The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requires a variety of forms to ensure compliance with federal regulations, track program participation, and document meals served. These forms are used by participating institutions such as child care centers, family day care homes, and adult day care centers. Below are some of the key CACFP forms commonly used:
Income Eligibility Form (IEF)
- Purpose: Determines the eligibility of participants (children or adults) for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.
- Required For: All participants in the program.
- Details: Families provide income information, and based on federal guidelines, participants are categorized into eligibility tiers (free, reduced, or paid).
Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form
- Purpose: Identifies eligibility for tiered reimbursement rates in family child care homes.
- Required For: Home-based providers and centers participating in CACFP.
- Details: Collects household income data to categorize participants into the appropriate reimbursement bracket.
Daily Meal Count Form
- Purpose: Tracks the number of meals and snacks served each day.
- Required For: All participating facilities.
- Details: Facilities use this form to record the number of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks served, often separating the counts by the participants’ eligibility category (free, reduced, paid).
Meal Production Records
- Purpose: Documents the type and amount of food prepared and served.
- Required For: Facilities participating in the CACFP.
- Details: Keeps a detailed log of meals, including the ingredients used, portion sizes, and the number of servings prepared to ensure compliance with nutrition guidelines.
Infant Meal Notification Form
- Purpose: Informs parents/guardians of the facility’s policy for feeding infants, including the provision of formula and baby food.
- Required For: All participating child care centers or homes serving infants.
- Details: Parents/guardians complete this form, indicating whether they will accept the facility’s offered formula or provide their own breast milk/formula.
Enrollment Form
- Purpose: Documents the enrollment of each child or adult in a CACFP-participating facility.
- Required For: All participants.
- Details: Includes basic participant information such as name, age, and enrollment date.
Meal Pattern Worksheets
- Purpose: Helps facilities plan menus in compliance with CACFP meal pattern requirements.
- Required For: Facilities planning meals under CACFP guidelines.
- Details: Lists required components (grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, etc.) and helps ensure that each meal meets federal nutritional standards.
Menu Records
- Purpose: Tracks the meals and snacks planned and served.
- Required For: Facilities participating in CACFP.
- Details: Maintains a record of menus, detailing which foods were served and ensuring they align with CACFP-approved meal patterns.
Civil Rights Compliance Form
- Purpose: Ensures that all CACFP institutions comply with federal civil rights laws.
- Required For: All institutions participating in CACFP.
- Details: Facilities complete this form to confirm they are adhering to nondiscrimination policies and procedures.
Claim for Reimbursement Form
- Purpose: Used by CACFP institutions to claim meal reimbursements from the USDA.
- Required For: All CACFP providers.
- Details: Institutions submit this form, along with meal count records, to receive reimbursement based on the number of eligible meals served.
Monitoring and Review Forms
- Purpose: Documents on-site reviews and unannounced visits by sponsoring organizations.
- Required For: Sponsoring organizations to monitor family day care homes and centers.
- Details: Records findings from the visits to ensure that facilities comply with CACFP standards.
Provision of Formula and Infant Food Form
- Purpose: Documents the agreement between parents and child care facilities regarding the provision of infant formula and food.
- Required For: Facilities serving infants.
- Details: Ensures parents are aware of the formula options provided by the facility and their rights to decline the formula and provide their own.
Conclusion
CACFP forms are critical tools for program administration, compliance, and record-keeping. These forms help ensure that institutions are adhering to federal nutrition guidelines, documenting participant eligibility, and accurately claiming meal reimbursements. By maintaining up-to-date and accurate records, CACFP institutions can continue providing nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in their care while complying with USDA regulations.