The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in improving the quality of  day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. CACFP serves nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides meals to children residing in emergency shelters, and snacks to youths participating in afterschool care programs.

Adult Day Care Centers

Public or private nonprofit adult day care facilities which provide structured, comprehensive services to nonresidential adults who are functionally impaired or aged 60 and older, may be eligible to participate in CACFP as independent or sponsored centers.

Child Care Centers

Eligible public or private nonprofit child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, Head Start programs, and other institutions which are licensed or approved to provide day care services may be eligible to participate in the CACFP, independently or as sponsored centers.

Day Care Homes

A family or group day care home must sign an agreement with a sponsoring organization to participate in the CACFP. Day care homes must be licensed or approved to provide day care services.

If you are interested in participating in the CACFP, use the CACFP Decision Tool on our CACFP page at Can I be a CACFP Contracting Entity? to determine if you may be eligible.