Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking eligible child and adult care facilities to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The program reimburses approved facilities such as child care centers, adult day care centers, Head Start programs, emergency shelters and before- and after-school programs for nutritious meals and snacks served to children and adults in care. The CACFP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Eligibility for the CACFP is determined by federal income guidelines. Children who receive benefits through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically eligible to receive free meals through the CACFP. Adults who receive SNAP benefits, FDPIR benefits or who receive Social Security Income (SSI) or are Medicaid participants are categorically eligible for free meals.
Approved or exempt institutions that offer a structured after-school program with educational or enrichment activities may be eligible to participate in the At-Risk/Afterschool component of the CACFP. This component reimburses institutions that serve nutritious after school snacks and/or a meal to children up to 18 years old in a structured environment after school hours. The after school program must be located in a low-income area where 50% or more of the children at the nearest school receive free or reduced-price meals. Qualifying eligibility data can be found on DECAL’s website at http://decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/EligibilityData.aspx.
Falita Flowers, DECAL’s Director of Nutrition Services, stressed the need for more approved organizations to participate in the CACFP. “Nutritious meals are essential to the overall health and wellness of Georgia’s children and seniors. DECAL continuously seeks eligible and qualified institutions to provide more children and adults access to healthy meals.” Flowers continued, “While many understand the importance of ensuring children have access to nutritious meals, there is also a great need to provide access to well-balanced meals to seniors in adult day care facilities across the state.”
To learn more about participating in the CACFP, contact Shani Drake at shani.drake@decal.ga.gov or 404-656-3221. To find a CACFP facility or sponsor, visit www.decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/Search.aspx. Use the search function (zip code or county) to find a list of all local facilities and sponsors, addresses, maps, contact names, and phone numbers.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
