Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that serves nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides meals and snacks to children and youth who participate in afterschool care programs or reside in emergency shelters.

CACFP sponsors may claim reimbursement for a maximum of either two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal per participant per day. Meals claimed for reimbursement must meet the CACFP meal pattern requirements and must be served to enrolled participants in approved settings.

Community-based programs that offer enrichment activities in an organized, structured and supervised environment for at-risk children and youth, 18 and under, can provide free meals and snacks through CACFP during the school year. Programs must be located in an eligible area, where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals based upon school data.

The At-risk Afterschool meals program offers federal funding to afterschool programs that serve a meal or snack to children in low-income areas. 

• The program must be organized primarily to provide care for children after school. 
• The program must be located in an Area Eligible Location
• The program must include education and/or enrichment activities
  • "Non-school days" (weekends, holidays, vacation periods) during the school year are allowed. 
• Meals served must meet NSLP Meal Patterns or CACFP Meal Patterns and can use offer versus serve.