Child Care Homes

Day care home providers participate in CACFP through a local sponsoring agency, often a Child Care Resource and Referral Center. To apply, contact your local sponsor: click here for a list of sponsors by county.

Most daycare providers can participate in CACFP, including:

• Registered family day care providers
• Licensed group family day care providers
• Legally exempt, or informal, providers that receive child care payments from a county or city agency

Use the NYS Department of Health’s CACFP prescreening tool to see if your day care is eligible. You can also contact the Early Care and Learning Council, or your local CACFP sponsoring agency for more information.

CACFP reimburses providers for each creditable meal or snack served, up to two meals and one snack per child per day.

There are two reimbursement levels, or tiers:

• Tier 1:  Providers who serve low-income children, live in a low-income area, or live in a household that meets income guidelines may be eligible for these higher reimbursement rates.
• Tier 2: Providers who do not qualify for Tier 1 are reimbursed using these rates.

The reimbursement rates for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 are listed below.

Meals and snacks must follow the CACFP meal guidelines, which require certain foods (vegetables, fruits, grains, fluid milk, meat or meat alternative), and serving sizes. Click here for sample menus and additional information.

Child Care Homes Factsheet

Child Care Meals Palm Card

State:

NYS Department of Health

National:

USDA

National CACFP Sponsors Association

FRAC