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Our goal is for children after preschool to enter elementary school with the ability to comprehend and grasp all concepts.  Child care centers play a key role in accomplishing this goal and contributing to a young child’s development.

 

Good nutrition provides a basic level of energy and nutrients so children are able to acquire their full potential mentally, academically, physically and socially. 

 

Healthy Start has a role in sponsoring select child care centers by providing CACFP service.  This support is used to help maintain the good health and well-being of center attendee’s and to integrate nutritional food services with on-site day care centers.

 

What is CACFP?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program through the USDA that provides healthy meals and snacks in facilities that feed children (in our case).

 

CACFP reimburses participating center operators for their meal costs and provides them with USDA commodity food and nutrition education materials.  Providers in the CACFP program must serve meals that meed federal guidelines.  They must also offer free or reduced meals to eligible children enrolled in the center.  

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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, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

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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.