CACFP supports eligible Family Day Care Home providers who care for children in approved home-based child care settings and provide qualifying meals and snacks to participating children.

Participation requirements may depend on factors such as licensing or approval status, participant eligibility, meal service, enrollment, jurisdiction, provider circumstances, and other applicable CACFP requirements.

HCS helps prospective providers understand the sponsorship process and the information needed to determine whether participation may be appropriate.

HCS provides ongoing sponsorship and administrative support designed to help participating Family Day Care Home providers manage CACFP responsibilities throughout the program year.

Support may include:

• Sponsorship and program administration

• Claims review and reimbursement processing

• Monitoring and technical assistance

• CACFP training and education

• Recordkeeping and documentation guidance

• Meal-service and menu support

• Communication regarding program requirements

• Corrective follow-up when needed

• Forms, templates, and program resources

The exact support provided depends on applicable CACFP requirements, HCS procedures, and the provider’s participation status.

Family Day Care Home providers interested in HCS sponsorship may be asked to provide information regarding their child care program, licensing or approval status, children in care, meal service, current CACFP participation, household circumstances when applicable, and other documentation needed for enrollment or sponsorship review.

HCS may also review whether the provider currently participates in CACFP, whether another sponsor is involved, and whether additional program or jurisdiction-specific requirements apply.

Enrollment is completed only after applicable eligibility, documentation, and HCS participation requirements have been satisfied.

Participating Family Day Care Home providers are responsible for maintaining accurate records that support CACFP meal claims.

Depending on program requirements, records may include:

• Daily meal counts

• Attendance records

• Menus

• Enrollment information

• Participant eligibility information when applicable

• Provider or household eligibility information when applicable

• Meal-service documentation

• Other required supporting records

HCS reviews required claim information and supporting documentation, processes eligible meal claims, and administers reimbursement-related activities in accordance with applicable CACFP requirements.

Only eligible and properly supported meals may be included in reimbursement claims.

HCS conducts required monitoring of participating Family Day Care Homes and provides technical assistance to support effective CACFP operations.

Monitoring may include review of:

• Meal service

• Meal counts

• Attendance

• Menus

• Required records

• Training completion

• Civil rights responsibilities

• Program procedures

• Documentation practices

• Other applicable CACFP requirements

When concerns or needed corrections are identified, HCS may provide technical assistance, follow-up guidance, or corrective-action support as required.

HCS provides required and supplemental CACFP training to help Family Day Care Home providers understand program responsibilities and maintain organized program operations.

Training topics may include:

• CACFP meal-pattern requirements

• Meal counting and claiming

• Recordkeeping

• Civil rights requirements

• Monitoring expectations

• Claims procedures

• Enrollment documentation

• Menu planning

• Food-service practices

• Program updates

• Other applicable CACFP requirements

Additional training may be provided when program changes, monitoring results, or operational needs indicate that further support would be helpful.

Accurate and organized documentation is essential to successful CACFP participation.

HCS helps participating Family Day Care Home providers understand which records must be maintained and how those records support program administration and reimbursement claims.

Depending on the provider and jurisdiction, required records may include:

• Attendance

• Meal counts

• Menus

• Enrollment forms

• Eligibility documentation when applicable

• Training records

• Monitoring records

• Meal-service records

• Household or provider documentation when applicable

• Other required CACFP records

HCS may provide forms, templates, instructions, and technical guidance to help providers maintain consistent documentation practices.

HCS is continuing to expand its CACFP sponsorship services in Maryland.

If HCS sponsorship for Family Day Care Homes is not yet available at the time you inquire, Maryland providers may join the HCS Maryland Sponsorship Interest List to request future contact as sponsorship opportunities expand.

Joining the Interest List allows HCS to maintain your contact information and notify you if Family Day Care Home sponsorship becomes available.

Placement on the Interest List does not guarantee CACFP eligibility, enrollment, approval, or future sponsorship.

HCS provides CACFP sponsorship and program support for eligible Family Day Care Homes in the District of Columbia within its approved program scope.

DC providers may contact HCS regarding enrollment, current CACFP participation, claims administration, monitoring, training, recordkeeping, and other sponsorship-related needs.

District-specific requirements and HCS procedures will be reviewed as part of the participation process.