Are fruit purées creditable in the CACFP?
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November 12, 2026 The National CACFP Association (NCA) brought together hundreds of members of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) community for its second annual Farm to CACFP Week, helping providers explore practical ways to incorporate local foods into nutritious meals while strengthening connections with farmers and food producers in their communities Held…
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The latest 2025 Annual Report: Achieving a State of Healthy Weight (ASHW) underscores the critical role that child care licensing regulations play in promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and obesity prevention in early care and education settings. Developed by the University of Colorado College of Nursing in partnership with the CDC, the report evaluates how all 50 states and Washington, D.C., align their licensing requirements with 47 evidence-based High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards (HIOPS).
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For nearly 30 years, Kelly Cahill has dedicated her career to supporting family child care providers through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As Executive Director of Day Care Connection in Lenexa, Kansas, she leads an organization that serves approximately 300 family child care homes across 17 counties, ensuring that more than 2,200 children receive nutritious meals every day.
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Does cabbage credit the same as leafy green vegetables?
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November 5, 2026 USDA has the authority to waive statutory or regulatory program requirements for Child Nutrition Programs. State Agencies can submit a 12(l) waiver application to USDA in order to allow for flexibilities, including off-site monitoring, in their state. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2024, USDA began processing annual waivers from State agencies to allow sponsoring organizations…
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October 19, 2026 The National CACFP Association (NCA) is proud to continue its annual scholarship program for the 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC), taking place March 29-April 2, 2027, in Chicago, Illinois. Each year, NCA awards scholarships to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) professionals who are dedicated to improving access to nutritious…
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October 15, 2026 Registration is officially open for the 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC27), happening March 29-April 2, 2027, in Chicago. Attendees can now take advantage of the lowest registration rate through December 1, 2026. This year’s theme, Fresh Ideas, Shared Purpose, celebrates what brings the child nutrition community together: a shared commitment to…
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The National CACFP Association (NCA) will celebrate Farm to CACFP Week from October 18–24, 2026, an annual education campaign encouraging child and adult care providers to connect the foods they serve with local agriculture, producers and their communities.
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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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November 5, 2026 USDA has the authority to waive statutory or regulatory program requirements for Child Nutrition Programs. State Agencies can submit a 12(l) waiver application to USDA in order to allow for flexibilities, including off-site monitoring, in their state. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2024, USDA began processing annual waivers from State agencies to allow sponsoring organizations…
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Nebraska advocates have shown what is possible when providers, state leaders, and advocates come together around a shared goal. In a major win for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Nebraska Legislature unanimously passed LR296, a resolution urging Congress to eliminate CACFP tiering and provide additional reimbursement for all family child care providers.
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USDA released a memorandum providing guidance to help state agencies recognize warning signs of potential fraud and respond quickly when improper claiming practices are suspected. The guidance reinforces the importance of strong program oversight, accurate recordkeeping, and timely corrective action to protect CACFP funding and maintain public trust.
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USDA issued guidance encouraging State agencies to strengthen their review of organizations seeking to participate in the CACFP. The memorandum emphasizes thorough screening, documentation, and oversight during the application process to prevent fraud, waste, and program abuse while ensuring that only qualified organizations are approved to operate the Program.
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USDA released a memorandum emphasizing the critical role of recordkeeping in maintaining the integrity of the CACFP. The guidance reminds state agencies and CACFP operators that complete, accurate, and timely records are essential to support reimbursement claims, demonstrate viability, capability, and accountability (VCA), and protect program funds from misuse.
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Over the past few months, USDA has released new policies, HHS as proposed changes to Head Start, and Congress has introduced new legislation. Keep reading to see what you’ve missed and stay up to date with CACFP policy!
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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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Are fruit purées creditable in the CACFP?
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Does cabbage credit the same as leafy green vegetables?
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How do chestnuts fit into the CACFP meal pattern?
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Can evaporated milk be served as the fluid milk component?
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Is breastfeeding by a parent on-site creditable in the CACFP?
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Are water chestnuts 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
USDA released their second report on the Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS-II), which follow their first in 2022. SNACS-II uses data from program year 2022-23 to assess how well children’s diets and CACFP meals align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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A recent study by our partners at Child Care Aware® of America reveals that parents across the nation are struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care. The survey shows that parents are piecing together multiple care arrangements and facing challenges balancing work and caregiving.
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The CDC’s 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report gives us a big-picture look at how young children in the U.S. are eating and growing. It focuses on kids from birth to age 5 and shares important facts about breastfeeding, starting solid foods, eating healthy and how states support good nutrition.
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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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For nearly 30 years, Kelly Cahill has dedicated her career to supporting family child care providers through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As Executive Director of Day Care Connection in Lenexa, Kansas, she leads an organization that serves approximately 300 family child care homes across 17 counties, ensuring that more than 2,200 children receive nutritious meals every day.
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As Health and Nutrition Specialist for the Navajo Nation Tribal Government Head Start, Anglene Joe helps ensure that children across one of the largest tribal nations in the United States have access to healthy meals, cultural connections and the foundation they need to thrive.
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For more than five decades, 4C for Children has been a cornerstone of support for child care providers and families across southeastern Wisconsin. Among their services is the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), where 4C for Children sponsors 311 family child care homes that collectively serve nearly 4,000 children and provide more than 853,000 meals each year.
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For more than four decades, Darcie Decker has helped shape the nutrition programs at Youth & Family Services (YFS) in Rapid City, South Dakota. As Nutrition Director, Darcie oversees both the organization’s on-site meal programs and its Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship of family child care homes across much of western South Dakota.
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For nearly three decades, Pat Siergiey has dedicated her career to supporting child care providers and ensuring children across Vermont have access to nutritious meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Read about what her organization is doing to uplift the CACFP.
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Sponsor of Family Child Care Homes September 8, 2026 Karen Velasco and Anabel Tejada have built their careers at Child Care Network of New York from the ground up. Today, they help lead one of New York’s largest CACFP sponsoring organizations, supporting more than 1,100 family child care homes and 13,348 participants across New York…
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