To
assist States, through grants-in-aid and other means, to initiate
and maintain nonprofit food service programs for children, elderly
or impaired adults in nonresidential day care facilities and children
in emergency shelters.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds
are made available for disbursement to eligible institutions to
reimburse their costs in providing meals and snacks to homeless
children in emergency shelters and children and adults receiving
nonresidential day care, including after school programs. Disbursement
is made on the basis of the number of lunches, suppers, breakfasts,
and snacks served, using annually adjusted reimbursement rates specified
by law. Program institutions may receive reimbursement for not more
than three meals per day, per participant. The program in child
care institutions and homeless emergency shelters is limited to
children 12 years old and younger, except for children of migrant
workers, who may participate if aged 15 years and younger, and individuals
with disabilities, who if over 12 years of age would be eligible
to participate only in a center or home where the majority of those
enrolled are 18 and younger. In after school care programs, reimbursement
is available for snacks (and suppers in six States) served to children
through age 18. In adult day care centers, functionally impaired
adults 18 years of age and older and adults 60 years of age and
older who are not residents of an institution are eligible. Meals
must meet minimum requirements of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: The State or U.S. Territory agency
applies for, and signs an annual agreement to receive Federal funds
for disbursement. In Virginia, where the State does not administer
the program, institutions may receive funds directly from USDA.
If the institution operates another Child Nutrition Program (NSLP,
SMP, SBP, SFSP), the institution should have a single, permanent
agreement with the State agency.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Approved institutions providing
nonresidential day care services may participate in the program.
Emergency shelters which provide shelter and meals to homeless
families are eligible. Eligible public and nonprofit private organizations
may include day care centers, outside-school-hours care centers,
settlement houses, family and group day care homes, Head Start
programs, and institutions providing day care services to children
with disabilities. Private for-profit centers may also participate
if they receive compensation under Title XX for at least 25 percent
of the enrolled children or 25 percent of their licensed capacity,
whichever is less. (Through September 30,2002, private for-profit
centers may participate if at least 25 percent of the children
enrolled are eligible for free or reduced price school meals.)
In the States of Kentucky, Iowa, and Delaware, for-profit child
care centers may participate if at least 25 percent of the children
enrolled are eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals.
Also eligible for participation are nonprofit centers which provide
nonresidential adult day care, and private for-profit adult day
care centers which receive compensation under Title XIX or Title
XX, if not less than 25 percent of their enrolled eligible adults
are Title XIX or Title XX beneficiaries. Any eligible institution
may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program upon
request with State agency approval.
Credentials/Documentation:
The allow ability of costs incurred by States in administering
the program will be determined in accordance with USDA Uniform
Federal Assistance Regulations (7 CFR Part 3016 and 3019). Applicant
organizations must furnish evidence of tax-exempt status under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This requirement does not apply
to public agencies or proprietary institutions.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is subject to the
provisions of E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as
the single point of contact in his or her State for more information
on the process required by the State.
Application
Procedure: Institutions apply to the responsible
State agency. In Virginia, where the State does not administer
the program, the application is directed to the USDA Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. This program
is subject to the provisions of USDA Uniform Federal Assistance
Regulations (7 CFR Parts 3016 and 3019).
Award
Procedure: When the application is approved,
the institution signs an annual agreement with the administering
agency.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable
to States. States must approve or disapprove an application from
an institution within 30 calendar days after receipt of a completed
application.
Appeals:
The administering agency must provide a hearing procedure for
local institution (i.e., center and sponsoring organization) grievances.
Renewals:
Not less frequently than every three years.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Program funds are
provided to the States through letters of credit to reimburse institutions
for costs of food service operations, including administrative expenses.
Appropriate rates of reimbursement, multiplied by the number of
meals served to enrolled participants, represent the basic program
payment that an institution receives for each meal served. The assigned
rates of reimbursement are adjusted annually on July 1. For child
care centers, adult day care centers, and emergency shelters for
homeless children, the annual adjustment reflects changes in the
Food Away from Home series of Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. For day care homes, the adjustment reflects changes in
the Food at Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. Donated foods or cash in lieu of donated foods are also
made available. Program payments to child care or adult day care
centers depend on the number and types of meals served to enrolled
participants, multiplied by the appropriate rate of reimbursement.
Rates for meals served to enrolled children and eligible adults
in day care centers are determined by the participants' eligibility
for free, reduced price, or paid meals using USDA Income Eligibility
Guidelines. All children in emergency shelters are eligible to receive
free meals without application. After school care programs, which
must be located in low-income areas, are reimbursed at the free
rate for all snacks--and suppers in the States of Missouri, Delaware,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Oregon--served to children
trough age 18. Sponsoring organizations of day care homes for children
are reimbursed at a graduated administrative rate based on the number
of homes they operate. The level of reimbursement for meals served
to enrolled children in day care homes is determined by economic
need based on either the location of the day care home; or the income
of the day care provider; or the income of an individual child's
household. Meals served in day care homes to the provider's own
children are reimbursable only if those children are determined
eligible for free and reduced price meals, and at least one other
nonresidential child is participating in the meal service. The reimbursement
for food service is passed on by sponsoring organizations to the
day care home providers under their auspices. This program has maintenance
of effort (MOE) requirements.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: For the period
covered by the agreement.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Institutions file monthly reports on program operations to claim
reimbursement for meals served and must submit final meal claims
no later than 60 days after the claiming month. States, then, must
submit final program reports to FNS no later than 90 days after
the claiming month.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133,
"Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations,"
States and Local Governments, and Non-profit organizations that
expend $300,000 or more under Federal awards within any fiscal
year shall have either a single audit or (in certain cases) a
program specific audit made for that year. Audits may be conducted
less frequently under conditions specified in A-133. For-profit
Title XIX and Title XX institutions are subject to audit by their
administering State agencies.
Records:
Institutions must maintain full and accurate records of program
operations for a period of 3 years after the end of the fiscal
year to which they pertain. However, where there are unresolved
audit findings, records must be retained until there is satisfactory
resolution of audit issues.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-3539-0-1-605.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $1,741,840,604; FY 02 est $1,799,735,000; and FY
03 est $1,904,494,000. (Donated commodities including bonus commodities)
FY 01 $51,273,000; FY 02 est $56,633,000; and FY 03 est $60,617,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
State grants vary according to participation in the program. In
2001, cash assistance ranged from over $91,596 to $203,694,548
per State agency.
In fiscal year 2001, over 1.67 billion meals were served.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR Part 226 Regulations and the Child and Adult Care Food Program
fact sheet are available at no charge. Administrative and nutrition
guidance is available at no charge to program participants from
the administering agency.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Director, Child Nutrition Division,
Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Contact: Stanley C. Garnett, Director. Telephone:
(703) 305- 2590.
