FIGURE 2-1 CACFP settings as administered through USDA FNS.

NOTES: CACFP = Child and Adult Care Food Program; FNS = Food and Nutrition Service; USDA = U.S. Department of Agriculture. All day care homes and centers must come into the program under a sponsoring organization, which provides training, technical assistance, and monitoring. State CACFP agencies approve sponsoring organizations and independent centers, monitor the program, provide guidance, and administer CACFP in most states. USDA FNS administers CACFP at the federal level through grants to states.

SOURCE: Adapted from USDA/FNS, 2000.

state. Public or private entities that are eligible to participate in CACFP are described below (USDA/FNS, 2010b).

Public or private nonprofit child care centers, outside school hours care centers, Head Start programs, and other institutions that are licensed or approved to provide day care services are eligible to participate in CACFP, either independently or as sponsored centers. For-profit centers are eligible to participate only if, in addition, either (1) they receive title XX funds for at least 25 percent of enrolled children or licensed capacity (whichever is less), or (2) at least 25 percent of the children in care are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Meals served to children are reimbursed at rates based upon a child’s eligibility for free, reduced-price, or paid meals. In centers, participants from households with incomes at or below 130 percent of poverty are eligible for free meals, while those with household incomes between 130 and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for meals at a reduced price (USDA/FNS, 2010b).