3.20.2017 Working families with young children in California have diminishing access to a nutrition program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which reimburses child care providers for serving healthy meals and snacks, according to a new report released today by California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA).
The report, Early Access to Healthy Food: Trends in California’s Child and Adult Care Food Program 2010 to 2016, is California’s only statewide assessment of CACFP.
CFPA analyzed data over a six-year span to evaluate CACFP access and participation trends. We found that only one in three child care centers and just over half of family child care homes offer the program. The report goes on to describe declining participation in CACFP, revealing that average daily participation dropped by more than 20,000 children between 2010 and 2015. We draw conclusions about the relationship of state budget cuts and the declining rate of CACFP and we make policy recommendations for how to support improved participation in the program.
We hope you will review the findings in the report and then join us in supporting investments that increase child care access, by taking action to increase CACFP participation, and by resisting federal efforts to undermine child care.
Read the report. PDF
Questions? Contact Elyse Homel Vitale at 510.433.1122 ext. 206
