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Untapped Potential: License-Exempt Home-Based Child care Providers

November 29, 2023

A study was published in October 2023 by the Urban Institute to identify major gaps in the CACFP’s coverage and ability to reach children. The study specifically focused on CACFP eligibility for small home-based child care providers who are legally exempt from their state’s child care licensing requirements.

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SFSP Boot Camp is Here!

November 27, 2023

Join us for a day of learning on vital topics tailored to the unique needs of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

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Afterschool Supper Participation Decreased from 2021 to 2022

November 27, 2023

A report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) found that while participation in afterschool supper remained steady throughout the pandemic, there has been a 23% decrease in participation between October 2021 and October 2022.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Offering Water

November 25, 2023

Does water have to be offered to children in the CACFP, or just made available?

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Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in the CACFP

November 21, 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has included traditional foods in the FBG. Not only does this list make program participation easier for indigenous groups, but it is also a great resource for any programs that serve indigenous groups.

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Hmong Reflections on the CACFP 

November 20, 2023

This article by the Hmong American Farmers Association presents highlights of Hmong in-home early care providers’ feedback on the benefits of enrollment, recommendations on how CACFP could work best for them and suggestions for improvement to the program.

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SFSP Boot Camp is Here!

November 27, 2023

Join us for a day of learning on vital topics tailored to the unique needs of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

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Free Webinar Take Action: The Importance of Advocacy in the CACFP

November 16, 2023

Join us to learn how to advocate for the CACFP and explore tools and resources to effectively communicate the importance of your work. Gain insights on raising awareness and highlighting the invaluable role of the CACFP within communities.

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Scholarships Available for #NCNC24!

November 13, 2023

We are thrilled to offer 7 scholarships for the 2024 National Child Nutrition Conference in-person in Orlando, Florida. We will also be awarding 8 additional scholarships to attend the conference virtually.

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#NCNC24 Registration Now Open!

November 1, 2023

Registration is now open for the 2024 National Child Nutrition Conference. This year we’re hosting our premier event in Orlando, Florida, and we can’t wait to see you there.

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November Virtual Events

October 30, 2023

Check out these virtual events coming up at NCA!

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Webinar: Phrases that Help and Hinder

October 19, 2023

On November 1st, join NCA’s Nutrition Education Specialist, Isabel Ramos-Lebron as she joins experts from the National Pork Board to present this webinar that will help create healthy habits.

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Senate Partner Bill: Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act

November 14, 2023

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Casey to permanently:
• Increase reimbursement rates by 10 cent for each meal and snack
• Eliminate the tiering of family day care homes
• Allow family day care home providers to claim their own children’s meals for reimbursement
• Shift the calculation of family child care homes’ reimbursement from “food at home” to “food away from home” to align with centers

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Off-Site Monitoring Waiver: Oregon Case Study

November 9, 2023

USDA has the authority to waive on-site monitoring requirements for the CACFP. State Agencies can submit a 12(l) waiver application to USDA in order to allow for off-site monitoring flexibilities in their state. Oregon was the first state to submit an application and the first state to be approved! Read about their approved waiver.

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The CACFP Strengthens the Child Care Infrastructure

November 8, 2023

The CACFP serves millions of children and adults in care and supports thousands of child and adult care providers nationwide. The support from the CACFP helps struggling providers to keep costs low and increase the competitiveness of their small businesses.

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Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

November 1, 2023

This memorandum provides guidance to Indigenous communities on incorporating traditional Indigenous foods that meet CNP meal pattern requirements and includes an updated and expanded list of traditional Indigenous foods that credit the same as similar foods currently listed in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG).

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Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act of 2023 

October 26, 2023

On October 26, 2023 the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act was re-introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Marc Molinaro (R-NY). This legislation would allow providers who are open for more than 8 hours to be reimbursed for an additional meal.

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Modernizing the CACFP to Expand Access with Off-Site Monitoring

October 16, 2023

To ensure the integrity of the CACFP, participating programs must be monitored. Historically, monitoring visits have been conducted on-site, with monitors traveling to each child care program to observe meal service and review records. This process results in increased time and costs for monitoring organizations. Learn how off-site monitoring could benefit and modernize the CACFP.

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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: Offering Water

November 25, 2023

Does water have to be offered to children in the CACFP, or just made available?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Mixing Cereals

November 17, 2023

Can you mix a high-sugar cereal with a low-sugar cereal, and have the average meet the CACFP sugar limits?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Age for Choking Risk

November 3, 2023

At what age are children at a higher risk for choking?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Granola Bars

October 28, 2023

Are granola bars creditable in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sugar Limits in Breakfast Cereal

October 20, 2023

What are the sugar limits for breakfast cereals in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Honey Graham Crackers

October 13, 2023

It is recommended to not serve honey to infants under 1 year old – does that also apply to honey graham crackers?

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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.

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Share Your CACFP Experience in this Nationwide Survey

June 22, 2023

Participate by July 14 in a nationwide survey of CACFP Sponsors and Providers being conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 2, 2023

In 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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Barriers and Facilitators of Center-Based ECE Program Participation in the CACFP

May 25, 2023

In April 2023, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team published a study on the barriers, facilitators, and potential strategies to address center-based participation in the CACFP. One of the key barriers to participation shared by study participants included the cumbersome CACFP paperwork. Facilitators to participation included supports provided by stakeholders and sponsors.

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Fruit, Vegetable, and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Children

March 28, 2023

In February 2023, the CDC released state-level data on fruit, vegetable, and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among young children. The data was collected through a 2021 national survey in which respondents were asked three questions about children aged 1–5 years regarding the frequency of consuming fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages during the preceding week. The report found that many young children between ages 1 and 5 years old are not eating fruits and vegetables each day and are regularly drinking SSBs.

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Female child care provider leaning over a table helping children with craft.

Experiences of Early Child Care and Education Operators During the Pandemic

February 1, 2023

In December 2022, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team released a report describing the child nutrition and care provision experiences among early care and education (ECE) stakeholders, sponsors, and center directors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in four states and a variety of ECE stakeholders participated. The study identifies six common experiences among ECE stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Female Family Child Care Home provider sits in a circle with young children playing with toy building blocks

Facilitators and Barriers to FCCH Enrollment in CACFP

January 30, 2023

In December 2022, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team released a report describing the facilitators and barriers to CACFP participation by family child care homes (FCCHs). The report concludes with suggestions for potential strategies to promote participation in the CACFP by FCCHs. The study was conducted in two states, Arizona and New York, that have varying levels of CACFP participation. The study outlines the facilitators and barriers to FCCHs’ enrollment in CACFP and recommends a few strategies to increase participation.

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Hmong Reflections on the CACFP 

November 20, 2023

This article by the Hmong American Farmers Association presents highlights of Hmong in-home early care providers’ feedback on the benefits of enrollment, recommendations on how CACFP could work best for them and suggestions for improvement to the program.

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Congressman Landsman Visits Ohio Child Care

October 9, 2023

Last week Congressman Greg Landsman visited Loving Kindness Education and Learning Center in his home district to announce the introduction of the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act. The act would support child care providers who administer the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) across the nation by increasing their reimbursements for serving nutritious meals to those in their care.

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CACFP participant child hands making heart symbol

CACFP Inspire: Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona

November 21, 2022

Eleven years ago, Lidia Madrid opened Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona to see her children and other local children grow up and learn safely in a town where there were limited child care options.

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Headshot of Shedron Davis over a beige background

CACFP Inspire: Shedron Davis of Alpha & Omega Nutrition Program, Inc in Memphis

October 25, 2022

Shedron Davis is the Founder and Executive Director of Alpha & Omega, and her mission is to empower children to succeed through a healthy lifestyle.

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CACFP Inspire: Jessica Coleman of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens in Virginia

October 20, 2022

Jessica Coleman is the children’s day care supervisor and CACFP manager at Generations, an intergenerational daycare in Virginia.

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CACFP Inspire: Andrea Rivera of Christian Military Academy, Puerto Rico

October 13, 2022

With experience and credentials like hers, it’s no surprise that the Food and Nutrition Services office selected Andrea Rivera to create a new community food service program at the start of the pandemic.

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