Child and Adult Care Food Program
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Grand Rapids Urban League helps child care providers provide quality nutritional meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) serves nutritious meals and snacks to eligible participants enrolled for care at participating day care centers and day care homes. The program promotes the development of basic nutritional concepts and provides nutritious, well-balanced meals fostering sound eating habits that enable participants to become caretakers of their own nutritional habits. CACFP also provides meals to children residing in homeless shelters and snacks to youths participating in after-school care programs. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families.
Nutrition is an important part of a good child care program. Children need a variety of foods each day in order to meet their energy demands and to help them build strong bodies and minds. No one food provides children with all the nutrients their young bodies require to grow and stay healthy.
The CACFP strives to improve the diets of children in child care and to promote nutrition education. Child care providers participating in CACFP are reimbursed for meals and snacks. They have access to nutritional resources, training and technical assistance. Providers also receive assistance in practical day-to-day operations, such as supply requisitioning, menu planning and sanitation.
Participation in the food program is free. Your child care home must be licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services or be an approved relative care home to sign an agreement with the Grand Rapids Urban League Child Care Food Program. [ Upcoming Workshops ]
Once you're signed up with us, you'll plan and serve meals and snacks that meet the USDA requirements to the children enrolled in your child care home. The best part is that the guidelines are much like the meals you are already serving, so it's not difficult to follow at all. Keeping daily records of the meals is also simple - it only takes about three minutes a day to write down the meal/snack components and attendance or about a minute, with the Minute Menu online claiming system. At the end of the month, you'll send the menus and attendance forms (referred to as a "claim") to Grand Rapids Urban League Child Care Food Program; reimbursement checks for menus that met USDA guidelines are sent on the last business day of the month.
Child care providers may be reimbursed for a maximum of either two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal for each child per day.
We are proud to serve many counties in Michigan. A service area map is coming soon. Please call us at (616) 245-2207 or email us at info@grurbanleague.org if you would like more information.
In accordance with Federal law and U. S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
What makes Grand Rapids Urban League Food Program Unique?
The Grand Rapids Urban League (GRUL) is all about U! You are what makes us unique. Together we bring healthy options and fun concepts to your child care business. We partner with U for success.
How Can I Join? We’d love to help you get started! Please call us at (616) 245-2207 or email us at info@grurbanleague.org if you would like more information.
