Child Care Centers
This program provides reimbursement for nutritious meal and snacks to 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 participate in CACFP, independently or as sponsored centers. For profit centers must receive title funds (childcare subsidy funds) for at least 25 percent of enrolled children or licensed capacity (which ever is less) or at least 25 percent of the children in care must be eligible for free and reduced price meals. Reimbursement for two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal may be claimed per child per day. All meals and snacks must meet the meal pattern requirements for children and infants. Meals served to children are reimbursed at rates based upon income levels of the children in care.
Daycare Homes/Sponsors
This program provides reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to children (12 years of age and younger) and infants in day care homes. Reimbursement is based on the eligibility of the local geographic area or town, the income level of the childcare provider or the children in care. Up to two meals and one snack, or one meal and two snacks a day can be reimbursed for each child. To participate in the CACFP, day care providers must sign an agreement with a sponsoring organization. There are seven daycare home sponsoring organizations that administer the CACFP in Vermont. Sponsors must recruit, train, monitor and reimburse all day care home providers. All meals and snacks must meet the requirements of the CACFP meal patterns for children and infants.
At Risk After School Programs
Community-based programs that offer enrichment activities for at-risk children and teenagers, after the regular school day ends, can provide free snacks through CACFP. Eligible facilities include public and private schools, nonresidential child care centers and outside school-hours care centers. To participate, sponsors must have a structured, supervised after-school enrichment program. Cash assistance is available for up to one snack a day for each student. All snacks must meet the requirements of the CACFP Meal Pattern for After School Snack Programs. Programs must be offered in areas where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free and reduced price meals based upon school data.
Reimbursable suppers are also available to children in eligible afterschool care programs.
Adult Care Programs
This program provides cash assistance for nutritious meals and snacks served to adults in public or private nonresidential day care centers who are at least 60 years of age or functionally impaired adults of any age who reside in the community. Reimbursement is based on the income levels of the enrolled adults. Cash assistance is available for up to two meals and one snack, or one meal and two snacks a day for each adult. All meals and snacks must meet the requirements of the CACFP Meal Pattern for Adults.
Cash in lieu of commodities
In addition to cash reimbursement for meals and snacks, USDA makes donated agricultural commodities or cash-in-lieu of commodities available to institutions participating in CACFP for lunches and suppers served.
Meal Reimbursement
Independent centers and sponsoring organizations receive cash reimbursement for serving meals to enrolled children and adults that meet Federal nutritional guidelines. The CACFP meal pattern varies according to age and types of meal served. Centers and day care homes may be approved to claim up to two reimbursable meals (breakfast, lunch or supper) and one snack, or two snacks and one meal, to each eligible participant, each day. Afterschool care programs may claim reimbursement for serving each child one snack, each day.
Sponsoring Organizations
Sponsoring organizations play a critical role in supporting home day care providers and centers through training, technical assistance and monitoring. All family or group day care homes must come into the program under a sponsoring organization. The sponsoring organization provides reimbursement to the day care homes and sponsored centers for meals and snacks served. View a directory of Day Care Home Sponsors.