Eligibility Requirements
The United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides licensed child care centers with a monetary incentive to serve nutritious meals and snacks to your day care children. For most centers, the rules are very similar to what your state licensing agency already requires…so why not get reimbursed for your efforts and your food service costs!
To participate on the CACFP or Child and Adult Care Food Program in Texas, you must hold a valid license from your state agency to operate a child care center, and either be:
- a 501 (c ) (3) Non-Profit agency, or
- a For-Profit agency with at least 25% of your children qualified as low income or under your state’s tuition subsidy program.
Then you may participate under one of the following two options:
- as an Independent Center:*
- as a client under an Unaffiliated Center Sponsor
* If you own multiple Child Care centers, you may sign up all “owned” centers under one contract
called an Affiliated Center Sponsor
Why Aren’t All Child Care Centers on the CACFP?
The ONLY reason a child care center shouldn’t be participating on the CACFP is if they are ineligible (For-Profit centers with less than 25% low income enrollment)
Eligible Child Care centers who choose not to participate is mainly due to the following reasons:
- The paperwork and red tape seems insurmountable to understand and keep up with;
- Understand “kitchen math” is way beyond the cook and/or director’s understanding;
- Time spent on CACFP paperwork takes too much time away from caring for the kids;
- The center serves low quality meal/snacks and doesn’t want to increase their food costs
- Not fully understanding the tremendous benefits of the CACFP for their Child Care center.
What is an Unaffiliated Sponsor and Why Should I Use Them?
This is a non-profit agency who has a contract with USDA and your state agency to “sponsor” licensed child centers under their CACFP contract. An Unaffiliated Sponsor is legally and financially responsible for your participation on the CACFP. They train your key employees over the CACFP procedures to follow and what documents you complete and maintain a record of. The Unaffiliated Sponsor files your monthly claim for reimbursement and remits payment back to . They monitor your center a minimum of three times per year to ensure meals are being prepared and served as reported and any other required documentation is in place.
Is There A Fee For Using An Unaffiliated Sponsor?
Yes, the sponsor withholds an admin fee, which is typically 15% of your “meal reimbursement” funds your center earns each month. They are not allowed to withhold any of your cash in lieu (CIL) funds.
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or
- email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
