Child and Adult Care Food Program
The main goal of this program is to insure that children in participating child care centers and family child care homes receive healthful meals and snacks and child care providers receive training in nutrition.
Children and providers learn about food and healthy eating.
Nutrition is an important part of good child care and a healthy lifestyle. All children need well-planned meals and snacks that provide a variety of foods and the nutrients needed for good health and energy. The United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), through the New York State Department of Health, helps child care providers pay for meals and snacks that meet nutrition requirements for breakfast, lunch or supper, and snacks. A meal pattern outlines the kinds and amounts of food that must be served. Training and educational programs are also offered to child care providers that participate on the CACFP. Child & Family Resources is a CACFP sponsor to Family and Group Family Child Care homes in Ontario, Seneca and Yates Counties.
What are the Benefits of CACFP?
-
Children are served nutritious meals and snacks and develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
-
Parent know their children are eating safe, healthy meals and snacks. Parents don't have to pack food to bring to child care.
-
Providers receive regular training and guidance about many nutrition, mealtime and child development topics. The reimbursement helps providers buy healthier foods.
-
Communities benefit through CACFP. Studies show that children enrolled in CACFP have healthier diets and are not sick as often as other children. CACFP payments to providers helps reduce child care costs for working parents.
Check out the CACFP Brochure for more information including current reimbursement rates.
Childhood Nutrition and Wellness- The foods children eat and lifestyle habits they learn have a lasting effect on their health. There are ways your child care provider is promoting healthy habits while your children are in care. Together We Can Raise Healthy Children
Civil Rights Training Requirement !
As a participant of the CACFP program it is now mandatory that all providers take a Civil Rights Training. This training is available online at http://cacfpny.adobeconnect.com/civil_rights_frontline/ Providers completing the training on-line must print out the training certificate and submit a copy (keep the original) to Child & Family Resources to be maintained in your file. Those providers not having internet access will be able to obtain certification at a regular CACFP training.
Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care 
Evidence shows that breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for developing infants. CACFP is collaborating with NYS Early Care and Learning Council to include the names of breastfeeding friendly child care centers and day care homes in the Child Care Aware of America (CCAOA) referral data base. CACFP has established a process to designate day care homes as "Breastfeeding Friendly".
How do I apply to be designated as Breastfeeding Friendly?
- Providers need to participate in a breast feeding friendly training and receive a certificate of participation. Providers will need to provide a copy of the certificate of participation, their policy and their completed questionnaire/ self-assessment to their CACFP representative
For more information visit the CACFP Breastfeeding webpage or contact your CACFP representative.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department.”
“If you need to file a complaint, USDA uses specific language. Therefore, If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, you must complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or call any USDA office. You may also call 866-632-9992 to request the form. A letter can be written, however it must contain all the information present on the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to: USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Stop 9410 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or E-mail address:
program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities can contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at Local or Federal relay: (800) 877-8339 Spanish relay: (800) 845-6136.”