Program Guidance for CACFP Child Care Programs

Overview

CACFP | At-risk Afterschool Care | Child Care Centers
Emergency Shelters | Family Day Care Homes

The links below provide information on federal and state requirements and guidance for child care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, emergency shelters and family day care homes participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Accommodating Special Diets (refer to Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs)
Acronyms and Abbreviations for the CACFP (CSDE)
Action Guide for Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies (CSDE)
Agreements for the CACFP (refer to CNP System)
Allergies (refer to Food Allergies)
And Justice for All Civil Rights Poster (USDA Form AD-475A)
Contact CSDE CACFP Staff to obtain copies of this poster.
Area Eligible Schools for At-risk Afterschool Programs (CSDE)
At-risk Afterschool Care Centers (CSDE webpage)
Authorized Signature Change Form and Instructions (CSDE)

B

Best Practices
- CACFP Best Practices (English) (USDA)
- CACFP Best Practices (Spanish): Programa de comidas para niños y adultos: Buenas practicas (USDA)
- USDA Memo CACFP 15-2016: Optional Best Practices to Further Improve Nutrition in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Pattern
Bite Size: Meeting the CACFP Meal Patterns for Children (CSDE's training program for child care facilities)
Breakfast (refer to Meal Patterns)
Building for the Future Poster (USDA)

C

CACFP Handbooks (USDA)
CACFP Promotional Flier (USDA)
Calendar: CSDE Calendar of Training and Meetings
Celebrations and Parties
- Healthy Celebrations (CSDE)
- More resources for celebrations (refer to Resource List for Wellness Policies in Schools and Child Care)
Celiac Disease (refer to CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs)
Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
Child Care Centers (CSDE webpage)
Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies (CSDE webpage)
Child Nutrition (CN) Labels
- Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling (USDA)
- Crediting Commercial Processed Products (CSDE)
- Using Child Nutrition (CN) Labels in the CACFP (CSDE)
Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Child Nutrition Sharing Site (ICN)
Choking Prevention (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Civil Rights for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Claims
- Claims for the CACFP (refer to CNP System)
- Claim Submission Schedule for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
CNP System: Connecticut Online Application and Claiming System for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Comparison of Meal Pattern Requirements for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
Connecticut Child Care Nutrition Standards (CCCNS) (refer to Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies)
Contact Information for CACFP Staff (CSDE webpage)
Contract with Food Service Management Company (refer to Food Service Management Company)
Coronavirus (refer to Operating Child Nutrition Programs during COVID-19 Outbreaks)
Crediting Foods
- Crediting Commercial Processed Products in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Crediting Foods Made from Scratch in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
- Crediting Handbook for the CACFP (USDA)
- Crediting Summary Charts for the CACFP Meal Patterns for Children (CSDE)
Cycle Menus ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)

D

Diabetes (refer to CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs)
Dietary Guidance (refer to Resource List for Dietary Guidance and Nutrition Information)
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA)
Disaster Response (USDA Memo SP 46-2014, CACFP 12-2014 and SFSP 18-2014: Disaster Response)
Disclosure Requirements (USDA Memo SP 16-2016, CACFP 06-2016 and SFSP 10-2016 : Disclosure Requirements for the Child Nutrition Programs)
Donating Foods (USDA Memo SP 11-2012, CACFP 05-2012 and SFSP 07-2012: Guidance on the Food Donation Program in Child Nutrition Programs)

E

Emergency Shelters (CSDE webpage)

F

Family Day Care Homes (CSDE webpage)
Family Day Care Homes Monitor Handbook (USDA)
Family-style Meals (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Farm to School (CSDE webpage)
Feeding Infants in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
Final Rules (USDA) (CSDE's Laws and Regulations for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Financial Management
- Financial Management Instruction for the CACFP (FNS 796-2 Revision 4)
- Financial Management Resources (refer to Resource List for Child Nutrition Programs)
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instructions (USDA)
Food Allergies (refer to CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs)
Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) (USDA)
Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
Food Distribution Program (USDA Foods)
Food Labels (CSDE's Nutrition Education webpage)
Food Recalls (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Food Safety
- Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
- Resource List for Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Food Service Management Company (CSDE webpage)
Forms
- Forms for CACFP Centers ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's CACFP Child Care Centers webpage)
- Forms for CACFP Homes ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's CACFP Family Day Care Homes webpage)
Fruits Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Fundraisers: Healthy Fundraising (CSDE)

G

Gardens (refer to School Gardens)
Geographic Preference (refer to Procurement)
Gluten Intolerance (CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Grains Component
- Grains Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 02-2017: Grain Requirements in the CACFP: Q&As
- USDA Memo CACFP 16-2017: Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP: Q&As
- Grain Ounce Equivalents for the CACFP: Effective October 1, 2021 (CSDE)
- Whole Grain-rich Criteria for the CACFP (CSDE)
Guides (refer to Manuals and Guides for Child Nutrition Programs)

H

Handwashing (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Health and Achievement (refer to Resource List for Health and Achievement)
Health Inspections (refer to USDA Memo CACFP 05-2015 and SFSP 07-2015: Health and Safety Inspection Requirement)
HUSKY Health for Connecticut Children & Adults (Connecticut Department of Social Services)

M

Management Improvement (USDA)
Manuals and Guides for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Meal Modifications (refer to Special Diets)
Meal Patterns
- CACFP Meal Patterns for Children (CSDE)
- CACFP Meal Patterns for Infants (CSDE)
- CSDE Guide: Meal Pattern Requirements for CACFP Child Care Programs
- Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
Meal Schedules (refer to Resource List for Wellness Policies in Schools and Child Care)
Meal Service in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Meat/Meat Alternates Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Medical Statements (CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Menu Forms for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Menu Planning for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Milk Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Milk Substitutes
- Allowable Milk Substitutes in the CACFP (CSDE)
- USDA Memo CACFP 17-2016: Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP
Monitoring
- Five-day Reconciliation (USDA Memo CACFP 10-2018: Conducting Five-day Reconciliation in the CACFP)
- Monitoring Review Form for CACFP Centers (CSDE)
MyPlate (USDA)

N

Newsletters for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
Noncreditable Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE)
Nondiscrimination Statements (CSDE and USDA) (CSDE webpage)
Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies (CSDE webpage)
Nutrient Analysis
- FoodData Central: Nutrient Database (USDA)
- Refer to "Nutrient Analysis" in the CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
Nutrition Education and Information
- Nutrition Education (CSDE webpage)
- Nutrition Information (refer to Resource List for Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Information)
- Resource List for Nutrition Education (CSDE)
- Resources for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks
- Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks (USDA webpage)
- USDA Final Rule (81 FR 24347): CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
- USDA Final Rule Correction (81 FR 75671): CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the HHFKA of 201
- USDA Memo CACFP 08-2017: Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

O

Offer versus Serve (OVS) for At-risk Afterschool Centers (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Online Agreements and Claiming (refer to CNP System)
Operational Memoranda for the CACFP (CSDE webpage)
Operating Child Nutrition Programs during COVID-19 Outbreaks (CSDE webpage)

P

Physical Activity and Physical Education (refer to Resource List for Physical Education and Physical Activity in Schools and Child Care)
Policies for Nutrition and Physical Activity (refer to Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies)
Policies for Special Diets (CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Policy Memos for the CACFP (USDA)
Portion Control (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Procurement
- Geographic Preference (CSDE's Procurement for School Nutrition Programs webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 03-2016: Procurement Standards and Resource Management Requirements related to Franchise Agreements
- USDA Memo CACFP 09-2008 and SFSP 08-2008: Simplified Acquisition Threshold
- USDA Memo CACFP 15-2015: Allowable Costs Related to Physical Activity and Limiting the Use of Electronic Media in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- USDA Memo SP 02-2010, CACFP 02-2010 and SFSP 02-2010: Procurement Questions
- USDA Memo SP 02-2016, CACFP 02-2016 and SFSP 02-2016: Questions and Answers on the Transition to and Implementation of 2 CFR Part 200
- USDA Memo SP 12-2016, CACFP 05-2016 and SFSP 09-2016:Guidance on Competitive Procurement Standards for Program Operators
- USDA Memo July 27, 2005: Procurement Questions – Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Product Formulation Statements
- USDA's PFS forms (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Using Product Formulation Statements in the CACFP (CSDE)
Production Records (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)

Q

Qualifications for food service staff (refer to Resource List for Child Nutrition Programs)
Qualified Food Operator (QFO) (CSDE's Food Safety Child Nutrition Programs webpage)

R

Recipes
- Crediting Foods Made from Scratch (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Recipes (CSDE's Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
- Standardized Recipe Form for the CACFP (CSDE)
Regulations for Child Nutrition Programs
- Laws and Regulations for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
- Regulations for the CACFP (7 CFR 226) (USDA)
Reimbursement Rates for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
Resource Lists
- Resources for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
- Resources for the CACFP Meal Patterns (CSDE)

S

Sample Menus (refer to Menu Planning)
Sample Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies (refer to Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies)
School Gardens (CSDE's Farm to School webpage)
Self-assessment Tools for Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies (refer to Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies)
Snack (refer to Meal Patterns)
Special Diets
- Policies for Special Diets (CSDE's Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Resource List for Special Diets in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE)
Standard Operating Procedures (ICN)
Standardized Recipes (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Sugar Limits for the CACFP ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Supply Chain Issues (CSDE's Operating Child Nutrition Programs during COVID-19 Outbreaks webpage)

T

Team Nutrition (USDA)
Temperatures for food safety (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Thermometers (CSDE's Food Safety for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
Training for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)

U

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
USDA Foods (refer to Food Distribution Program)
USDA Policy Memoranda (refer to Policy Memos for the CACFP)
USDA CACFP Regulations (refer to Regulations for the CACFP (7 CFR 226)

V

Vegetables
- Vegetable and Fruit Requirements (USDA Memo CACFP 09-2017: Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the CACFP
- Vegetables Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Vegetable Subgroups in the CACFP (CSDE)
Vegetarian Meals (refer to Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs)
Vending Machines (refer to USDA Memo SP 28-2016, CACFP 09-2016 and SFSP 11-2016: FDA Requirements for Vending Machines)
Vendors (refer to Food Service Management Company)

W

Water Availability (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Webinars (refer to Training for Child Nutrition Programs)
Weights and Measures(CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
Wellness policies (refer to Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies)
Whole Grain-rich Requirement for the CACFP (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage)

Y

Yield Study Data Form (CSDE)