requirements – like the CACFP!
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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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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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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 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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Is there an added sugar limit when serving flavored milk to ages 6 and older?
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Is corn pone creditable in the CACFP?
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Can you add syrups to unflavored cow’s milk and have it be creditable?
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Are acorns creditable as a meat alternate?
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Can lemonade or limeade credit as the fruits component?
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Are olives creditable as a vegetable?
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Behind every CACFP meal is a system of oversight designed to maintain public trust and protect the people the program serves. Sponsoring organizations ensure compliance, accountability and continued access to nutritious meals while providing ongoing technical assistance. Here are resources that explain how program integrity is upheld in the CACFP.
Read More
Exciting news! Head Start programs have an opportunity to access one-time supplemental funds to support nutrition services and healthy eating for enrolled children and families. You can use this funding for staff training on resources and educational opportunities to help your program improve outcomes for children and families and align with USDA requirements – like the CACFP!
Read More
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
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
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 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
The “Characteristics of Emergency Shelters Participating in the CACFP” study by USDA seeks to better understand the characteristics of CACFP emergency shelters, who they serve, how CACFP fits into their operations, and their challenges with CACFP. The study was conducted in 2023 and collected data from 242 emergency shelters that participate in CACFP in Fiscal Year 2023.
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A survey was administered in the spring of 2023 of licensed California family child care homes (FCCH) to assess the perceived impacts of the increased reimbursement during the Covid-19 pandemic on CACFP participation and anticipated challenges with reinstated tiered rates.
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The USDA recently released a study on the “Characteristics of Adult Day Care Centers that Participate in the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program” which seeks to better understand key characteristics of adult day care centers participating in CACFP.
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USDA released a survey report focused on SFSP and SSO sponsors who operated the non-congregate meal service option in qualifying rural areas in summer 2023.
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Afterschool Snack Programs include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Through NSLP schools can serve one snack afterschool, however through the CACFP schools and sponsoring organizations are able to serve a snack in addition to a supper. This additional supper is an important opportunity to meet children’s nutritional needs after the school day is over. A report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) found that afterschool supper participation increased from October 2022 to October 2023 by 6%.
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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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Cheri Wood is the Nutrition Manager at Community Action Partners of North East Missouri (CAPNEMO). As a community action organization, CAPNEMO operates many programs including their sponsorship of the CACFP for Head Start and Family Child Care Homes.
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The Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) is a community action agency based in Tacoma, Washington. As part of their various community services, MDC operates as a CACFP sponsor of family homes and child care centers, ensuring nutritious meals to 2,150 children.
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As Vice President of Business Operations with Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, Mark Jacoby ensures that 14,000 children receive nutritious meals.
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Keala Menza is the Food Program Manager at PATCH Hawai’i, a child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency that operates as the only CACFP sponsor in Hawai’i. Read more about their work.
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Joanne Varnes is the Program Manager at Catholic Charities – Diocese of Wilmington. Learn more about their work as a CACFP sponsor in Delaware.
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Paula Barton is the Executive Director and Amy Warby is the Associate Director of Alliance For Children, a sponsor of homes and child care centers across Utah.
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NCA Response – National Disqualified List Information Collection
August 5, 2026 In June 2026, USDA released a notice of Agency Information Collection Activities: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) National Disqualified List. This notice is of a routine collection of information, where State agencies share information on organizations and individuals who have been found seriously deficient so USDA can place them on…
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