Child and Adult Care Food Program
Apply now for the Healthier CACFP Award!
The Healthier CACFP Award recognizes caregivers who go above and beyond the Program requirements in the following categories: menus, physical activity, professional development, nutrition and wellness environment, and/or infant care.
- Each award winner will receive banners, yard signs, window clings, a certificate, a parent letter template, & a press release template to recognize their achievement.
- Applicants can apply for an award in one or more of these categories.
- All CACFP Sponsors who are in compliance with Program requirements are eligible for a Healthier CACFP Award.
- If you are interested in being considered for this award, please submit an application and supporting documentation by September 30, 2024.
- The form and any supporting documents can be sent by email to CACFP@health.mo.gov
- Healthier CACFP Award Application
- Healthier CACFP Award Sample Application
- Healthier CACFP Award Resource Book 2024
There are Quick Reference Guides available to assist you in using the CNPWeb. These can be easily accessed at: Quick Reference Guides | Child and Adult Care Food Program | Health & Senior Services (mo.gov).
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) assures that nutritious meals and snacks are served to children and eligible adults enrolled in child care centers, family child care homes, after school programs, emergency shelters, and adult day care programs by providing reimbursement for meals that meet minimum nutritional standards.
CACFP requires that well-balanced meals are served and good eating habits are taught. The program also provides training and technical assistance on nutrition, food service operations, program management, nutrition education and recordkeeping.
CACFP is administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- CACFP Programs
- Child Care Centers - Licensed or License-Exempt
- At-Risk, Afterschool Program
- Adult Day Care Centers - Licensed
- Emergency & Homeless Shelters
- Family Child Care Homes - Licensed & Registered
- Claim Deadlines
- Food Service Management Contracts
- Forms
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Grant Opportunities
- Growing with MO
- How to Apply
- Manuals
- Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care
- Missouri MOve Smart Child Care
- Posters, Flyers & Pamphlets
- Rates
- Resources
- Sponsor Directory for At-Risk Afterschool
- USDA Model Written Notice to Beneficiaries - Partnerships with Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations
- USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
- USDA Policies
Training
- CACFP Training for Child Care Centers
- Sign up for Live WebEx Training
- Online Recorded Modules (Needed for training: CACFP Manual for Child Care Centers and CACFP Income Eligibility Guidance for Child Care Centers)
- CACFP Training for At-Risk Afterschool Care/Outside School Hours Care
- Sign up for Live Webex Training by emailing CACFP@health.mo.gov
- Online Recorded Modules (Needed for training: CACFP Manual for At-Risk Afterschool Care/Outside School Hours Care)
- CACFP Manual for Adult Day Care Centers
- Online Recorded Modules (Needed for training: CACFP Manual for Adult Day Care Centers and CACFP Income Eligibility Guidance for Adult Day Care Centers)
- CACFP Training for Emergency Shelters
- Online Recorded Modules (Needed for training: CACFP Manual for Emergency Shelters)
- CIVIL RIGHTS Training - Online
- CORE (CACFP Operational Resources & Education) - Online (Enrollment Key is CORE)
Links to Important Information
- Access the CACFP CNP Web-Based System
- Application and Claiming Quick Reference Guides
- CACFP Appeal Flyer
- Recent food recalls
CACFP Crediting Handbook
The Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program is designed by the USDA to be a companion to the Food Buying Guide. This handbook is a source to help determine creditable foods allowed in CACFP. The list of creditable and non-creditable foods in this publication is not all-inclusive. This publication includes only those foods that are commonly served in child care programs and foods USDA has received inquiries about or has noted as being credited incorrectly.
Public Notice
The Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance is requesting that USDA approve the state requested waiver to allow participating CACFP At-Risk Afterschool sponsoring organizations the option to serve meals during the current school year in a non-congregate setting for up to 10 days during unanticipated school closures with no virtual learning in place. The school closure must be related to natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to school safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or, when approved by CFNA, similar unanticipated causes. The non-congregate meals can only be claimed if served with prior written approval before implementation.
For more information regarding this requested waiver, email the Child and Adult Care Food Program at CACFP@health.mo.gov.
Public Notice
The Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance, is requesting that USDA approve the state-requested waiver to allow the participating Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsoring organizations (SO) of family day care homes (FDCHs) in good standing the option to conduct one of the three annually required monitoring reviews offsite for FDCHs under certain circumstances during the program year 2025. This waiver is requested to take effect on January 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2025.
For more information regarding this requested waiver, please email the Child and Adult Care Food Program at CACFP@health.mo.gov.