The primary 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:
1. The establishment of positive eating habits at the earliest stages of development.
2. Reduction of future health care and education costs due to lack of proper early development.
3. Training and support of local child care personnel.
Research also indicates that the CACFP is one important factor in providing quality child care.
During National CACFP Week the Child Care Council of Dutchess & Putnam, Inc., a New York based non-profit sponsor of the CACFP joins with Dutchess and Putnam County family child care providers in acknowledging the many ways our community benefits from the CACFP.
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 gain from early nutrition education that helps them establish positive eating habits that will enrich the quality of their diet throughout their life.
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. Good nutrition is the recipe for an all-around happier child.
Providers receive nutrition education and support services from their CACFP sponsor that help them serve nutritious meals and create a positive eating environment for children. The quality of child care provided in our community is improved due to educational and financial resources available to caregivers through the CACFP.
This program provides approximately 1.9 billion meals and snacks to over 3.2 million children daily in child care centers, family care homes, and after-school programs; over 115,000 elderly persons in Adult Day Care; over 52,000 child care centers; 137,000 family child care provides working with 865 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 330,000 meals being served to children and adults daily. Please join us in honoring all CACFP providers for their invaluable work done on behalf of New York State children.
Please check out www.cacfp.org for more information
