Provider Services: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is an extension of the national school lunch program which reimburses child care providers a set reimbursement rate for serving nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care. The goal of the program is to provide nutritious meals to children, introduce them to a variety of foods, promote good eating habits, and provide opportunities for them to learn about food.

What are the benefits of participating in the CACFP?

Children in your care will:
  • Continue to receive nutritious meals and snacks in spite of rising food costs
  • Develop good eating habits
  • Learn about nutrition
Parents will:
  • Be assured their children are receiving balanced, nutritious meals
  • Not be asked to pay the expense of meal reimbursement
Providers will:
  • Increase their income without raising their rates
  • Enhance their professional skills through free nutrition training
  • Have opportunities to network with other providers
Here's how the program works:

You will be reimbursed for much of the money you spend to serve nutritious meals and snacks to the children. All it takes is a few minutes per day, and you will be provided with assistance and advice whenever you may need it.

If you would like extra income without having to raise your rates, here is how to do it.

Child Care Centers contact:                                       Child Care Homes contact:
   
Robin Holz
Bureau of Nutrition, Health & Transportation
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th Street
DesMoines, IA 50319-0146
:  515-281-3484
Suzanne Secor-Parker
Bureau of Nutrition, Health & Transportation
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th Street
DesMoines, IA 50319
: 515-281-3744
   
   
Child Care Home Providers contact:
   
Lyon, Sioux, Plymouth, Cherokee and Ida Counties
Mid-Sioux Opportunity
Clydene Canady
418 S Marion Street
Remsen IA 51050
: 800-859-2025 ext. 3492 or 712-786-3492
Woodbury County
Community Action Agency of Siouxland
Tammy Herbert
2700 Leech Ave
Sioux City IA 51106
: 712-274-1610 ext. 212
   
Osceola, O'Brien, Dickinson, Clay, Buena Vista, Emmet, Palo Alto, and Pocahontas Counties
Upper DesMoines Opportunity
Paula Schrock or Dawn Grimmius
101 Robins Ave
PO Box 519
Graettinger IA 51342
: 800-245-6151
: 712-859-3885
Pocahontas, Calhoun, Humboldt, Webster, Wright, Hamilton and Kossuth County
Mid-Iowa Community Actions, Inc. (MICA)
Kris Polich
230 SE 16th Street
Ames IA 50010
: 866-514-8089
: 515-956-3313, ext. 117
   
Crawford County
West Central Development Corporation
Nancy Pash
PO Box 709
Harlan IA 51537
: 712-755-5135
Sac County
New Opportunity
Paula Klocke & Melanie Girard
603 W 8th Street
Carroll IA 51401
: 712-792-9266 Ext. 5
   
Winnabago County
Charlie Brown Day Care
Becky Hall & Hanaa Makar
600 1st Street SW, Suite 106
Mason City, IA  50401
: 641-424-5777
 


For providers in Calhoun, Pocahontas and Webster: Check out this awesome webinar

about getting the Minute Menu Kids Pro online FREE through your local Early Childhood Iowa

Click Here to View the Webinar

Resources:

Recipes
www.Allrecipes.com

Recipes for $1.25/week meals and shopping lists
www.meals.com

Cooking with kids
www.HomeandFamilynetwork.com/food/kids.html
www.family.com

Food Pyramid
www.mypyramid.gov

Food Profiles
www.FoodTV.com

Childhood Obesity/Exercising with Children
www.fns.usda.gov/tn/

Minute Menu
www.minutemenu.com

Manners
www.tadpoledreams.org
www.family.com/parentpedia
www.preschooleducation.com (Discover the fun in learning)

USDA:  www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/

Food & Nutrition Service:     www.fns.usdafns.gov/fns/

Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsor's Association: www.cacfp.org/

Let's Move Childcare: www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org/welcome.html

Child Care Information for all Child Care Providers, Sponsors & Parents: www.childcareinfo.com

 

Print page