CACFP Roundtable loves research about CACFP. It serves as a pillar for advocacy, something for us to not conjecture or say we heard (which is important too!). Rigorous research, though, helps us tell your stories with data and quotes and makes it harder for people to push aside.
We've been collaborating with the Nutrition Policy Institute and the University of California Berkeley on this study and newly published paper.
A recent article published in Nutrients MDPI found that increased Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimbursement rates during COVID-19 helped improve access to diverse, high-quality, and nutritious foods for children at family childcare homes participating in CACFP.
Key findings:
- Over half of providers reported reduced out-of-pocket food expenses
- Nearly half or more reported improvements in meal quality, variety, and healthfulness.
- Tier 2 providers, who received the lowest rates prior to COVID-19, experienced the most benefits.
- Providers perceived pre-pandemic reimbursement rates as inadequate to meet CACFP nutrition standards.
Increased reimbursements for all family child care home providers could enhance participation in the CACFP and improve access to nutritious meals for young children, particularly in low-income households.
Read more: https://bit.ly/3N7eImX
Does this reflect your thoughts and experiences? Please share! samantha@cacfproundtable.org. Or find Kassandra Bacon and myself at the Annual CACFP Conference, we'll be presenting in detail and having a discussion afterward!
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