FAQs
What is the Child & Adult Care Food Program?
The Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal assistance program that promotes good nutrition and healthy eating. As an extension of the National School Lunch Act, CACFP provides nutrition education training and financial assistance with the cost of providing nutritious meals and snacks in child care.
Who is Eligible?
All licensed and certified family and group child care home providers homes and authorized relative care home providers may participate in the program under a sponsoring organization. Grand Rapids Urban League is your sponsor in the following counties (see map below). Child care home providers receive reimbursement for food costs, assistance with paperwork and training on nutrition and the option of using a an online premier program that handles all CACFP recordkeeping requirements.
What are the Benefits of the Food Program?
Monetary Reimbursement
Every month you will receive a check from the Grand Rapids Urban League for each snack and meal you serve per child. If you serve five children breakfast, lunch and snack five days a week, your monthly check will be between $XXX. Rates vary depending on the federal guidelines. Your own children under 13 may also be eligible.
Free Resources and Training
Grand Rapids Urban League provides CACFP providers with free nutrition training materials and resources, recipes and fun activities to help children learn healthy eating habits. You will have an opportunity to attend outstanding workshops designed specifically with providers needs in mind. These workshops and other free annual training sessions offer credit that count towards the state training requirement.
Peace of Mind for Parents
As an Urban League Food Program participant you will receive CACFP brochures and information to share with parents. Parents can feel confident that their child care professional is preparing nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA requirements every day and that they are encouraging their child to develop good eating habits.
I Want the Benefits of the Food Program. What Do I Need to Do?
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.
Benefits: What's in it for me, the provider?
- Food Reimbursement! Allows me to be reimbursed for food costs, potentially even for my own children.
- Nutrition packets! containing information, recipes, activities and ideas to use with my children in care.
- Business information! available on-demand regarding taxes, records, contracts, policies via the online claiming system, Minute Menu.
- Superb nutrition workshops! provided for the training component of the Food Program.
- Expert, professional staff! that values and respects me as a child care provider first and foremost.
- Support group information! provided in many communities.
For more information regarding the Food Program, or to sign up to attend a Provider Open House in your area, please e-mail info@grurbanleague.org.
