More than 138,000 child and adult care providers operate the CACFP, serving nutritious meals to over 4.5 million children and adults daily. The CACFP supports small businesses, helps families keep their children fed, provides balanced meals to those in care, and helps build life-long healthy habits.
Read MoreNCA has announced elected and appointed members to the Board of Directors, who will begin their terms on October 1, 2023.
Read MoreHow does soy yogurt fit into the CACFP meal pattern?
Read MoreOne year ago today, on September 28, 2022, President Biden hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over a half century. At the conference, the administration called on stakeholders to make commitments towards ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases. NCA answered this call for action, writing a letter committing to raising awareness of the CACFP.
Read MoreA study was published in June of 2023 that found that children with child care-provided meals had lower odds of food insecurity, having poor health, or being admitted to the hospital compared to children with parent-provided meals.
Read MoreCan pumpkin pie fit into the meal pattern? You might be surprised to learn the answer!
Read MoreNCA has announced elected and appointed members to the Board of Directors, who will begin their terms on October 1, 2023.
Read MoreDo you work at a State agency in a position supporting the CACFP? Join NCA’s State Agency Collaboration meeting to earn about the newest NCA resources, hear about what’s happening in CACFP policy, get advocacy updates, and provide feedback about how we can support you.
Read MoreLooking for food program training? Delve into a comprehensive range of vital topics tailored to the unique needs of Head Start programs.
Read MoreCheck out these virtual events coming up at NCA!
Read MoreCheck out these virtual events happening in July at NCA!
Read MoreLooking for food program training? Join us each day for workshops on nutrition, program administration, operations, management, and more.
Read MoreThe USDA has released the Reimbursement Rates for 2023-2024. Rates are effective from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Read MoreAs of June 30, 2023, the Keep Kids Fed Act (KKFA) has expired. However, NCA continues to advocate for the extension of these crucial provisions. NCA has signed a letter with other national organizations urging congress to extend the KKFA for another year.
Read MoreNCA 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 MoreThis memorandum provides best practices for establishing a single application process for experienced program operators providing year-round meal services to at-risk children in low-income areas. This memorandum applies to State administering agencies and local organizations operating both the Summer Food Service and Child and Adult Care Food Programs.
Read MoreThe Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 authorized a permanent, nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program beginning in 2024. The USDA released a memorandum providing information to assist States and territories in preparing to implement Summer EBT in 2024.
Read MoreIn April 2022 Federal agencies transitioned from use of the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Child Nutrition Program Operators are required to have the UEI to receive payments from State agencies who administer the Child Nutrition programs on behalf of the Federal government. This memorandum provides answers to questions related to the transition.
Read MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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 MoreServing 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 MoreNCA 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 MoreCDC 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 MoreHow does soy yogurt fit into the CACFP meal pattern?
Read MoreCan pumpkin pie fit into the meal pattern? You might be surprised to learn the answer!
Read MoreHow do chestnuts fit into the CACFP meal pattern?
Read MoreWhat do you need to know about sugar limits in yogurt?
Read MoreWhat documentation is needed to serve deli meats in the CACFP?
Read MoreIs full-strength juice creditable in the Infant Meal Pattern?
Read MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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 MoreServing 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 MoreNCA 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 MoreCDC 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 MoreA study was published in June of 2023 that found that children with child care-provided meals had lower odds of food insecurity, having poor health, or being admitted to the hospital compared to children with parent-provided meals.
Read MoreFRAC has announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) for subgrants for its Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs project, supported by funding through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS). Submit your CACFP proposal by October 3, 2023, at 11:59pm ET.
Read MoreA study published in March of 2023, examines the impact of child care on the dietary quality of young children, as well as portrays the need for a more inclusive definition of ‘child care.’ Access to high-quality care supports the academic and social development of your children and is important for all families to reduce socioeconomic disparities.
Read MoreParticipate by July 14 in a nationwide survey of CACFP Sponsors and Providers being conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Read MoreIn May 2023, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a report focused on Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operations during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, March through September 2020, including information on the nationwide waivers that FNS approved for use during that period.
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