The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) Child Nutrition Services section encourages eligible nonresidential licensed child-care centers, family day-care homes, emergency shelters, at-risk centers and some adult day care centers in Washington to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

The CACFP reimburses some costs associated with serving meals to children and qualified adults. In Washington State, the CACFP has been administered by OSPI’s Child Nutrition Services since 1989.

The following care centers and institutions may participate in the CACFP:

Nonresidential licensed public or private nonprofit child-care centers or family day-care homes.

For-profit child-care institutions in which at least 25 percent of children served are low income based on the center’s licensed capacity or enrolled capacity, whichever is less.

Child-care centers that serve at-risk children.

Nonprofit emergency shelters that provide temporary residential facilities to children.

Qualifying public or nonprofit adult centers, or for-profit adult centers that receive compensation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of their enrolled adults.

The federal food program reimburses meals at established rates based on the family income of the children and adults served. Meals served to eligible homeless and at-risk children are reimbursed at the free rate. The federal funds help institutions offset some of the costs of providing well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled participants.

Meals will be made available to enrolled participants at no separate charge.