Child and Adult Care Food Program

 

To assist States, through grants-in-aid and other means, to initiate and maintain nonprofit food service programs for children and elderly or impaired adults enrolled in nonresidential day care facilities, children attending afterschool care programs in low-income areas, and children residing in emergency shelters. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) operates CACFP in partnership with State administering agencies to provide aid to child and adult care sponsoring organizations, centers, and day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons. Funds are also made available to the States for expenses associated with CACFP administration.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.558
Federal Agency/Office
Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 FNS estimates an increase of 2.2 percent increase in meals provided in centers, with most of the growth in free meals (23.5 million increase, or 2.3 percent) plus paid meals (7.9 million increase over FY 2015, or a 2.2 percent increase). Tier I day care homes continue a modest increase, with a 0.3 percent growth in meals (1.2 million more than in FY 2015), while meals reimbursed in tier II day care homes continue to decline (down 2.3 million meals, a reduction of 4.0 percent from FY 2015). A total of 2.08 billion meals were served to approximately 4.3 million children and 500,000 adult participants. A child care center cared for and fed approximately 54 children on an average day and received $37,086 a year in meal reimbursement through CACFP. A family day care home cared for and fed approximately 7 children on an average day and received slightly more than $7,046 a year in meal reimbursement. The number of at-risk afterschool care centers in CACFP rose 15 percent from FY 2015, with an average of 70 children daily.
Fiscal Year 2017 FNS served approximately 2.05 billion meals to children and adult participants in child care centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool care programs, and adult care centers. On average, CACFP child care centers had 56 children in attendance each day, and received about $37,744 a year in meal reimbursement. On average, a family day care home cared for and fed seven children daily, and received slightly more than $7,059 a year in meal reimbursement.
Fiscal Year 2021 FNS anticipates approximately 1.756 billion meals to be served to children and adult participants in child care centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool care programs, and adult care centers in FY 2021.
Fiscal Year 2022 FNS anticipates approximately 1.795 billion meals to be served to children and adult participants in childcare centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool care programs, and adult care centers in FY 2022.
Fiscal Year 2023 The current estimate projects 1.5 billion meals to be served to children and adult participants in child care centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool care programs, and adult care centers in FY 2023.
Fiscal Year 2024 The current estimate projects 1.5 billion meals to be served to children and adult participants in childcare centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool care programs, and adult care centers in FY 2024.
Authorization
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Sections 9, 11, 14, 16 and 17, as amended, 89 Stat. 522-525, 42 U.S.C. 1758, 1759a, 1762a, 1765 and 1766.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
The State or U.S. Territory agency applies for and signs an agreement with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to administer the Program and receive Federal funds for disbursement. The State agency enters into an agreement with each institution that has been approved for participation. The agreement is permanent and may be amended as necessary to ensure compliance with all Federal requirements. Institutions must agree to operate a nonprofit food service that is available to all eligible children and adult participants regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. Refer to the USDA Civil Rights page for current information. Currently available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights
Beneficiary Eligibility
Approved institutions providing nonresidential day care services may participate in CACFP. Eligible public and nonprofit private organizations may include day care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, family day care homes, and Head Start programs. Private for-profit centers may also participate if at least 25 percent of the children in care (enrolled or licensed capacity, whichever is less) are eligible for free or reduced price school meals or receive benefits under Title XX of the Social Security Act. Also eligible for participation are nonprofit centers which provide nonresidential adult day care, and private for-profit centers if the center receives compensation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or Title XX, and at least 25 percent of the adults enrolled in the center receive benefits under Title XIX, Title XX, or a combination of both. Emergency shelters which provide shelter and meals to children experiencing homelessness and at-risk after school care programs in low-income areas are also eligible. Any eligible institution may participate in CACFP upon request with State agency approval.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants that are not public or proprietary institutions must furnish evidence of tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. A child or adult care institution submits a written application to the State agency for participation in CACFP.
Award Procedure
Each State agency enters into a written agreement with FNS for the administration of the Program. An approved child or adult care institution signs a permanent written agreement with the State agency.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
The State agency must make a decision within 30 calendar days of receiving a complete application from the institution.
Appeals
The administering agency must provide a hearing procedure for local institution grievances.
Renewals
The agreement is permanent and may be amended as necessary to ensure compliance with all Federal requirements.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) makes funds available to States for disbursement to eligible institutions to reimburse their costs in providing meals and snacks to children and adult participants enrolled in nonresidential day care, children attending afterschool care programs, and children residing in emergency shelters. Disbursement is made on the basis of the number of breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks served, using annually adjusted reimbursement rates specified by law. CACFP allows reimbursement for up to two meals and one snack served each day to children through age 12, children of migrant workers through age 15, and persons with disabilities, in child care centers and day care homes. Adult day care centers receive reimbursement for up to two meals and one snack served each day to enrolled adults who are functionally impaired or age 60 and older. In afterschool care programs in low-income areas, reimbursement is available for one snack and one additional meal served each day, during the regular school year, to children and youth through age 18. CACFP also provides reimbursement to emergency shelters for up to three meals served each day to children or young people through age 18. All meals must meet USDA standards to be eligible for reimbursement. Funds are also paid to States and family day-care home sponsors for administrative expenses related to Program staffing and oversight, as well as for audit expenses associated with CACFP administration.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. For-profit institutions are subject to audit by their administering State agencies.
Records
Institutions must maintain full and accurate records of Program operations for a period of 3 years after the end of the fiscal year to which they pertain. However, where there are unresolved audit findings, records must be retained until there is satisfactory resolution of all audit issues.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is available for the period covered by the agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Letter.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See the FNS Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Penny Burke
Food and Nutrition Service USDA,
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
Penny.Burke@usda.gov
Phone: (720) 822-8597
Website Address
http://fns.usda.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3539-0-1-605
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 22$3,931,539,892.00; FY 23 est $3,800,000,000.00; FY 24 est $3,800,000,000.00; FY 21$3,990,124,000.00; FY 20$3,835,706,000.00; FY 19$3,815,328,000.00; FY 18$3,832,748,000.00; FY 17$3,647,052,000.00; FY 16$3,451,559,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable/available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Program regulations are codified at 7 CFR Part 226.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 


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