Kelly Rodriguez is the CACFP Director at 4-C Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C). 4-C works as a child care hub for providers and families in Northwest Illinois. 4-C also serves as a CACFP sponsoring organization, serving 108 family child care home providers and reaching 1070 children across 15 counties.
Read More
On April 30th, USDA announced the reorganization of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), now renamed as the Food and Nutrition Administration. On May 8, USDA published a reorganization webpage that provides more details on the timeline and structure of the reorganization.
Read More
What is a minimum creditable serving size in the CACFP?
Read More
USDA released a final rule that allows whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk to be offered to participants ages two and up in the CACFP, National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Special Milk Program (SMP).
Read More
Heide Martin and Sharla Olson are Nutrition Coordinators for the Southeast North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA). SENDCAA began sponsoring the CACFP in 1981 through a start-up grant from the USDA. Forty-five years later, SENDCAA continues to operate as a CACFP sponsor and serves 150 family child care homes that provide nutritious meals to about 1500 children.
Read More
What does it mean when we talk about minimum serving sizes in the CACFP meal pattern?
Read More
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.
Read More
NCA leaders brought the CACFP story to Las Vegas radio ahead of the 40th annual National Child Nutrition Conference.
Read More
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.
Read More
This year’s conference just got even more valuable for registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered. The 40th Annual National Child Nutrition Conference has been approved for 24[MN3.1][IR3.2].5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
Read More
The National CACFP Association will host Provider Day, a free virtual event for child care providers, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The event takes place during Provider Appreciation Month and during the association’s 40th anniversary year.
Read More
Late registration is now open for the 2026 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC26), the largest annual gathering of professionals dedicated to supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Late registration will be available through March 24, 2026. The conference will take place April 13–17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Read More
On April 30th, USDA announced the reorganization of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), now renamed as the Food and Nutrition Administration. On May 8, USDA published a reorganization webpage that provides more details on the timeline and structure of the reorganization.
Read More
USDA released a final rule that allows whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk to be offered to participants ages two and up in the CACFP, National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Special Milk Program (SMP).
Read More
Today, April 30, 2026, USDA announced the creation of the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) to oversee USDA’s 16 nutrition assistance programs. In addition, USDA announced the reorganization and relocation of all program staff from Washington D.C. to regional hub locations.
Read More
Over the past three months, USDA has released new guidance, income eligibility guidelines, an updated crediting handbook, and announced Farm to School Grantees. Read on to see what you’ve missed.
Read More
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.
Read More
CACFP ensures millions of children and thousands of older adults and adults with disabilities receive the nutritious meals they need to thrive. The program is well known for the high-quality meals it provides and the long-term benefits it has for children’s health. Less well known, but just as important, is how the health benefits of the CACFP extend beyond diet and branch into physical activity and screen time as well.
Read More
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
What is a minimum creditable serving size in the CACFP?
Read More
What does it mean when we talk about minimum serving sizes in the CACFP meal pattern?
Read More
Is ultrafiltered milk creditable in the CACFP?
Read More
Are black bean brownies creditable as a grain in the CACFP?
Read More
How are meats and meat alternates measured and credited in the CACFP?
Read More
How are grains measured and credited in the CACFP?
Read More
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 study proposes critical steps to repair our nation’s fragile ECE system, including greater investment in CACFP, to ensure the nutrition, health, and development of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Taking steps to fix our previous underinvestment in these areas is essential for the nation’s future and recovery from the pandemic.
Read More
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that childcare sites participating in CACFP are more likely to provide nutritious food and beverages compared with non-CACFP sites
Read More
Kelly Rodriguez is the CACFP Director at 4-C Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C). 4-C works as a child care hub for providers and families in Northwest Illinois. 4-C also serves as a CACFP sponsoring organization, serving 108 family child care home providers and reaching 1070 children across 15 counties.
Read More
Heide Martin and Sharla Olson are Nutrition Coordinators for the Southeast North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA). SENDCAA began sponsoring the CACFP in 1981 through a start-up grant from the USDA. Forty-five years later, SENDCAA continues to operate as a CACFP sponsor and serves 150 family child care homes that provide nutritious meals to about 1500 children.
Read More
Katie Quinlivan is the Program Director at Yours For Children, Inc. (YFCI), a CACFP sponsor of family child care homes that was founded 1985. Katie, herself, has been with YFCI for almost 30 years and follows in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother.
Read More
Rebecca Phillips is the CACFP Coordinator for Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC). As a community action nonprofit, NEICAC provides services to support people through all stages of life, including CACFP. As a CACFP sponsor, NEICAC supports 35 family child care homes and 10 Head Start classrooms that serve over 700 children.
Read More
Senta Hester is Executive Director of Our Daily Bread CACFP, a CACFP sponsoring organization in Tennessee and Kentucky. Our Daily Breads sponsored sites serve nutritious meals to 23,500 children and adults across the two states. Learn more about their work!
Read More
Sponsor of At-Risk Afterschool, Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes March 23, 2026 Sloane Pittman is CEO of Child Nutrition Program (CNP), a CACFP sponsoring organization in North Carolina. Sloane is the third generation of her family to lead CNP. Sloane’s grandmother was an active advocate for women throughout the ’50s and the…
Read More