The CACFP food program, state by state.

Who runs the CACFP food program in each state, who can join, and the meal pattern for children. Every fact links to its official source.

Checked on USDA's and each state's own pages, November 4, 2026.

What CACFP is

CACFP is a federal food program. It pays child care programs back for healthy meals and snacks.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

The federal government pays for CACFP. Each state runs it.

Source: Program Operator (CACFP)

Each state or territory has its own CACFP office.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program Contacts

USDA runs CACFP at the federal level. Its food agency is now named the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA).

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for the Period July 1, 2026, Through June 30, 2027 (Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 142, FR Doc. 2026-15071, July 27, 2026)

This guide covers child care only.

Who can join

Child care centers

Licensed or approved public or nonprofit child care centers, Head Start and after-school care centers can take part.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

A center must have a child care license or state approval. Apart from for-profit centers, a center must be public or tax exempt.

Source: 7 CFR 226.17 Child care center provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
For-profit centers

For-profit centers that serve lower income children may also qualify.

Source: Child Day Care Centers

At least 25 percent of the children must qualify for free or reduced-price meals. It counts enrolled children or licensed spots, whichever is less. A for-profit center can also qualify if 25 percent of its children get Title XX child care help.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
Home daycares

A home must have a current license or approval to care for children. The sponsor is a public or private nonprofit group. It signs a written agreement with each home. A sponsor may not charge the home a fee for running the program.

Source: 7 CFR 226.18 Day care home provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
After-school programs

After-school programs in lower income areas can get paid for meals and snacks.

Source: How to Participate in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of CACFP (fact sheet)

The program must be in a school attendance area. Half or more of that school's students must get free or reduced-price meals.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

Ask your state agency if your after-school program can serve CACFP meals.

Source: How to Participate in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of CACFP (fact sheet)
Emergency shelters

CACFP also pays for meals in after-school programs and emergency shelters.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program
Adult day care

Adult day care centers can take part too.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

How to join

Child care centers

To start, a center contacts its state agency.

Source: Program Operator (CACFP)

A center can join on its own or under a sponsoring organization. An independent center signs its own agreement with the state. It takes on the money and paperwork duties.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

A sponsor can take on those duties for a center instead.

Source: Program Operator (CACFP)

Key staff take program training before the center starts. They take it again every year.

Source: 7 CFR 226.17 Child care center provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
Home daycares

A home daycare cannot join on its own. It joins through a sponsoring organization.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

Home staff take training before they start and every year after.

Source: 7 CFR 226.18 Day care home provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

Find your state below for who to contact. CACFP in each state.

Once you join

Centers keep daily counts of each meal type they serve. A center can claim up to two meals and one snack per child each day. It can also claim one meal and two snacks.

Source: 7 CFR 226.17 Child care center provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

Homes keep daily counts of the children in care and the meals they serve. Homes keep records of their menus too. A home can claim up to two meals and one snack per child each day. It can also claim one meal and two snacks. Meals go to enrolled children at no extra charge.

Source: 7 CFR 226.18 Day care home provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

How payment works

Centers are paid at free, reduced-price or paid rates. It depends on each family's income.

Source: Child Day Care Centers

Homes are paid at Tier I or Tier II rates.

Source: 7 CFR 226.13 Food service payments to sponsoring organizations for day care homes (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

A home can be Tier I because of its school area. Half or more of that school's students must get free or reduced-price meals. A home can also be Tier I by census area. Half or more of the children there must be from lower income homes. A home is also Tier I if the provider's own household income is low enough. All other homes are Tier II.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

A Tier II home can still get Tier I rates for children whose families qualify.

Source: 7 CFR 226.18 Day care home provisions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)

Payment rates change every July.

Source: CACFP Reimbursement Rates

The 2026 to 2027 rates run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Washington, D.C. uses the same rates as the lower 48 states. The rates do not count USDA Foods or cash paid in place of them.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for the Period July 1, 2026, Through June 30, 2027 (Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 142, FR Doc. 2026-15071, July 27, 2026)

This year's rates for centers and homes are on our CACFP rates page.

The meal pattern for children

Amounts are the least you must serve. The chart follows the federal rule as it stands in November 2026.

The meal rules are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Source: Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks
Breakfast: the least to serve, by age
FoodAges 1 to 2Ages 3 to 5Ages 6 to 12Ages 13 to 18
Fluid milk4 fluid ounces6 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces
Vegetables, fruits, or both1/4 cup1/2 cup1/2 cup1/2 cup
Grains1/2 ounce equivalent1/2 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent

Serve all three: milk, a vegetable or fruit, and a grain.

Lunch or supper: the least to serve, by age
FoodAges 1 to 2Ages 3 to 5Ages 6 to 12Ages 13 to 18
Fluid milk4 fluid ounces6 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces
Meats or meat alternates1 ounce equivalent1 1/2 ounce equivalents2 ounce equivalents2 ounce equivalents
Vegetables1/8 cup1/4 cup1/2 cup1/2 cup
Fruits1/8 cup1/4 cup1/4 cup1/4 cup
Grains1/2 ounce equivalent1/2 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent

Serve all five: milk, a protein food, a vegetable, a fruit and a grain.

Snack: the least to serve, by age
FoodAges 1 to 2Ages 3 to 5Ages 6 to 12Ages 13 to 18
Fluid milk4 fluid ounces4 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces8 fluid ounces
Meats or meat alternates1/2 ounce equivalent1/2 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent
Vegetables1/2 cup1/2 cup3/4 cup3/4 cup
Fruits1/2 cup1/2 cup3/4 cup3/4 cup
Grains1/2 ounce equivalent1/2 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent1 ounce equivalent

Pick two of the five food groups. Milk and juice cannot be the only two.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)

Milk

  • Children age 1 get unflavored whole milk.
  • Children 2 to 5 get unflavored milk. It can be whole, 2 percent, 1 percent or fat-free.
  • Children 6 and older may have flavored or unflavored milk.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)

Other meal rules

  • At least one grain serving each day must be whole grain-rich.
  • Grain-based desserts do not count as a grain.
  • Juice can count at only one meal or snack a day.
  • Breakfast cereal can have no more than 6 grams of added sugar per dry ounce.
  • Yogurt can have no more than 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces.
  • At lunch and supper, a vegetable can take the place of the fruit.
  • At breakfast, meat or a meat alternate can replace the grain up to 3 times a week.
  • At-risk after-school programs and shelters may need to serve teens larger portions.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)

Babies under 1 year

Babies: the least to serve, by age
MealBirth through 5 months6 through 11 months
Breakfast, lunch or supper
  • Breast milk or iron-fortified formula: 4 to 6 fluid ounces
  • Breast milk or iron-fortified formula: 6 to 8 fluid ounces
  • Iron-fortified infant cereal: 0 to 1/2 ounce equivalent
  • Meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, or cooked dry beans, peas or lentils: 0 to 4 tablespoons
  • Cheese: 0 to 2 ounces
  • Cottage cheese: 0 to 4 ounces by volume
  • Yogurt: 0 to 4 ounces or 1/2 cup
  • Vegetable or fruit, or both: 0 to 2 tablespoons
Snack
  • Breast milk or iron-fortified formula: 4 to 6 fluid ounces
  • Breast milk or iron-fortified formula: 2 to 4 fluid ounces
  • Bread: 0 to 1/2 ounce equivalent
  • Crackers: 0 to 1/4 ounce equivalent
  • Iron-fortified infant cereal: 0 to 1/2 ounce equivalent
  • Ready-to-eat breakfast cereal: 0 to 1/4 ounce equivalent
  • Vegetable or fruit, or both: 0 to 2 tablespoons

6 through 11 months, breakfast, lunch or supper: Serve one of the cereal or protein choices, or a mix. Add each solid food when the baby is ready.

6 through 11 months, snack: Serve one of the grain choices. Add each solid food when the baby is ready.

  • Babies start solid foods around six months, when they are ready.
  • Babies under 12 months get no fruit or vegetable juice.
  • Infant formula and dry infant cereal must have added iron.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)

CACFP in each state

Each page names the agency that runs CACFP there, with its link and the steps to join.

Questions, answered

What is CACFP?

CACFP is a federal food program. It pays child care programs back for healthy meals and snacks. The federal government pays for CACFP. Each state runs it.

Who can join CACFP?

Licensed or approved public or nonprofit child care centers, Head Start and after-school care centers can take part. A home daycare cannot join on its own. It joins through a sponsoring organization.

Can a for-profit daycare join CACFP?

For-profit centers that serve lower income children may also qualify. At least 25 percent of the children must qualify for free or reduced-price meals. It counts enrolled children or licensed spots, whichever is less.

How does a home daycare join CACFP?

A home daycare cannot join on its own. It joins through a sponsoring organization. A home must have a current license or approval to care for children.

What milk does CACFP require?

Children age 1 get unflavored whole milk. Children 2 to 5 get unflavored milk. It can be whole, 2 percent, 1 percent or fat-free. Children 6 and older may have flavored or unflavored milk.

When do CACFP rates change?

Payment rates change every July. The 2026 to 2027 rates run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

About this page

Checked on USDA's and each state's own pages, November 4, 2026.

Bloomily does not run CACFP or decide who can join.

This page is a summary of USDA's and the states' own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.

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