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The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program that provides meal reimbursement to child care centers, adult day care centers,emergency shelters and child development homes for serving nutritious meals. The objectives of CACFP are to:
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Improve the diets of children by providing nutritious meals.
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Help children develop good eating habits that will last through the years.
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Help adults maintain good diets by providing nutritious meals.
This Program serves:
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Children age 0 through 12 years in child care centers.
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Children through age 18 in at risk afterschool programs and emergency shelters.
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Children of migrant workers, through age 15.
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Functionally impaired disabled persons receiving care in a center
or home where most children are 18 years old and younger.
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Elderly or impaired adults in non-residential day care settings.
The funds provided for this Program are from the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Program is operated in Iowa
through the Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation in
the Department of Education.
What is QRS?
QRS stands for Iowa's Quality Rating System. It offers providers a
guided way to improve the quality of child care they provide by
achieving recognized "Levels".
What do the levels mean?
A provider who achieves Level 1 has met Iowa's registration or
licensing standards. A provider who achieves Level 2 has completed
additional training and steps to improve quality and participates in
the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Providers in Levels 3-5
have made significant steps in meeting key indicators of quality in the
areas of professional development, health and safety, environment,
family and community partnership and leadership and administration. Because participation in the CACFP has been shown to be an indicator
of quality child care, a center must participate, if eligible, to
achieve level 2.
Am I eligible for CACFP?
Click on the link to learn about CACFP eligibility requirements: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/365/432/1/2/
Who can participate?
Registered child development homes, Licensed child care centers,
Head Start, Early Head Start, afterschool programs, and child care
programs operated by school districts. For more information visit: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/iqrs/
Eligibility RequirementsChild Care Centers: Public or Private Non-profit
Any child care organization in Iowa providing non-residential care for
children may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program if
the following requirements are met:
- The center is licensed by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) or is specifically exempted from licensing by the Iowa DHS and has had the proper health and safety inspections.
- The organization is a public institution, or the organization is a private non-profit organization with tax-exempt state [(501(c)(3)] as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Code of 1986.
A Board of Directors governs the private non-profit organization.
Voting board of directors should not have a vested interest in the center(s) or
be a paid center employee.
A private non-profit or a public organization can operate a preschool,
full day child care center, an outside school hours child car, an At Risk After School snack program or
an emergency shelter program.
Child Care Centers: Private For-Profit
A private for-profit child care organization in Iowa providing
non-residential care for children may participate in the Child and
Adult Care Food Program if the following requirements are met:
- The center is licensed by the Iowa Department of Human
Services (DHS) or is specifically exempted from licensing by the Iowa
DHS and has had the proper health and safety inspections.
- The center has at least 25% free and reduced-price eligible children enrolled relative to the total enrollment or the license capacity.
25% Documentation Survey
Distribute income eligibility form (with a cover letter) to parents, and complete the 25% documentation form to determine CACFP eligibility.
Clink on the following link to get the parent letter, income application and 25% Documentation Survey: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/365/432/1/6/
Adult Centers
Any adult day care organization providing non-residential caring for
adults may participate in the Iowa Child and Adult Care Food Program if
the following requirements are met. The organization must be:
- a public institution, or
- a private non-profit organization with tax-exempt status [501(C)(3)]
as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code of 1986, or
- a proprietary (private for-profit) and with
25% free and reduced-price eligible adults enrolled relative to total
enrollment or approved capacity.
In addition the center must meet the following requirements:
- The center is caring for aged (60 years or older) or functionally impaired adults.
- The
center has been approved for an Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS)
Purchase of Service Agreement (POS), has an inspection from the
Department of Inspections and Appeals, or has Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
Child Development Homes
Any child development home providing care for children in Iowa may
participate in the Iowa Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) if
the child development home:
- is registered by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and
- has an Iowa CACFP Home Sponsor.
The CACFP Home Sponsor disburses CACFP reimbursement received from the
State Agency to participating child development homes for serving meals
that meet the CACFP requirements. Homes may request
approval for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks (morning, afternoon
and evening).
Emergency Shelters
An emergency shelter or temporary residential site must provide residential care and food services to
homeless children. It must be a public or private nonprofit
institution. Unlike most other CACFP facilities, a shelter does not
have to be licensed to provide day care. However, it must meet any
health and safety codes that are required by state or local law.
A shelter may complete an application and sign an
agreement with the State administering agency, or it may participate as
a facility under an existing public or non-profit CACFP sponsoring organization.
At Risk After School Snack Program
In order for an At Risk After School site to participate, it must be located in a school attendance area where at least 50 percent of the enrolled
children are eligible for free or reduced price meals (area eligible).
After school care programs can use free and reduced price meal data
from elementary, middle, or high schools to document a site as "area
eligible". You must also provide children with regularly scheduled
educational or enrichment activities in a supervised environment. There
are no federal licensing requirements; however, after school care
programs are required to meet State or local licensing requirements. If
the organization is exempt from licensing, the program must meet State
or local health and safety requirements.
Reimbursement
Meals - What Meals Can be Reimbursed?
Child Care Centers are paid reimbursement for children 1-12 years and infants
serving meals that follow the CACFP meal pattern requirements. Centers
may request approval for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks (morning,
afternoon and evening). Currently, USDA rules allow reimbursement to be
paid for not more than two meals and one snack or one meal and two
snacks per child per day. Meals served to supervising adults, volunteers and visitor cannot be claimed for CACFP
reimbursement.
Adult Day Care Centers are paid reimbursement for planning and serving meals that follow the adult CACFP meal pattern requirements.
Centers may request approval for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks
(morning, afternoon and evening). Currently, USDA rules allow
reimbursement to be paid for not more than two meals and one snack or
one meal and two snacks per adult per day. Meals served to supervising
adults, volunteers and visitor cannot be claimed for CACFP reimbursement.
Outside School Hours Care Centers may claim breakfasts and
snacks. Lunches served to school children in these centers may be
claimed only when school is not in session such as on weekends,
holidays or school vacations.
Child Development Homes are reimbursed for planning and serving
meals that follow CACFP requirements for children 1-12 years and infants. Homes may request approval to
claim breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon and
evening). Reimbursement is paid for not more than two meals and one
snack, two snacks and one meal or three snacks per day.
At Risk After School Snacks served after the end of the school
day or on vacation days or holidays (during school year only) are the
only meals eligible for reimbursement. All snacks are reimbursed at the
"free" rate. Income applications are not required.
Homeless and Emergency Shelters may claim breakfast, lunch and
supper or two of these meals and a snack. All meals are reimbursed at
the "free" rate. Income applications are not required.
Reimbursement is based on the income level on participants if income applications are collected. Meals served to lower income participants are reimbursed at a higher rate. Reimbursement rates can be found on the side navigation menu under "Nutrition Programs Funding " and then select CACFP.
Application Procedures
How do I apply for the CACFP center program in Iowa?
Center Programs and Emergency Shelters:
Contact Rod Bakken or Robin Searles at 515-281-5356
Attendance at a CACFP Steps to Success Workshop is required to become
familiar with the Program requirements. The CACFP application for
participation must be completed by your organization and returned to
the State Agency for approval. An appointment will be made for a
pre-approval visit by the CACFP consultant
located in your area.
Child Development Homes:
Contact the Child and Adult Care Food Program Home Sponsor in your
county, (click on the list below.) Call the Home Sponsor and ask for
the CACFP representative to schedule a visit in your home to explain
the CACFP requirements.
List of CACFP Home Sponsors in Iowa by county
General Resources
Meal Patterns
0607 Infant Meal Pattern (2006-07-19)
0607 Children 1 thru 12 Meal Pattern (2007-02-14)
Adult Meal Pattern
Handy Guide to Creditable Foods
CACFP Menu Ideas
Montana Toolkit
This toolkit was designed for participants of the Montana Child and
Adult Care Food Program; although the information is helpful to any
childcare provider. The menus (5 weeks of breakfast, lunch and one
snack), with accompanying recipes and resources, are provided to assist
childcare providers in serving healthy meals which are cost effective,
easy to prepare, and appealing to children.
http://www.opi.mt.gov/schoolfood/cyclecare.html
CACFP Menu Ideas Part1 (2006-06-07)
CACFP Menu Idea - Part2 (2006-06-07)
Activities for Nutritious CACFP Snack (2006-06-07)
Best Practice Tips for Family Style Meals (2006-06-07)
CACFP Snack Ideas (2006-06-07)
Serving Size Chart (2006-11-09)
Sample Menus to Meet 2005 Dietary Guidelines
Forms
Allergy/Food Exception Statement
Publications
Building for the Future Brochure
The Building for the Future Brochure must be provided to families upon
enrollment to inform them of the center's participation in the CACFP. A
copy may be downloaded from the USDA Websites listed below (print
two-sided, flip on short edge) or obtained from the CACFP Steps to
Success Manual.
Building for the Future Brochure-English
Center Resources
Forms
Iowa Eligibility Application
Parent Letter: Non-pricing Center
Parent Letter: Pricing Center
Income Eligibility Guidelines
Approval Instructions
25% Documentation Survey Form (2006-11-30)
CACFP Sponsored Center (Site) Review Form
Adult CACFP Sponsored Center Site Review Form
Sample Child Care Enrollment Form
Daily Meal Participation Record
Menu Form for children ages 1-12 years (Child Centers only)
WIC Information Resources Order Form
Menu Form for Adult Centers
CACFP Tracking Worksheet for Training Requirements
Tracking Worksheet for Training Requirements
Household Contacts
Household contacts - Tracking/Phone Contact Form
Household contacts- Sample Cover Letter
Daily Attendance Record (After School Snack Program)
Daily Attendance Record (ASP) (2006-06-07)
Food Production Records
Food Production Records are used to document that required amounts of
food have been served. If food is ordered food from an outside source,
use the Contracted Meal Food Production Record. If meals are prepared
onsite, use either the Short Food Production Record or the Regular Food
Production Record form. The regular form includes columns that match
the Food Buying Guide and instructions for calculating amounts to
prepare. Outside hours child care centers may use the form developed
for those organizations.
Contracted Meal Food Production Record
Short Food Production Record
Regular Food Production Record
Food Production Record Worksheet (Outside School Hours Care Centers Only)
Food Production Records Wrksht (2006-06-07)
Home Sponsor Resources
List of Home Sponsors in Iowa
USDA's instruction describing CACFP allowable/non-allowable financial costs for CACFP Home Sponsor Administrative annual budget and monthly financial claims.
Infant Feeding
Infant Meal Pattern
0607 Infant Meal Pattern
Is this infant meal reimbursable?
Is this meal reimbursable (2006-06-08)
Child Care Center Infant Enrollment Form
Child Care Center Infant Enrollment Form
Infant Foods Tried at Home
Infant foods tried at home (2006-06-08)
Reimbursable Foods for Infants
Reimbursable Foods for Infants
Infant Menu Form Options
DHS Recommended Infant Daily Report
DHS Recommended Infant Daily Rpt (2006-06-08)
Individual Infant Weekly Menu
Individual Infant Weekly Menu (2006-06-08)
0-3 Individual Infant Monthly Menu
0-3 Individual Infant Mnthly Menu (2006-06-08)
4-7 Individual Infant Monthly Menu
4-7Individual Infant Mnthly Menu (2006-06-08)
8-11 Individual Infant Monthly Menu
8-11 Individual Infant Mnthly Menu (2006-06-08)
Group Infant Weekly Menu
Group Infant Weekly Menu (2006-06-08)
Infant Recipes
Two infant recipes (pancakes and muffins) using iron-fortified infant cereal may be used to meet CACFP iron-fortified cereal requirement.
Infant Cereal Recipes (2007-02-14)
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