It has come to our attention that several states are allowing child care conducted in buildings which are not private residences to be considered day care homes for purposes of CACFP. This memorandum clarifies our policy on the participation of group and family day care homes.
PL 101-147 provided for additional administrative payments to sponsoring organizations wishing to expand into rural and low-income areas.
Section 17(a) of the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) previously allowed the participation of a proprietary Title XX child care center “if such organization receive[d] compensation under such title for at least 25 percent of the children for which the organization provides such nonresidential day care services.”
This Instruction clarifies two issues concerning the staff-child ratios established for child care centers and outside-school-hours care centers in the CACFP regulations (226.6(d)(2)): (1) Are staff-child ratios based on actual attendance or on enrollment; and (2) When children from various age groups are in attendance, how is the necessary minimum number of staff members determined?
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989 amended the National School Lunch Act to provide for additional administrative payments to sponsoring organizations wishing to expand into rural and low-income areas.
We recently received an inquiry regarding the appropriate interpretation of that the portion of Section 226.6(d)(3) f the CACFP) regulations that reads “Licensing or approval is not available when (i) no federal, state or local licensing/approval standards have been established for child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, or day care homes; or (ii) no mechanism exists to determine compliance with licensing approval standards.”
Attached is the third set of questions and answers on the two-tiered reimbursement structure for family day care homes in the CACFP. Also attached are: (1) “Enrollment and Attendance List Examples”; and (2) “Computing Reimbursement for a Tier H Mixed Home.”
The purpose of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, as set forth by the National School Lunch Act, is to provide meal assistance in nonresidential child care situations.
Section 17(a) of the National School Lunch Act limits participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program to nonresidential institutions providing child care.
A state agency may make payment for meals served in accordance with provisions of the program in the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the agreement is executed. This provision applies only to center programs and to home programs which are renewing their agreements. The agreements of new home sponsoring organizations may not be backdated.