What is CACFP?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that reimburses registered, licensed, and legally exempt child care providers for serving meals and snack which meet the USDA guidelines to the children in their care. This nutritional program started in the late 1960's as a result of a study that reported the poor academic abilities of children whose nutritional needs were not being met. The program is designed to help reimburse child care providers some of the expenses of feeding children in their care. It is designed to help meet the nutritional needs necessary for physical, intellectual, and emotional development and establish healthy eating habits.
All licensed, registered, and legally exempt child care providers are eligible to participate in CACFP. Food Program participants are required to provide meals and snacks which meet USDA guidelines to all the children in their child care and keep daily menu and attendance records.

Why Participate in CACFP?

• The children in your care will receive healthy, nutritious meals and snacks.

• You will help shape a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

• You save money by receiving a monthly reimbursement check for a portion of the meals you provide.

• You receive continuous guidance and training in nutritional standards.

• Additional resources are made available to help your child care business such as information on financial record keeping, taxes, business management and many other topics related to child care.

• You can be reimbursed for a maximum of two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal per day. Tier 1 reimbursement rates are for providers who are in a low income area or household. Tier 2 rates are applicable to all others.

Maximizing Your Child Care Business Potential with CACFP

Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a valuable opportunity to support your child care business. While managing program requirements takes some time, the financial and operational benefits make it a worthwhile investment for providers.

CACFP helps offset your daily food expenses while ensuring the children in your care receive nutritious, balanced meals. Best of all, program administration is flexible: you can choose to receive your reimbursements via direct deposit or mail, and you can submit your records using either traditional paper menus or a streamlined online platform.

Understanding the Financial Return

Managing daily menus and basic documentation is standard practice for child care providers. CACFP ensures you are compensated for that effort, turning routine meal preparation into an added revenue stream.

Consider the financial impact for a typical provider:

• Annual Earnings: Caring for just four children and serving breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the lower Tier II rate yields approximately $2,256 per year ($564 per child).

• Time Investment: Spending three hours per week on program documentation equals roughly 156 hours per year.

• Effective Hourly Rate: This translates to an additional $14.46 per hour for the time spent on administrative tasks.

A Smart Investment for Your Business

While joining CACFP does impact your taxable income, the reimbursement funds more than cover this increase, leaving your business with a net financial gain. CACFP is a reliable way to increase your annual revenue for the healthy meals and quality care you are already providing each day.

CACFP Reimbursement Rates

Rate are adjusted annually each July, as required by the statutes and regulations governing CACFP. You can see the rates table for each year on the USDA's website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/reimbursement-rates.

Rates listed below are good from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Meal rate in US dollars.

Additional Resources

Additional CACFP Resources

New York State Dept. of Health Information Site

Child Care Info Minute Menu

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

CACFP Recipes

CACFP Toolkits

Other Nutrition & Food Safety Resources:

Fight Bac! Partnership for Food Safety Education; keeping food safe from bacteria.

FoodSafety.gov Gateway to Government Food Safety Information.

Nemours Foundation Kids Health for Kids

USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) Develops and promotes dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutritional needs of consumers.

Contact Us!

Questions About the Program or Interested in Getting Started?

• Call (315) 446-1220 ext. 353

• Ashley Gladden

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, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington DC. 20250-9410, or call (866) 632-9992 (voice) or (800) 977-8339 (TDY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider.