Frequently Asked Questions
“Why should I join CACFP when our parents bring food for their own children and it seems to work?"
CACFP is an educational program: Young children who are provided with nutritious group meals learn to accept a wider variety of foods and develop good eating habits that last them a lifetime. CACFP provides nutrition education for providers, parents, and children.
CACFP is a nutrition program: Children participating in CACFP have more nutritious diets, on average, than those who do not participate in the program. CACFP meals provide critical nutrients often lacking in the diets of young children and are low in fats and sweets, which can help to reduce obesity. |
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CACFP is an anti-hunger program: The sad fact is that 15% of Vermont’s
children live in homes at risk for hunger. Parents struggle to pay for child care
and the burden of also packing meals to send with their child reduces the money
available for nutritious meals at home.
“Doesn’t the paperwork take a lot of time?"
Most of the paperwork required by CACFP is the same that is necessary for
licensing (such as attendance)—or that is kept by any well-run business.
Participants find that the additional paperwork for the food program only takes
10-15 minutes a day.
“Can you serve only a snack or breakfast under CACFP, or do you need to provide all meals?”
A center, after school program, or home can be reimbursed even if it serves only
one snack or meal per day. CACFP participants can be reimbursed for up to 3
meal services (2 meals and a snack, or 2 snacks and a meal) per day.
“I thought the food program was only for low-income families, and we have only a few low-income children in our center.”
Reimbursement levels are higher for the low-income children; however,
reimbursement funds are earned for each and every child served, regardless of
income. CACFP improves nutrition for all children because the meals are
nutritious and children will eat a more varied diet if everyone is served the same
foods. These group meals are also an excellent opportunity to teach children
important social skills, an experience some children miss. Even families that are
not “low-income” can be struggling with limited budgets to provide nutritious
meals for their children. For those families not on a tight budget, the meal
program is a convenience because they do not have to purchase and pack meals.
As a direct benefit to providers, the reimbursement earned for CACFP meals and
snacks allows you to use funds, normally spent on food, in other program areas.
“Doesn’t a child care center need 25% of their enrollment to be subsidized children in order to qualify for the program?”
All non-profit centers that have children who regularly attend are eligible for
CACFP. Centers that are “for profit” can participate if 25% of the children
regularly attending are eligible for free or reduced price school meals, or if 25%
of enrolled children receive subsidized child care benefits from the Department
for Children and Families, Child Development Division.
“Who on our staff would have the time to prepare or serve meals?”
When parents send in food, staff must often spend a lot of time heating up and
serving individual items for each child. Programs that have switched over to
providing meals report that it requires less staff time to serve a group meal. |
