Overview

CACFP | Adult Day Care Centers | Program Guidance | Forms | Operational Memos | Resources

The Connecticut State Department of Education's (CSDE) Guide to Meal Modifications in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers provides guidance on meal modifications for CACFP adult participants with special dietary needs, based on the federal nondiscrimination laws and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations. This guide applies to CACFP adult day care centers.

Participants with a Disability  |   Participants without a Disability
Guidance and Resources  |   Developing Policy and SOPs for Meal Modifications

Participants with a Disability

The USDA requires reasonable meal modifications on a case-by-case basis for participants whose disability restricts their diet, based on a medical statement signed by a recognized medical authority. “Case-by-case basis” means that the meal modifications are specific to the individual medical condition and dietary needs of each participant. The Connecticut State Department of Public Health defines a recognized medical authority as a state-licensed health care professional who is authorized to write medical prescriptions under state law. This includes physicians (MD), physician assistants (PA) and certified physician assistants (PAC), doctors of osteopathy (DO), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).

Participants without a Disability

The USDA allows optional modifications within the CACFP adult meal patterns on a case-by-case basis for participants whose dietary restrictions are not related to a disability. A medical statement is required if these optional modifications are outside the CACFP adult meal patterns. Examples of optional modifications include requests related to religious or moral convictions, general health concerns, and personal food preferences, such as participants who prefer t a gluten-free diet or organic foods because they believe it is healthier.

Guidance and Resources

• implementation Guidance
  • CSDE Guide: Guide to Meal Modifications in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers
  • Milk Substitutes (Documents/Forms section)
  • Resource List for Special Diets in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
  • Self-assessment of Adult Day Care Center Practices for Meal Modifications in the CACFP (CSDE)
  • Summary Chart: Summary of Requirements for Meal Modifications for Adult Participants in the CACFP (CSDE)
• Medical Conditions
  • Information about celiac disease and intolerance, diabetes, food allergies, inborn errors of metabolism, and lactose intolerance): Go to Documents/Forms in the left navigation bar.
• Medical Statements
  • Medical Statements (Documents/Forms section)
• Policy Memos (CSDE and USDA)
  • CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 2A-18: Requirements for Meal Modifications in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers
  • CSDE Operational Memo No. 3A-16, 4C-16 and 3H-16: Statements Supporting Accommodations for Participants with Disabilities in the Child Nutrition Programs
  • USDA Memo CACFP 14-2017 and SFSP 10-2017: Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in CACFP and SFSP
• Training
  • CSDE Presentation: Requirements for Meal Modifications in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers
  • Food Allergies (Documents/Forms section)
  • Training for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)

Developing Policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Meal Modifications

The CSDE recommends that CACFP facilities develop a written policy and SOPs for meal modifications in the CACFP. For information on developing policies, go to What's Next in the left navigation bar.

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)