National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week - March 17-23, 2013
Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs (517) 241-4395Agency: EducationMarch 15, 2013
LANSING - The Michigan Department of Education, education organizations, and private agencies around the nation will celebrate Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week from March 17-23, 2013.
The 2013 theme for National CACFP Week, "The CACFP - a WIN WIN WIN for Children, Parents, Providers!" presents an excellent opportunity to emphasize research outcomes that proper nutrition in your children not only contributes to their physical growth, but also their intellectual and emotional development. Through the CACFP, good nutrition pays.
CACFP provides federal funds to nonresidential child care facilities to serve nutritious meals and snacks. The CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of child care and making it affordable for many families requiring child care. The goal of the CACFP is to improve and maintain the health and nutritional status of children in care while promoting the development of good eating habits.
Eligible child care facilities include:
· Licensed child care centers
· Head Start Programs
· After-school care programs
· Emergency shelters providing residential and food services to homeless children
· Family child care homes, including relative care providers
· Some private, for-profit child care centers
· Adult Day Service programs - beginning April 1, 2013
More than 162,338 meals and snacks were served daily to children at more than 7,906 sites in Michigan during 2012. The Michigan Department of Education continues to recognize, and takes great care in commending, the men and women who accept and meet the daily opportunity of providing healthy meals to Michigan's children.
