Release Date: Oct 8, 2012 4:00 PM  

Federal funds are available to help child and adult day care providers in Delaware serve nutritious, healthy meals to children and adults in their facilities. Started in 1968, the Child and Adult Care Food Program provided reimbursement for more than 16 million meals and snacks served to Delaware residents in fiscal year 2012.

Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture-sponsored Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), child care centers, adult day care centers and family child care providers throughout Delaware can receive cash reimbursement for meals served to eligible children and adults.  Participant eligibility is tied to income eligibility guidelines that are adjusted by the USDA.  The current eligibility guidelines are as follows:

 

FOR USE BY CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR REDUCED PRICE MEALS

Effective Date July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

FAMILY SIZE	YEARLY	MONTHLY	WEEKLY
1	$20,665	$1,723	$398
2	$27,991	$2,333	$539
3	$35,317	$2,944	$680
4	$42,643	$3,554	$821
5	$49,969	$4,165	$961
6	$57,295	$4,775	$1,102
7	$64,621	$5,386	$1,243
8	$71,947	$5,996	$1,384
For each additional household member, add:	+$7,326	+$611	+$141

Conversion Factors

Conversion is required if there are multiple income sources with more than one frequency, such as a monthly Social Security check and a weekly wage stub. The participating agency must annualize all income by multiplying:

                Weekly income by 52;

                Bi-weekly income (received every two weeks) by 26;

                Semi-monthly income (received twice a month) by 24;

                Monthly income by 12

The Delaware Department of Education is the state agency that administers the program in Delaware. Licensed public or private nonprofit child care centers are eligible.  For-profit child care centers are also eligible if they receive compensation under Title XX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of licensed capacity or number of children enrolled, whichever is less, or if 25 percent of licensed capacity or number of children enrolled are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Licensed or registered family child care home providers also may participate in the CACFP under the auspices of an approved family child care sponsoring organization.  Four approved sponsors are available to work with family child care providers across Delaware.

Adult day care centers also can qualify.  Eligible centers include public or private nonprofit centers that provide nonresidential adult day care to functionally impaired disabled adults.  Also, private, for-profit adult day care centers may participate if 25 percent or more of the enrolled adults are Title XIX or Title XX beneficiaries.

Children enrolled at child care centers, family child care homes, some after-school programs, or adult day care centers participating in the CACFP receive meals/snacks at no charge.  Reimbursement to the centers or providers varies depending on the number of children or adults meeting USDA's household size and income eligibility guidelines. The program covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Centers or providers may be reimbursed for up to two meals and one snack per participant each day.

Federal funds are available through CACFP.  Child or adult day care centers, child care home providers, parents of children enrolled in day care or caregivers for adult participants enrolled in day care who want more information concerning CACFP or sites that currently participate should call (302) 735-4060.

More information also is available online at http://www.doe.k12.de.us using the search term “Child and Adult Care Food Program.”

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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