Understanding CACFP Participation
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded nutrition program that helps eligible child care, afterschool, emergency shelter, and adult care programs provide qualifying meals and snacks to participating children and adults.
Honorable CACFP Sponsorship Inc. provides public program information to help organizations better understand CACFP participation, sponsorship, program responsibilities, and the types of support available through HCS.
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CACFP supports eligible meals and snacks served through approved care and community settings.
Participation requirements may vary depending on:
Program type
Participant population
Site eligibility
Licensing or approval status
Meal service
Jurisdiction
Organizational structure
Other applicable CACFP requirements
Because requirements may differ by site type and location, HCS provides program-specific and jurisdiction-specific information throughout the website.
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CACFP participation may be available to eligible organizations operating programs such as:
Child Care Centers
Center-based programs providing care and qualifying meals or snacks to participating children.
Explore Child Care Center Information
Family Child Care Homes
Eligible home-based child care providers serving qualifying meals and snacks to children in care.
Explore Family Child Care Home Information
Emergency Shelters
Eligible residential shelter programs serving qualifying meals to children and youth.
Explore Emergency Shelter Information
At-Risk Afterschool Sites
Eligible afterschool programs providing organized activities and qualifying meals or snacks to children and youth.
Explore At-Risk Afterschool Information
Adult Care Centers & Facilities
Eligible adult care programs providing organized care and qualifying meals or snacks to participating adults.
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Some organizations participate in CACFP through a sponsoring organization.
A sponsor such as HCS may provide support in areas including:
Program administration
Claims and reimbursements
Monitoring and technical assistance
Training and education
Recordkeeping guidance
Budget and administrative support
Procurement and program operations
Other applicable sponsorship responsibilities
The exact sponsor-provider relationship depends on program type, jurisdiction, applicable CACFP requirements, and the terms of the sponsorship relationship.
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CACFP reimbursement generally applies only to eligible meals and snacks that meet applicable program requirements and are properly documented.
Depending on the program type, meal eligibility may involve factors such as:
Approved meal types
Meal-pattern requirements
Participant eligibility
Site eligibility
Attendance or participation
Program schedules
Meal counts
Required supporting documentation
HCS provides guidance to sponsored organizations regarding the program requirements that apply to their site type and jurisdiction.
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CACFP reimbursement is based on eligible and properly supported program activity.
Participating organizations must maintain appropriate records that support claimed meals and snacks.
HCS provides claims and reimbursement administration for participating sponsored organizations in accordance with applicable program requirements.
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Participating organizations are subject to required program monitoring and oversight.
Monitoring may include review of areas such as:
Meal service
Meal counts
Attendance or participation
Menus
Recordkeeping
Training
Claims documentation
Program procedures
Other applicable CACFP responsibilities
HCS also provides technical assistance to help participating organizations understand requirements and address questions or concerns.
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CACFP participation includes required training responsibilities.
HCS provides required and supplemental training for participating sponsored organizations and may also make selected general educational materials available publicly.
Training topics may include:
Program responsibilities
Meal patterns
Meal counting and claiming
Recordkeeping
Civil rights requirements
Monitoring expectations
Claims procedures
Food-service practices
Other applicable CACFP topics
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Accurate and organized records are an important part of CACFP participation.
Depending on the program type and jurisdiction, required records may include:
Meal counts
Attendance or participation records
Menus
Enrollment documentation
Eligibility information
Training records
Monitoring records
Financial or procurement records when applicable
Other required program documentation
Detailed HCS forms, procedures, templates, and operational tools are available to active sponsored organizations through secure provider access.
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HCS provides CACFP sponsorship and program support in Maryland and the District of Columbia within its approved service scope.
Although CACFP is a federal program, certain administrative procedures, agency requirements, forms, timelines, and sponsorship processes may differ by jurisdiction.
HCS identifies jurisdiction-specific information when appropriate.
Program Information
Public Information & Sponsored-Site Resources
The HCS public website provides general CACFP information, sponsorship information, educational resources, and program guidance.
Active HCS-sponsored organizations receive access to additional provider-only resources through secure HCS systems.
Sponsored-site resources may include:
HCS-developed training
Provider forms and templates
Claims resources
Monitoring materials
Program procedures
Budget and procurement tools
Site-type-specific guidance
Jurisdiction-specific operational resources
Instructional videos
Other proprietary HCS tools
Not Sponsored by HCS?
Organizations that are not sponsored by HCS but need CACFP consulting, training, administrative support, ServSafe instruction, exam proctoring, or other related professional services may explore available services through Allied Alacrity, a separate organization.
Services provided through Allied Alacrity are separate from HCS sponsorship, reimbursement administration, monitoring, and provider agreements.
Have Questions About CACFP?
If you are unsure which CACFP program type applies to your organization or whether HCS sponsorship may be appropriate, contact us and tell us about your program, location, and current CACFP status.