Childcare Licensing Glossary
CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program)
A federal nutrition program that reimburses eligible childcare programs for serving nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled children.
Last updated: June 2026
Compiled by the TotReady Research TeamDefinition
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a USDA-funded program that pays eligible daycare centers and family child care homes a per-meal reimbursement for food served to enrolled children. To qualify, a program must serve children who meet income guidelines (or the program itself must be in an eligible area) and must follow CACFP meal patterns — specific quantities of grains, fruits/vegetables, protein, and milk by age group. Menus must be planned in advance and kept on file for inspection. CACFP is administered through state agencies, and enrollment is optional — but programs that participate can significantly offset food costs. Participation also requires training and record-keeping that some small programs find burdensome.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
- What is CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) in childcare licensing?
- A federal nutrition program that reimburses eligible childcare programs for serving nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled children.
- Does CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) vary by state?
- The general definition is consistent, but the specific requirements attached to CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) can differ by state. Always confirm current rules with your state's childcare licensing office.
- Where can I find the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) rules for my state?
- Your state's childcare licensing agency publishes the current rules in its administrative code or licensing regulations. TotReady's state pages at /states cover key licensing topics by state, and the /data section has cited 50-state tables for ratios, training hours, capacity limits, fees, and exemption thresholds.