We’re bringing you workshops on nutrition, program administration, operations, financial and nonprofit management, and more.
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The start of 2025 has come with many changes as a new administration has taken office and a new Congress has began. So far in 2025, two important CACFP bills have been re-introduced, CACFP Week was recognized nationwide, and a USDA request for information was completed.
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Let’s shine a spotlight on the “A” in CACFP by recognizing the vital role adult care plays in supporting health and nutrition.
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Friday marked the last day of the National Child Nutrition Conference, closing out an incredible week of learning, networking, and professional development.
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Is milk required at supper for adults?
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Thursday continued the momentum with engaging discussions, thought-provoking workshops, and insightful featured speakers. Here’s a recap of the day’s key moments, with space for attendee reflections!
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We’re bringing you workshops on nutrition, program administration, operations, financial and nonprofit management, and more.
Read More
Let’s shine a spotlight on the “A” in CACFP by recognizing the vital role adult care plays in supporting health and nutrition.
Read More
Friday marked the last day of the National Child Nutrition Conference, closing out an incredible week of learning, networking, and professional development.
Read More
Thursday continued the momentum with engaging discussions, thought-provoking workshops, and insightful featured speakers. Here’s a recap of the day’s key moments, with space for attendee reflections!
Read More
Wednesday was packed with workshops, networking, and key policy updates, keeping the energy high as attendees gained valuable insights. Here are the highlights, with space for attendee reflections!
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The first full day of the National Child Nutrition Conference was packed with insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and important discussions on child nutrition policy and best practices. Here’s a look at the highlights from Tuesday.
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The start of 2025 has come with many changes as a new administration has taken office and a new Congress has began. So far in 2025, two important CACFP bills have been re-introduced, CACFP Week was recognized nationwide, and a USDA request for information was completed.
Read More
Today, April 10th, two important CACFP bills were re-introduced in Congress. The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act and Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement work together to provide much-needed improvements for the CACFP and address challenges faced by CACFP operators.
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We are pleased to share the exciting news that James (JC) Miller has joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the new Administrator for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), effective March 24th. With a wealth of experience in leadership across healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors, James is poised to bring a strong focus on improving the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of USDA’s nutrition programs.
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This year, National CACFP Week was formally recognized at federal, state, and local levels. Read more to learn how your peers raised awareness of the CACFP!
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On January 27, President Trump’s office issued a memorandum based on his executive orders which calls for temporarily pausing federal funding. This has caused concern to many programs and people, including those in our community.
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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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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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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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Is milk required at supper for adults?
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Do CACFP operators need to provide one whole grain-rich grain per day when serving infants?
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Are edamame creditable in the CACFP?
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Does tomato sauce credit by volume served in the CACFP?
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Does tomato paste and tomato puree credit based on the volume served?
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Is there a milk transition period for infants and preschool age children?
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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.
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 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
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.
Read More
The University of Colorado College of Nursing published their 2022 Annual Report on Achieving a State of Healthy Weight. The report determines how state regulations support obesity prevention in licensed ECE programs. It also highlights state successes and identifies opportunities for ECE regulations to improve support of obesity prevention in young children.
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A study was published in October 2023 by the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health to explore federal and state policies and practices that support or discourage CACFP participation among child care centers. The report approaches: program outreach and administration, barriers that make CACFP participation challenging, and recommendations to expand access to CACFP for eligible providers.
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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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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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A study was published in September of 2023 to assess the extent and reasons for the operation of the CACFP’s among licensed child care centers in order to identify opportunities for expanding CACFP nutrition support. The study found that the CACFP is underutilized and that there is unequal access in certain states and regions.
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A 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.
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Michelle Buchanan serves as the Food Program Director at the Community Action of Southeastern West Virginia, a sponsoring organization of 65 family child care homes. Learn about her journey in the CACFP!
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Denise Andrews is CEO and Director of For the Children, Inc. which is a sponsoring organization of family child care homes in Oklahoma. Learn about her journey in the CACFP!
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Most people think food banks only provide food boxes for those in need. However, food banks do so much more and may also sponsor one or more federal nutrition programs, such as the CACFP. While most CACFP sponsoring organizations are only responsible for the administration and oversight of the program at their sponsored sites, food banks often provide the meals for their sponsored sites as well. The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is a great example.
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The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs (CTWS) is a sponsor of the CACFP for their early childhood education center that operates a day care program for infants to children aged 3, as well as a Head start program for 3 to 5 year old children. Read about how they operate the CACFP!
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Leah Penna is the President and Founder of FP Assistance, a sponsor of unaffiliated centers and afterschool sites across the state of Texas. Hear from Leah!
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The CACFP is operated any many different settings, including child care, adult care, and emergency shelters. The CACFP also has an At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) component that allows sites to serve children and teenagers 18 and under up to one snack and a supper. Not only are eligible sites able to serve meals after the school day, but they can also provide a meal and snack on weekends and during school closures.
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NCA Response – Request for Information on Grain-Based Dessert and High-Protein Yogurt Crediting
In December 2024, USDA released a request for information about grain-based dessert and high-protein yogurt crediting. After meeting with members and extensive research NCA has submitted our response to USDA stating our position on potential changes.
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