New York State Department of Health Advances Child and Adult Care Food Program

CACFP Receives Annual Funding to Support and Enhance Meals and Snacks Served to Thousands of Children and Adults Every Day

In 2023 the Department Received More than $238 Million in Federal Funds for the Program

Albany, N.Y. (July 22, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health is promoting New York's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). All children and adults who attend programs that participate in CACFP receive the same meals at no separate charge. CACFP is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and with $238 million provided in 2023 New York State is expanding the program's eligibility requirements to better serve the community. This work continues New York's commitment to promote the health and well-being of its residents.

"The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps secure healthy and nourishing meals for thousands of families across New York State," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. "This program improves health outcomes for families and is an important part of the State Health Department's mission of advancing health equity."

Currently, more than 1,250 sponsoring organizations participate in CACFP statewide. These organizations represent 12,875 licensed or registered center-based or family day care sites. On average, day care providers serve approximately 372,546 meals to children and adults at CACFP-participating facilities in New York State each day. In 2023, New York received more than $238 million in federal USDA funds for this program.

Participating programs include:

  • Childcare centers, including Head Start centers and outside school hours programs serving children up to 12 years of age.
  • Community-based adult day care centers that are approved by federal, state or local authorities to provide day care services to adults with disabilities.
  • After-school programs providing educational or enrichment programming for children up to 19 years of age.
  • Homeless sheltersproviding meals to children living with a parent or guardian.
  • Family day care programs including licensed, registered and legally exempt home-based caregivers serving children up to 12 years of age.

A list of the participating programs may be obtained at health.data.ny.gov/Health/Child-and-Adult-Care-Food-Program-Participation/dmn7-mpa8 or by calling the New York State Health Department (NYSDOH) at (800) 942-3858.

The level of support for free or reduced-price meals is based on household income as follows:

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR CENTER-BASED CARE
(Effective July 1, 2024 until June 30, 2025)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE FREE MEALS REDUCED-PRICE MEALS
YEAR MONTH WEEK YEAR MONTH WEEK
1 19,578 1,632 377 27,861 2,322 536
2 26,572 2,215 511 37,814 3,152 728
3 33,566 2,798 646 47,767 3,981 919
4 40,590 3,380 780 57,720 4,810 1,110
5 47,554 3,963 915 67,673 5,640 1,302
6 54,548 4,546 1,049 77,626 6,469 1,493
7 61,542 5,129 1,184 87,579 7,299 1,685
8 68,536 5,712 1,318 97,532 8,128 1,876
FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER +6,994 +583 +135 +9,953 +793 +192

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: , from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.