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:
Rod Bakken : 515-281-4760 Grimes State Office Building DesMoines, IA 50319-0146
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.225
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		Kossuth County Mid-Iowa Community Actions, Inc. (MICA) 126 S Kellogg Suite 1 Ames IA 50010 : 866-514-8089 : 515-956-3312
Crawford County West Central Development Corporation Mary Lueth PO Box 709 Harlan IA 51537 : 712-755-5135		Calhoun, Humboldt, Webster, Wright and Hamilton Counties Mid-Iowa Community Actions, Inc. (MICA) 126 S Kellogg Suite 1 Ames IA 50010 : 866-514-8089
Sac County New Opportunity 603 W 8th Street Carroll IA 51401 : 712-792-9266 Ext. 5

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.kidscook.com
www.family.com

Food Pyramid
www.mypyramid.gov

Food Profiles
www.FoodTV.com

Childhood Obesity/Exercising with Children
www.fns.usda.gov/tn/
www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/373/4381

Minute Menu
www.minutemenu.com

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