FNS Documents & Resources

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program that provides payments for eligible meals served to participants who meet age and income requirements. This handbook is for monitors of family day care homes (FDCHs). An FDCH is an organized nonresidential child care program for children, generally 12 years of age or younger, operated in a private home, and licensed or approved to provide care.  In order to participate in CACFP, FDCHs must enter into an agreement with a sponsoring organization (“sponsor”).  

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Programs for Out-of-School-Time Providers.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

This memorandum provides information relating to section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This provision requires school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program to ensure that schools are providing the same level of support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches (i.e., paid lunches) as they are for lunches served to students eligible for free lunches.

To ensure program integrity, school districts must sample household applications certified for free or reduced-price meals, contact the households, and verify eligibility. This process (known as household verification) can be burdensome for both school officials and households. Direct verification uses information from certain other means-tested programs to verify eligibility without contacting applicants. Potential benefits include: less burden for households, less work for school officials, and fewer students with school meal benefits terminated because of nonresponse to verification requests.

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act of 2010 authorizes the FNS to award grants for projects aimed at improving the health and nutrition of children in child care settings.

In accordance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, the housing allowance for military personnel living in privatized housing will be permanently excluded from income when determining household eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk in all of the child nutrition programs.

Accommodating children with special dietary needs in the School Nutrition Programs. Guidance for school food service staff.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federal program that provides meals and snacks in child and adult day care facilities. The child care component of the CACFP provides federal funds for meals and snacks served to children in nonresidential day care facilities. These include family and group day care homes (homes), Head Start centers, and some child care centers.