Child Care Food Program | Florida Department of Health

Child Care Food Program continues to contribute to child well-being in Florida

Effective July 1, 2022

Since 1998, the Florida Department of Health’s Child Care Food Program (CCFP), a federally funded program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized by 7 CFR Part 226 and section 383.011, Florida Statutes, has provided nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children who are enrolled with participating child care providers. In 2021, CCFP reimbursed child care providers for serving 160,744,466 meals to approximately 315,000 Florida children each day. Over the years, CCFP has also guided child care providers on the best ways to serve healthy food and promote healthy habits for life by encouraging them to teach young children about food choices.

Children who eat healthy food are more attentive and are better learners. Eating well early in life has a huge effect on a child’s growth and can even reduce obesity risks. Parents seeking child care in Florida are encouraged to enroll their children in providers participating in CCFP. Learn more at: www.FloridaHealth.gov/CCFP.

How does CCFP work?

CCFP reimburses child care providers and ensures that meals and snacks meet or exceed federal and state nutrition standards.

Which childcare providers participate?

List of participating providers, organized by facility type, can be found at: www.FloridaHealth.gov/CCFP.

The program is offered at four types of childcare-related institutions:

• Child care centers: In a non-price child care center, meals are available at no separate cost to eligible children. In a pricing child care center that has a separately identifiable charge for meals, children from households whose income falls within the reduced price income eligibility guidelines qualify for reduced price meals. These meals are priced at 40 cents for lunch/dinner, 30 cents for breakfast and 15 cents for snacks. Children from households whose income falls within the free income eligibility guidelines are eligible for free meals. Refer to the current income eligibility guidelines listed below.
• Family day care homes: Meals are available at no separate cost for eligible children.
• After school programs: Snacks and/or meals are available at no separate cost for eligible children.
• Homeless shelters and certain emergency shelters: Meals are available at no separate cost for eligible children.

Who is eligible for meals and snacks?

Meals are available to all eligible participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Advantage participants funded by the Office of Advantage, within the Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, and children from households receiving Food Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits are automatically eligible to receive free receive meal benefits at participating facilities.

Below are the current income eligibility guidelines used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced meals.

Income eligibility guidelines (effective 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023)

Free Meal Scale

Meal scale for reduced price

In accordance with federal civil rights law and the civil rights regulations and policies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or retaliation or retribution for past 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 (eg, Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible state or local agency administering 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 must complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, from any USDA office, through (866) 632-9992 or by writing a letter to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number and a written description of the alleged discriminatory conduct in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) of 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:
   US Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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