The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in ensuring that nutritious meals and snacks are provided to children and adults in various care settings. Understanding the reimbursement rates for this program is crucial for institutions to effectively manage their budgets and continue offering these essential services. This article focuses on the 2019-2020 reimbursement rates for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing a clear breakdown of the amounts for different types of care and meals. These rates were in effect from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, and are essential for historical reference and understanding program funding structures.
CACFP Center Reimbursement Rates
For CACFP centers, reimbursement rates are categorized based on the type of meal served and the eligibility of the participants. The following table outlines the rates in effect during the specified period.
| Type of Meal | Free | Reduced-Price | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $1.84 | $1.54 | $0.31 |
| Lunch and Supper | $3.41 | $3.01 | $0.32 |
| Snacks | $0.94 | $0.47 | $0.08 |
It’s important to note that these CACFP center rates do not include the cash-in-lieu value for commodities. Centers were additionally entitled to receive cash-in-lieu of commodities, amounting to $0.2375 for each lunch and supper served to enrolled participants. This additional cash value supplements the per-meal reimbursement, enhancing the nutritional offerings within these centers.
Day Care Homes (Child Care Only) Federal Reimbursement
Day care homes operating under the CACFP, specifically for child care, have a different reimbursement structure. These rates are tiered, recognizing varying levels of need and economic circumstances within the communities they serve.
| Tier | Breakfast | Lunch/Supper | Snacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | $1.33 | $2.49 | $0.74 |
| Tier II | $0.48 | $1.50 | $0.20 |
Unlike CACFP center rates, the day care home rates already incorporate the cash-in-lieu value for commodities. This simplifies the reimbursement process for day care homes, providing a comprehensive rate that includes both food and commodity assistance.
Administrative Reimbursement for Day Care Home Sponsoring Organizations
Organizations that sponsor day care homes under the CACFP also receive administrative reimbursements to support the oversight and management of these programs. These rates are structured to reflect the scale of the sponsoring organization’s operations, with decreasing rates as the number of sponsored homes increases.
| Rate Description | Initial 50 day care homes | Next 150 day care homes | Next 800 day care homes | Each additional day care home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Rate per Home | $120 | $91 | $71 | $63 |
This tiered administrative reimbursement model acknowledges the economies of scale in sponsoring larger numbers of day care homes, while still providing substantial support for organizations managing smaller networks.
State Meal Reimbursement for Child Care Centers Administered by a Public School Food Authority
In some cases, public school food authorities administer child care centers and may be eligible for additional state meal reimbursements. For the 2019-2020 period, these rates were as follows:
| Type of Meal | Free | Reduced-Price | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $0.1822 | $0.1822 | Not Applicable |
| Lunch | $0.1822 | $0.1822 | Not Applicable |
These state reimbursements, where applicable, provide supplementary funding specifically for breakfasts and lunches served in child care centers under public school administration, further supporting nutritional programs.
State Meal Reimbursement for Day Care Homes Sponsored by a Public School Food Authority
Similarly, day care homes sponsored by public school food authorities may also qualify for state meal reimbursements. For the 2019-2020 period, the reimbursement was structured as follows:
| Breakfast / Lunch | Day Care Home sponsoring organizations that are public school food authorities (SFAs) receive $0.1822 state reimbursement for 75 percent of the breakfast and lunches served to participating children. |
|---|
This state support for day care homes linked to public school food authorities enhances the financial viability of providing nutritious meals within these home-based settings.
Understanding the 2019-2020 reimbursement rates for the Child and Adult Care Food Program is essential for historical analysis, program planning, and ensuring the continued success of nutritional support for children and adults in care. These rates reflect the commitment to providing resources that enable care providers to offer healthy meals and snacks, contributing to the well-being of participants across various settings. For the most current rates and program details, always refer to the official USDA Food and Nutrition Service resources.
