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Program Provides Meals At Child and Adult Care Centers

 

For release: Immediate    December 22, 2011
Contact: Mark Van Sciver (919) 707-5059

RALEIGH — Thousands of North Carolina children and adults each month receive daily nutritious meals and snacks through the federally funded Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The program is administered by the N.C. Division of Public Health through more than 5,000 licensed care providers across the state, including child care centers, family child care homes, after-school and Head Start programs, shelters and adult day care centers.

“Our participation in the CACFP program helps ensure that our most fragile citizens don’t start and end their day hungry,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “These meals and snacks mean children are ready to learn in school and our seniors and adults with developmental disabilities can get the nutrition they need to stay healthy and remain in their communities.”

In September 2011 alone, approximately 120,000 North Carolina children and adults were fed breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks through the program – a total of more than 6 million meals. CACFP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reimburses centers at free, reduced-price, or paid rates for eligible meals and snacks served to enrolled children, targeting benefits to those children most in need. None of the children or adults at the participating facilities are charged for the food.

“Children in CACFP typically get more nutrients and fewer servings of fats and sweets than children in child care settings that do not participate in CACFP,” said Alice Lenihan, head of the Nutrition Services Branch in the N.C. Division of Public Health. “In fact, participation has been shown to be a major factor in quality care – 87 percent of the family child care homes providing quality child care participate in CACFP.”

For a list of all participating child and adult care centers in North Carolina, or to identify facilities in your community that participate in CACFP, visit www.nutritionnc.com/snp/cacfp.htm.

Income Eligibility Guidelines
NOTE: These Income Eligibility Guidelines determine the reimbursement rates for the facilities, but ALL enrollees at participating centers in North Carolina receive the free meals, regardless of income.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011 - JUNE 30, 2012

THE FOLLOWING HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND INCOME STANDARDS ARE USED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY:

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