SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Board of Education helps families by ensuring that children in child care and day care centers across the state receive nutritious meals and snacks at no cost through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Oct. 1 marked the opening of the annual renewal period for sponsors who operate CACFP in Illinois. Sponsors play a critical role in providing children with healthy meals that support growth, learning, and readiness for school.
“Nutritious food is foundational to learning,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, families can count on their child receiving balanced meals every day at no cost. This program is one of the many ways Illinois invests in children from the very start.”
In federal fiscal year 2025, CACFP sponsors in Illinois served approximately 46.4 million meals and 26.3 million snacks – totaling nearly 72.8 million meals and snacks. Currently, 596 sponsors operate at 1,292 child care sites and nine sponsors operate at 3,955 day care homes, reaching families in every county across the state.
“Children get consistent access to nutritious, appealing meals that support healthy growth and set lifelong habits,” said Tiffany Risley, director of the Brown County Early Learning Center, a CACFP site sponsored by the YMCA of West Central Illinois in Mt. Sterling. “Parents gain peace of mind knowing their child is offered well-rounded foods every day without extra cost. It’s one more way we partner with families to nurture the whole child.”
CACFP is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children enrolled for care at participating child care centers and day care homes. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in after-school care programs and children residing in emergency shelters.
Families can contact their child care provider to find out if they participate in CACFP. Reimbursements for program sponsors are based on Income Eligibility Guidelines, which are updated annually by the USDA. Program sponsors use a direct certification process and applications to determine reimbursement data. Families may be asked to complete an application and provide income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program information.
There are also reimbursements for meals served to adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. The Department of Aging administers the adult portion of CACFP in Illinois.
Non-Discrimination Statement
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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, 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: [email protected]