What are frequently asked questions related to day care homes?

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Relative Care Providers

The Child and Ault Care Food Program (CACFP) provides a cash reimbursement to eligible relative care providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to children while in day care in the provider's home.  

Day care homes participate under the sponsorship of a family day care home sponsor.

Provider Eligibility

A relative care provider must be:

• enrolled as a relative care provider by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS)
• authorized by DHS to care for subsidy-eligible children related to the provider

Relative Care Provider and Day Care Aide Dual Enrollment

Meals served in the provider's home as a relative care provider are eligible for CACFP reimbursement.  Meals served in the child's home as a day care aide are not eligible for reimbursement.

Eligible Children

Children must be:

• related to the provider
• not living in the provider's home
• enrolled for child care
• under age 12 (15 if migrant) or any age with a disability requiring child care, as long as the majority of children in care are under age 18

In some cases provider's own children are eligible if the provider's household is income-eligible.

Reimbursement

Reimbursement rates are based on the provider's classification as either a Tier I or

Tier II home.  A Tier I home is a day care home located in a low income area or whose household is low income.  A Tier II home is a day care home not eligible as a Tier I home.  Tier II providers may be eligible for Tier I rates for meals and snacks served to children from low income families. 

The CACFP family day care home sponsor determines the classification of the provider's home. The reimbursement rates for July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013 are:

A day care home may claim reimbursement for up to two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal, per child per day.

Meal Service

Meals and snacks must meet CACFP meal pattern requirements. 

Record Keeping

Participating homes are required to keep records of:

• menus
• meal counts                                                                                  

• daily attendance
• child enrollment forms
• CACFP application and provider/sponsor agreement

How to Apply

Contact a sponsoring organization below that services your county

SPONSOR NAME                                           COUNTIES SERVED BY SPONSOR

For more information:

Visit the CACFP website at www.michigan.gov/cacfp or contact CACFP at 517-373-7391.

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington D.C.  20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

 Rev. 12/2012