Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The following message is being distributed by the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, on behalf of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, administered by CDPHE

Colorado's senior population is expected to grow over 60 percent this decade, faster than any other age group and fourth fastest nationwide. Seniors often face physical or health-related issues that affect their nutritional needs. 

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federally funded, state run program, can help seniors meet their nutritional needs. Adult day care centers that participate in the CACFP offers seniors, especially those with limited incomes, access to healthy meals to help maintain their health and delay assisted living and nursing home placements. 

Being part of the CACFP program has helped Alik Kassner, partner of Alpine Adult Day Care, improve his business and the health of clients.

"Joining the CACFP program has had a tremendously positive impact on our Adult Day Care Center," Kassner said. "We prepare all of our food from scratch and on-site within our own fully-licensed, restaurant-style kitchen. With the help of the program, we were able to further significantly improve our food offering by serving healthier and higher quality food for the benefit of our clients."

Adult day care centers participating in the CACFP receive federal reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks that follow the USDA meal standards, which includes milk, fruits, vegetables, grains and meat/meat alternatives. The meal standards allow for a wide variety of foods, and participants have the opportunity to choose from a selection of foods at each meal. 

Meals are available to all participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. For current eligibility guidelines, go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines. 

If your adult day care program would benefit from participating in the CACFP, share this information with staff members and encourage them to learn more by contacting the program at 303-692-2330 or visiting the CACFP website at https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/cacfp.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.