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The CACFP’s Impact Across the Nation

October 3, 2023

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.

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National CACFP Sponsors Association Announces New and Re-Elected Board of Director Members

October 2, 2023

NCA has announced elected and appointed members to the Board of Directors, who will begin their terms on October 1, 2023.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Soy Yogurt

September 29, 2023

How does soy yogurt fit into the CACFP meal pattern?

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1 Year Later: NCA’s Commitments During the White House Conference

September 28, 2023

One 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.

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CACFP Associated with Food Security for Young Children

September 25, 2023

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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Meal Pattern Minute: Pumpkin Pie

September 22, 2023

Can pumpkin pie fit into the meal pattern? You might be surprised to learn the answer!

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National CACFP Sponsors Association Announces New and Re-Elected Board of Director Members

October 2, 2023

NCA has announced elected and appointed members to the Board of Directors, who will begin their terms on October 1, 2023.

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State Agency Collaboration Meeting

September 12, 2023

Do 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.

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CACFP Head Start Boot Camp is Here!

September 6, 2023

Looking for food program training? Delve into a comprehensive range of vital topics tailored to the unique needs of Head Start programs.

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Upcoming Virtual Events

August 21, 2023

Check out these virtual events coming up at NCA!

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2023 July Virtual Events

July 6, 2023

Check out these virtual events happening in July at NCA!

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2023 Virtual Summit Dates Announced

June 27, 2023

Looking for food program training? Join us each day for workshops on nutrition, program administration, operations, management, and more.

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The CACFP’s Impact Across the Nation

October 3, 2023

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 More

1 Year Later: NCA’s Commitments During the White House Conference

September 28, 2023

One 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 More

Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the CACFP

September 20, 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their eleventh CACFP guidance memo for 2023. The memorandum provides updated guidance on feeding infants and the infant meal pattern requirements and replaces a previous memo from 2018 (CACFP 02-2018). The memo incorporates updated breastmilk storage recommendations, infant formula food safety considerations, and information on crediting grains in ounce equivalents.

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Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act

September 19, 2023

Today, September 19, the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Greg Landsmen and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici 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

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Final Rule: Child Nutrition Program Integrity

August 28, 2023

The USDA released a final rule on child nutrition program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed. This rule is one of many steps that USDA is taking to ensure that federal child nutrition programs can serve the millions of children who depend on them to reach their full potential.

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Summer EBT Eligibility, Certification, and Verification

July 31, 2023

USDA released a memo (SEBT 03-2023) to provide information to assist states in preparing to implement summer EBT in 2024. The memo explains how to identify, certify, and verify eligible children.

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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.

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Soy Yogurt

September 29, 2023

How does soy yogurt fit into the CACFP meal pattern?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Pumpkin Pie

September 22, 2023

Can pumpkin pie fit into the meal pattern? You might be surprised to learn the answer!

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Chestnuts

September 15, 2023

How do chestnuts fit into the CACFP meal pattern?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sugar Limits in Yogurt

September 9, 2023

What do you need to know about sugar limits in yogurt?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Deli Meats

September 1, 2023

What documentation is needed to serve deli meats in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Full-Strength Juice and Infants

August 25, 2023

Is full-strength juice creditable in the Infant Meal Pattern?

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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.

Read More

CACFP Associated with Food Security for Young Children

September 25, 2023

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.

Read More

FRAC Research Funding Opportunity

August 17, 2023

FRAC 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.

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Child Care Supports Academic Achievement and Physical Health

August 10, 2023

A 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.

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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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Four individual CACFP creditable meals from Sunshine Academy

CACFP Inspire: Derek Sego of Sunshine Academy

September 19, 2022

Sunshine Academy is a preschool and daycare with three locations in Utah and the CACFP at its heart. Overseeing it all is Derek Sego.

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CACFP Inspire: Community Action Council of Lexington, KY

August 26, 2022

Community Action Council of Lexington, Kentucky is a Head Start program and CACFP sponsor for 20 child development sites throughout Kentucky. Laura Sheffield is the Health and Nutrition Director, and she and her staff operate the CACFP with outstanding care and creativity.

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Genia Boutwell outside of Poarch Band of Creek Indians Boys and Girls Club

CACFP Inspire: Genia Boutwell of Poarch Band of Creek Indians

August 22, 2022

Genia Boutwell manages the CACFP meals served through the Poarch Creek Indians Boys & Girls Club, and she’s a champion for child nutrition.

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Wendi Huntley from Connecting Kids to Meals looks inside a cooler stocked with CACFP meals

CACFP Inspire: Wendi Huntley at Connecting Kids to Meals

August 19, 2022

Wendi Huntley is the president of Connecting Kids to Meals in Toledo, Ohio where one out of every four kids faces hunger.

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Edelina Lane works on her CACFP garden with CACFP child participants

CACFP Inspire: Lina Lane’s Learning Center

August 3, 2022

Edelina Lane has executed the CACFP with distinction and success since starting her childcare business in 2010.

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North Iowa Community Action staff member carries box of CACFP foods

CACFP Inspire: North Iowa Community Action Organization

August 1, 2022

North Iowa Community Action, the CACFP sponsor for nine counties across Iowa, pulled together during the pandemic to maintain food service.

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