Child Care Programs Play an Important Role in Child Health and Nutrition
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The meals served in child care are an important part of a child's day. With the increasing price of food, growing awareness of children’s health and obesity, and overall food insecurity among families and communities in this economic recession, the meals served in child care may be even more important to families. Children who are hungry need to be served, and child care providers rely on the support of programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program make it possible.
Created in 1968, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) serves more than three million children in child care settings each day. CACFP served some 1.85 billion meals and snacks last year alone. Currently, ECEC members serve at least 200,000 children through the CACFP program at over 2,000 child care centers across the country. CACFP standards are called a “meal pattern” which provides detailed nutritional standards and guidance. Each menu for each meal served gets submitted for review and approval, and the regular CACFP monitoring ensures that standards are being met and followed. The Institute of Medicine is currently reviewing the CACFP Meal Pattern Standards and we look forward to hearing about their expert recommendations.
The Child Nutrition Act, which includes important initiatives like CACFP, school lunch and WIC, is up for reauthorization in Congress. ECEC is a partner in the effort to strengthen and improve CACFP. Please see our Federal Legislation page for important updates!
Does Your Center Participate in CACFP?
ECEC is working with Congress to stress the importance of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the need for improved access to nutrition for America's children, but we need your help. Please take our survey and tell us whether your center participates in CACFP and what have been your experiences with the program.
For the latest news and ways to get involved, please visit the ECEC Action Center!
Senator Gillibrand and Representative Tonko Introduce CACFP Legislation
The Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 (S. 2749 and H.R. 4402) calls for significant investment in CACFP to increase access and help providers serve more children with good nutritious meals and snacks in child care. ECEC supports this legislation and urges Congress to include the provisions in the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization! To find out more about the bill, it what provisions are included for providers, visit our Federal Child Care and Early Learning Legislation page!
Congressional Briefing Held on the Child Care Food Program
On January 26, ECEC co-sponsored a briefing in Washington, DC for policymakers and advocates on the vital role of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in providing food and high-quality nutrition for hungry children in child care programs. The briefing also highlighted the actions needed in the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization to improve CACFP, including supporting the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act. Both Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY), sponsors of the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act, were in attendance.
ECEC Resources
Resources and Reports
Background
News
ECEC Resources
Strengthening the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Streamlining and Simplifying CACFP Program Administration
Early Care and Education Consortium, January 2010.
Strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program in the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization
Early Care and Education Consortium, October 2009.
Stories from the Field: Child Nutrition and the Child and Adult Care Food Program
Early Care and Education Consortium, October 2009.
Child Care and Child Nutrition
Child Care Exchange, May/June 2009.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program
ECEC Radio, June 2009.
Resources and Reports
Child and Adult Care Food Program: Participation Trends 2010
Food Research and Action Center, March 2010.
Testimony of Carolyn Morrison, "Improving Children's Health: Strengthening Federal Child Nutrition Programs." U.S. House of Education and Labor Committee.
March 3, 2010.
How Improving Federal Nutrition Program Access and Quality Work Together to Reduce Hunger and Promote Healthy Eating
Food Research and Action Center, February 2010.
Food Hardship: A Closer Look at Hunger
Data for the Nation, States, 100 MSAs, and Every Congressional District
Food Research and Action Center, January 2010.
State Obesity Statistics 2009
Food Research and Action Center, December 2009.
Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015: The Essential Strategies for Achieving the President's Goal
Food Research and Action Center, July 2009.
Good Nutrition Feeds Healthy Development and a Healthy Future: Reauthoization of WIC and CACFP
Zero to Three, 2009.
Reading, Writing and Hungry: The Consequences of Food Insecurity on Children, and on Our Nation's Economic Success Partnership for America's Economic Success, November 2008.
State of the States: 2008
FRAC's Profile of Food & Nutrition Programs Across the Nation
Food Research and Action Center, November 2008.
Background
About CACFP, including state resources and updated participation trends.
The Food Research and Action Center.
News
Hinchey's Healthy Food Program. Fox 40 WICZ (Binghampton, NY) March 1, 2010.
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