Potential New Child and Adult Care Food Program Sponsor

Becoming a Sponsor: What to Expect

Before beginning the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) application process, all prospective sponsors should understand that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) federal requirements guide program participation. The CACFP is governed by 7 CFR Part 226, which outlines the regulations institutions must meet to operate the program responsibly and in compliance with federal standards. Federal Regulation 7 CFR 226.6(b)(1)(xviii) requires potential sponsors to meet the Performance Standards and requirements for Financial Viability, Administrative Capability, and Program Accountability (VCA). 

How does the CACFP work?

The CACFP reimburses participating sponsors for serving nutritious meals according to the USDA meal patterns. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Office of Nutrition, approves sponsoring organizations and independent centers to operate the program locally. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce also provides training, monitors the program, and provides guidance and assistance to assure that sponsors are meeting program requirements.

The goal of the CACFP is for sponsors to serve well-balanced meals and encourage good eating habits in all CACFP settings. Participation in the CACFP must help ensure the delivery of benefits to the neediest children or adult day-care participants in your community. The CACFP is available for eligible child care centers, family day care homes, outside-school-hours programs, adult day care centers and emergency shelters serving children. All program funds come from tax dollars, all funds musts be spent on food-related costs for the CACFP, and all participating agencies must account for how these funds are used.

Who does the program serve?

• Children through age 12 in child-care settings;
• Children of migrant workers, through age 15, in child-care settings;
• Functionally impaired adult participants or adults age 60 and older in a nonresidential adult day-care setting;
• Children ages 13 to 18 in educational enrichment programs in eligible facilities such as At-Risk After School programs (ARAS); and
• Children age 18 and younger residing in emergency shelters.

What kinds of meals are served?

CACFP sponsors must follow meal patterns established by the USDA:

• Breakfast: requires a serving of fluid milk, fruit or vegetable, and a grain or bread.
• Lunch and Supper: requires fluid milk, grain or bread, meat or meat alternate, and two servings of fruits or vegetables.
• Snacks: requires two of the four components: fluid milk, fruit or vegetable, grain or bread, or meat or meat alternate.

Types of Center-based CACFP Facilities

Many different facilities operate the CACFP, all sharing the common goal of providing nutritious meals and snacks to participants.

• Child Care Centers: Licensed or approved public or private nonprofit child care centers, family day care homes, Head Start programs and for-profit centers serving meals to children.
  • ​Note: To participate in the CACFP, a family or group day care home must sign an agreement with one of the Sponsoring Organizations of Ohio Family Day Care Homes.
• Outside-School-Hours Care Centers: Licensed child care center caring for school-age children that provides meals, snacks and enrichment activities to children through the age of 12.
• Youth Development Programs: Nonprofit community-based programs that may or may not be licensed to care for school-age children 6-12 years of age. These programs can provide meals and snacks and include enrichment activities.
• After School At-Risk Programs: Centers in low-income communities that provide snacks and enrichment activities to school-aged children and youth during the school year.
• Emergency Shelters: Emergency shelters that provide meal service to homeless children.
• Adult Day Care Centers: Public or private nonprofit and some for-profit adult day care facilities that provide structured, comprehensive services to functionally impaired, nonresidential adults.

Key Sponsor Responsibilities

• Maintain program eligibility;
• Serve meals that meeting program requirements;
• Keep daily records of participants and number of meals served;
• Collect household-size and income information on Income Eligibility Application; 
• Maintain an OHID and User Profile
  • Creating an OHID and User Profile with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce; and
• Comply with all regulations and instructions relating to the CACFP.

Getting Started

To help you get started, please complete the following steps: 

• Read the Potential New Sponsor Process Policy – This policy walks you through each stage of the approval process and highlights what documentation and training will be required. 
• Complete the Potential New Sponsor Interest Survey.
• Once contacted with the request for documentation, begin the Financial Viability process. 

Estimated timeline of the application process

Actual timing depends on how quickly required materials are submitted and complete. This is only an estimate. 

Process Stage	Estimated Timeframe
Interest Survey → Initial EPS Contact	1–2 weeks
Financial Viability Review	2–8 weeks
Online Application Access Granted	After passing Financial Viability
CACFP Application Completion	4–12 weeks
On-Site TA Visit	1–2 weeks
Month of Review	1 full month
Pre-Approval Visit & Final Review	2–3 weeks

Thank you for your continued interest in the Child and Adult Care Food Program!

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Non-Discrimination Statement

Last Modified: 8/6/2026 1:13:15 PM

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