The CACFP food program in Connecticut.

Connecticut State Department of Education runs the CACFP food program in Connecticut. These are the steps to join, each with its source.

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

Who runs CACFP in Connecticut

Connecticut State Department of Education

Go to the Connecticut State Department of Education page

USDA's directory of state CACFP offices lists this link for the agency.

Source: FNA Contacts: Child and Adult Care Food Program (results page 1 of 3)

How to join CACFP in Connecticut, step by step

  1. Centers apply online

    Centers apply and send claims through the state's online CNP System.

    Source: CACFP Child Care Centers

  2. Home daycares sign up with a sponsor

    A home daycare signs an agreement with a sponsoring organization. Connecticut has five sponsors.

    Source: CACFP Family Day Care Homes

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

To start, a center contacts its state agency.

Source: Program Operator (CACFP)
For-profit 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.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (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)
After-school programs

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)

What a CACFP meal must hold

Breakfast

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

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

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

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

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)

See the least amounts for each age on the full meal chart.

What CACFP pays

Payment rates change every July.

Source: CACFP Reimbursement Rates

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

Questions, answered

Who runs CACFP in Connecticut?

Connecticut State Department of Education runs the program.

How do I join CACFP in Connecticut?

Start with this step: Centers apply online. All 2 steps are on this page, each with its source.

Can a home daycare join CACFP in Connecticut?

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

How much does CACFP pay in Connecticut?

Payment rates change every July. This year's rates for centers and homes are on our CACFP rates page.

About this page

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

Bloomily does not run CACFP or decide who can join.

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

Sources for this state

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