Iowa Department of Education

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PK-12 Education

Nutrition Programs

Child & Adult Care Food Program

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:

Improve the diets of children by providing nutritious meals.
Help children develop good eating habits that will last through the years.
Help adults maintain good diets by providing nutritious meals.

This Program serves:

Children age 0 through 12 years in child care centers.
Children through age 18 in at risk afterschool programs and emergency shelters.
Children of migrant workers, through age 15.
Functionally impaired disabled persons receiving care in a center or home where most children are 18 years old and younger.
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 Requirements

Child 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)

icon 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)

icon CACFP Snack Ideas (2006-06-07)

icon 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

Building for the Future Brochure - Spanish

Center Resources

Forms

Iowa Eligibility Application

Parent Letter: Non-pricing Center

Parent Letter: Pricing Center

Income Eligibility Guidelines

Approval Instructions

icon 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.

USDA FNS Instruction 796-2, Revisions 3

Set of 18 Brochures by USDA's summarizing CACFP allowable financial costs from the FNS Instruction 796-2, Revision 3.