Child Care Food Program
Child Care Center Fact Sheet
Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation!

The Child Care Food Program provides reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to children in child care settings. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and it is locally administered in Florida by the Department of Health, Bureau of Child Care Food Programs.

Eligibility Requirements

  • All participating facilities must be licensed by the appropriate child care licensing authority, or be legally exempt from such licensure.
  • Participating facilities must be public or private nonprofit organizations, or for-profit organizations, whose enrollment or licensed capacity consists of at least 25% low-income children, meeting specific criteria.
  • Child care centers and outside-school-hours centers may participate in the program, either with a sponsor or as independent centers directly with the DOH.
  • Family day care home providers who participate in the Child Care Food Program must be licensed and affiliated with a sponsoring organization.

Funding

The Child Care Food Program will reimburse up to two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal per child, per day.

  • Reimbursable meals and snacks may be served to eligible children 12 years of age and younger; migrant children may be served through age 15,  and children with disabilities may be served regardless of their age, with proper documentation on file.
  • Reimbursement is determined by the number of eligible enrolled participants who are served creditable meals, and the current reimbursement rates set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These reimbursement rates are updated yearly.
  • Reimbursement levels vary dependent on the income eligibility level of each child. An additional cash in lieu is granted to centers serving lunches and suppers.

Record Keeping Requirements

Participating centers must keep daily attendance records, daily meal counts, dated menus, and cost documentation to qualify for reimbursement. All of the supporting documentation is described, explained and discussed during mandatory and optional trainings.

Nutrition Requirements

Meals and snacks served to children must meet specific U.S. Department of Agriculture meal pattern requirements. When participating in the program, eligible menus are offered to child care facilities.

To qualify for reimbursement, meals and snacks must include, at a minimum, food components in amounts specified by age. A breakfast must include at least three food components (meat/meat alternate is optional), a lunch/supper must include all four components with an additional fruit and/or vegetable, and a snack must include at least two different food components.

The meal pattern food components are:

  • Fluid milk
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Grains and breads
  • Meat and meat alternates

A sample menu is provided on the reverse side.

For further information about the program, telephone or write to:

Florida Department of Health
Division of Community Health Promotion
Bureau of Child Care Food Programs
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-17
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1727
Phone: 850.245.4323 Fax: 850.414.1622
Email: ccfp@flhealth.gov
www.floridahealth.gov/ccfp

This is originally published by floridahealth.gov