1.18.2018. Governor Brown’s proposal for the state budget is missing a strong investment in the health and development of our youngest learners. In response, CFPA is launching Food With Care, a campaign to make healthy meals more accessible to children in child care.
For decades, California supported access to nutrition for California’s youngest learners by supplementing the federal reimbursement for breakfasts and lunches served in child care through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). But in 2012, following the recession, the funding was eliminated for most of child care. Today, only child care centers operating on K-12 campuses and a few licensed family child care homes continue to receive the reimbursement.
Although licensed family child care providers and child care centers certainly were hit hard by the budget cut, low-income children were hit the hardest. Average daily participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program dropped significantly following the cut.link The state can help. Reinstating the state supplemental meal reimbursement for CACFP will make nutritious food more accessible to young children, while supporting the viability of the child care work force.
Take Action!
Over the next few months state policy makers will chart out the path of the state budget. As they do, it is important that advocates band together to elevate the importance to children and working families of supporting the state supplemental meal reimbursement.
- Sign on to the coalition letter.
- Reach out to your state representatives on social media.
- Stay informed. Sign up for Food With Care alerts.
Questions
Melissa Cannon at 510.433.1122 ext 102, or melissa@cfpa.net
