The CACFP food program in Virginia.

Virginia Department of Health runs the CACFP food program in Virginia. 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 Virginia

Virginia Department of Health, Division of Community Nutrition

Go to the Virginia Department of Health page

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

How to join CACFP in Virginia, step by step

  1. Choose a sponsor or go on your own

    A center can join under a sponsoring organization or sign its own agreement with the health department.

    Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

  2. After-school meals go through education

    For the at-risk after-school meals program, contact the Virginia Department of Education instead.

    Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

Good to know: The state page says who runs each part. It does not list each application step.

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 Virginia?

Virginia Department of Health, Division of Community Nutrition runs the program.

How do I join CACFP in Virginia?

Start with this step: Choose a sponsor or go on your own. All 2 steps are on this page, each with its source.

Can a home daycare join CACFP in Virginia?

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 Virginia?

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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