The purpose of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is to improve the nutritional quality of meals served to children in child care centers and child care homes, and adults in day care. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the New York State Department of Health to provide reimbursement for meals and snacks served in licensed non-profit, for-profit, or public centers or licensed/registered child care homes.

The program improves the nutritional quality of meals and snacks in three ways:

  1. Setting requirements for the kind and amount of food to be served.
  2. Providing money (reimbursement) to eligible programs and providers for meals that meet requirements.
  3. Requiring periodic training and monitoring for staff in participating organizations.

To Participate:

Child care home providers must sign up with a state-approved sponsor. Centers must be licensed, non-profit, or public and may apply for themselves or participate through a sponsor that meets the same requirements. Centers, child care home providers, and sponsors should contact the New York State Department of Health for details on program participation or to see if your program is eligible to participate.

You can contact the New York State Department of Health at: