Question:
Is this a welfare program?Answer:
No. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a nutrition education program for providers and the children they care for. The government recognizes the important of good nutrition and physical activity for all children. Children of all backgrounds need to be taught and exposed to good nutrition and physical activity habits from a young age if we are to prevent many of the health problems facing our youth today, such as overweight, diabetes, and high blood pressue.
Question:
What paperwork will be required?
Answer:
USDA (Department of Agriculture) that regulates the program, requires that providers complete paperwork on a daily basis. That means that each day you will need to mark the meals that the children have eaten, and fill in the menus that tell what foods you have served for those meals. When you initially sign a child up in your child care, the parents will complete enrollment form to enroll their child on the food program. Then at least once a year the parent will re-enroll their child on the food program to verify they are still in you care and being fed the meals you are claiming. At the end of each month you submit your Attendance and Menu forms along with any new Enrollment forms to our office. We process those forms and you are reimbursed for the meals that you have served which meet the federal guidelines. We provide you with forms or you may claim on-line, and we train you in the best way to keep your paperwork up-to-date to ensure reimbursement.
Question:
How will I know what to serve and how much?
Answer:
You will be given a Provider Handbook when you are initially trained in your home. The Handbook explains about all of the foods that are reimbursed and not reimbursed. The "Meal Patterns" show types and amounts of foods required for children 0-12 years old. You trained on how to plan meals and write menus. You will find that you will be able to serve most of the foods you like as long as they are creditable. If you have offered the children at least the minimum amounts listed of specific food groups, you will have met your feeding responsibility. It is then up to the children to decide what to eat, how much, and even whether to eat what you have offered. We are reimbursing for basic, healthy food prepared and served in your home.
Question:
Am I reimbursed for infants?
Answer:
Yes! The reimbursement you receive is the same for each meal whether the child is an infant, preschooler, or school-age child. The menu requirements and amounts are, of course, different for infants.
QUESTION:
How is this program better than having the parents all bring the food for their children?
Answer:
All of the children will be served the same meals, and you will no longer have the problem of children wanting the other's food because it looks better than what they brought. Some parents are in a hurry and bring junk food no matter what your nutrition standards are. The children will now have the opportunity to experience different healthy foods they may not be exposed to at home, and help families develop more healthy eating and physical activity habits.