National CACFP week is March 17-23.
During National CACFP Week, The Neighborhood Center, a New York State based non-profit sponsor of the CACFP joins with Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, and Fulton family child care providers in acknowledging the many ways our community benefits from the CACFP.
Research also indicates that participating in the CACFP is one, of many, important factor in providing quality child care. The main goal of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is to serve nutritious meals to children attending child care homes and centers. Secondary goals are:
- The establishing of good eating habits at the earliest stages of development.
- Reducing future health care and education costs due to lack of proper early development.
- Training and support of local child care personnel.
What do children get?
Children that are cared for by providers participating in the CACFP benefit by being fed nutritious USDA regulated meals that ensure their proper development. These children also get early nutrition education. Therefore, this helps them establish good eating habits that will enrich the quality of their diet throughout their life.
What do parents get?
Parents of children in child care are assured that their child(ren) receives high-quality meals. With proper nutrition, the child is less likely to experience illness and fatigue and will develop at a normal physical and intellectual pace. In other words, good nutrition is the recipe for an all-around happier child.
What do child care providers get?
Providers receive nutrition education and support services from their CACFP sponsor. This helps them serve nutritious meals and create a positive eating environment for children. Therefore, the quality of child care provided in our community is improved.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides meals to many
This program provides approximately 2 billion meals and snacks to over 4.4 million children daily in child care centers, family care homes, and after-school programs:
- over 115,000 elderly persons in Adult Day Care;
- over 62,000 child care centers;
- 115,000 family child care providers working with 800 sponsors use CACFP to provide children with high-quality nutrition and learning experiences.
In New York State, 14,000 providers are enrolled in the CACFP, with approximately 370,000 children enrolled in their care.
Please join us in honoring all CACFP providers for their invaluable work done on behalf of New York children.
If you provide care for children in your home and would like more information, please contact The Neighborhood Center at (315) 272-2630 or check out the CACFP website http://www.cacfpnet.com/home/
Jennifer Benn, Director of CACFP and Childcare Registration
