Healthy Meals for Children and Adults in Need
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is dedicated to providing nutritious meals to support children’s health and development, as well as the well-being of older adults and those with disabilities.
Benefits of CACFP Meals
CACFP meals play a crucial role in promoting healthy growth and development for children, as well as supporting the overall well-being of older adults and individuals with disabilities. CACFP meals promote:
- Lifelong healthy eating: Children develop healthy food preferences and habits.
- Essential nutrition: Balanced meals offer fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and limited added sugars – nutrients that many Americans need more of.
- Optimized health: Adults, especially seniors and those with disabilities, benefit greatly from nutritious, balanced meals.
Who Can Participate in the CACFP?
The CACFP benefits a wide range of care facilities, supporting the nutritional needs of both children and adults. If you operate one of the following facilities, you may be eligible to participate:
- Childcare centers
- Daycare homes
- Afterschool programs
- Emergency shelters
- Adult daycare centers that care for individuals over 60 or adults with disabilities
Cecil County CACFP
Family Child Care Providers in Maryland participate in the CACFP through sponsoring organizations that are approved through the Maryland State Department of Education. The sponsors provide Family Child Care providers with CACFP training and technical assistance and monitor compliance with CACFP regulations.
Cecil County is one of five sponsoring organizations in Maryland that providers can choose. Cecil County CACFP serves family child care providers in Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent Counties and Baltimore City.
Why Should Providers Participate in the CACFP with Cecil County?
In addition to ensuring proper development, improving nutrition, and decreasing food security, there are benefits to providers for participating in the CACFP.
- You can purchase more nutritious foods for those in your care
- Make care affordable for the families that you serve
- Assure parents that their children in your care will receive nutritious meals that support their development
- Increase your Maryland EXCELS rating level
- Earn Core of Knowledge hours
- Direct Deposit of your reimbursement monthly
- Menu Planning assistance
- Online claiming using KidKare
- Friendly and professional staff available during business hours
Want to learn more about the Cecil County CACFP?
If you would like more information about Cecil County CACFP, please contact us at 410-996-0252 or [email protected].
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
