The Child Care Food Program (CCFP) is part of a nationwide program funded by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides cash reimbursement for meals and snacks served to children ages 12 years and younger in licensed family child care homes. Participating family child care providers may be reimbursed for three meals (one of which must be a snack) per enrolled child, per day for food meeting USDA guidelines for good nutrition.
Either in the office and at home visits, CCFP staff can help providers with kid friendly recipes, practical menu-planning ideas, current information on nutrition and food safety, individualized help with child-feeding concerns, and current information on child care issues.
Food habits are caught rather than taught. The preschool years are when individual eating patterns and habits are established that may determine the quality of one’s diet throughout life. Through training and monitoring, CCFP can help providers promote proper nutrition for growing children and shape child attitudes toward the acceptance of nutritious foods.
To be eligible for CCFP services, the provider must be a licensed family child care provider caring for at least one child, either full or part time. Once a month, the provider will send CCFP the information regarding attending children and menus of the meals served to them. CCFP staff also visit with the provider a minimum of three times per year while the provider is serving the children a meal or snack. Enrolled providers must also complete one nutrition education training each year, which may be done through CCFP. Read more about benefits you can receive and how to enroll today!
Additional Resources:
