RALEIGH — The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps eligible children and adults access healthy, nutritious food by reimbursing qualified child care programs, adult day programs and other non-residential care programs for meals and snacks served to enrollees. CACFP is administered federally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
CACFP is available to programs that serve children and adults in the following categories who meet federal income requirements:
- Infants and children through age 12 in child care centers and family child care homes
- Children of migrant workers aged 15 or younger
- Children age 18 or younger in afterschool care centers and emergency shelters
- Children age 18 or younger with mental or physical disabilitiesthe
- Adults 60 years of age or older receiving non-residential care
- Adults age 18 or older living with chronically impairing disabilities
Each year, the USDA uses federal poverty information to update the income eligibility guidelines for the CACFP. The latest income guidelines are effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The guidelines determine an enrolled participant’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals offered through the CACFP.
Most child care programs and all family child care homes that participate in the CACFP provide meals to all enrolled participants without any separate charge. Reimbursement rates for meals served are based on household incomes of those enrolled for care. Programs and centers interested in participating in CACFP can complete a self-assessment and begin the application process online.
More information on CACFP is available at www.ncdhhs.gov/nccacfp.
