Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Facts

Meal Benefit Requirements Determining Eligibility:

In centers, participants from households with incomes at or below 130 percent of poverty are eligible for free meals. Participants in centers with household incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for meals at a reduced price. Institutions must determine each enrolled participant's eligibility for free and reduced price meals served in centers.

Sponsoring organizations of day care homes must determine which day care homes are eligible for tier I rates and, if requested, which children are eligible to receive meals reimbursed at tier I rates in tier II day care homes. A participant's eligibility for free and reduced price meals in centers or for tier I meals in day care homes, may be established by submission of an income eligibility statement, which provides information about family size and income. The information submitted by each household is compared with USDA's Income Eligibility Guidelines.

Children whose families receive benefits from the Food Stamp Program, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or State programs funded through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are categorically eligible for free meals. Children who are income-eligible participants of Head Start or Even Start programs are automatically eligible for free meals, without further application or eligibility determination. Children who are residents of emergency shelters are also automatically eligible for free meals.

Adults who receive food stamps, FDPIR, Social Security Income (SSI), or Medicaid benefits are categorically eligible for free meals.

What are Commodities?

• Commodities are government entitlement foods made available to organizations that participate in School and Community Nutrition Programs. These foods are offered to sponsoring organizations at a fraction of their market value.
• Cash in Lieu of Commodities - Participating organizations may choose to receive cash instead of the actual commodities. A federal formula is used to determine the amount of commodity entitlement; similarly a formula is used to determine the valve is incorporated into the reimbursement rate and received on a monthly basis.

Meal Pattern Requirements:

CACFP meal pattern requirement are basically the same for each type of participant other than an infants. The quantities of the item differ based on age and the adult supper slightly differs. CACFP reimburses for up to 2 meals (Breakfast-Lunch-Supper) and one snack per day per participant.

Breakfast (Three items)

• l Milk
• l Fruit or Juice or Vegetable
• l Grains or Bread

Lunch or Supper (Five items)

• l Milk
• l Meat or Meat Alternate
• l Grains or Bread
• l Two Different Servings of Fruit or Juice or Vegetable

Snacks (Two of Four Groups)

• l Milk
• l Meat or Meat Alternate
• l Grains or Bread
• l Fruit or Juice or Vegetable

Reimbursement is provided for up to 2 meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or supper) and a snack per day per enrollee. This monetary supplement can help balance your meal service costs.

For More Information:

Call or write to the Delaware Department of Education, School and Community Nutrition Programs, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901; 302-735-4060.