Celebrate National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week March 14-20

LANSING – The week of March 14-20 is National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week, and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) asks that providers, educators, and students statewide join in celebrating the importance of healthy meals for children and adults in need.

Each year, more than 5,000 family and group adult and childcare homes and 575 independent centers and sponsors of centers participate in the CACFP in Michigan.  These facilities serve more than 9.7 million breakfasts, 11.4 million lunches,

16 million snacks, and 5.5 million suppers per year to children and adults in care centers, afterschool at-risk programs, and family care homes.

“Facilitating and offering more food security to Michigan residents is an important function of the Michigan Department of Education,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “Providers that help meet the daily health and nutrition needs of children and adults across our state, especially during a pandemic, are deeply appreciated by MDE and those whom they serve.”

CACFP provides federal funds to non-residential child and adult care facilities to serve nutritious meals and snacks. CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of care by making it affordable for many families. The program’s goal is to improve and maintain the health and nutritional status of participants in care, while promoting the development of good eating habits.

Eligible child and adult care facilities include:

• Licensed childcare centers
• Head Start programs
• Great Start to Readiness Programs (GSRP)
• Public and nonpublic schools
• After-school care programs
• Emergency shelters providing residential and food services to homeless children
• Family childcare homes, including relative care providers
• Some private, for-profit childcare centers
• Adult day service programs

For more information about CACFP in Michigan, visit the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

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