About the New York State Child and Adult Care Food Program

The New York State Department of Health annually receives funding from the federal government to support and further enhance New York's Child and Adult Care Food Program's (CACFP) statewide.

The CACFP initiative is supported through an entitlement program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and continues New York's commitment of promoting the health and well being of its residents. Currently, more than 1,250 sponsoring organizations representing 11,250 licensed or registered center-based or family day care sites are participating statewide. On average, day care providers serve approximately 198,000 children and adults each day. In 2022, New York received over $192 million in federal USDA funds for this expanded nutrition program.

Participating sponsors include:

  • CHILD CARE CENTERS, including head start centers, and outside school hour programs serving children up to 12 years of age;
  • HOME-BASED FAMILY and GROUP CHILD CARE, including legally exempt providers caring for subsidized children;
  • COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS that are approved by federal, state or local authorities to provide day care services to adults with disabilities;
  • AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS providing educational or enrichment programming for children up to 19 years of age; and
  • HOMELESS SHELTERS providing meals to resident children living with a parent or guardian.

The level of support for free or reduced price meals received by all eligible participants is based on household income as follows:

Standards for Determining Income Eligibility Guidelines*

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
(Effective July 1, 2024 until June 30, 2025)

Household Size FREE MEALS REDUCED MEALS
Year Month Week Year Month Week
1 $19,578 $1,632 $377 $19,578 - $27,861 $1,632 - $2,322 $377 - $536
2 $26,572 $2,215 $511 $26,572 - $37,814 $2,215 - $3,152 $511 - $728
3 $33,566 $2,798 $646 $33,566 - $47,767 $2,798 - $3,981 $646 - $919
4 $40,560 $3,380 $780 $40,560 - $57,720 $3,380 - $4,810 $780 - $1,110
5 $47,554 $3,963 $915 $47,554 - $67,673 $3,963 - $5,640 $915 - $1,302
6 $54,548 $4,546 $1,049 $54,548 - $77,626 $4,546 - $6,469 $1,049 - $1,493
7 $61,542 $5,129 $1,184 $61,542 - $87,579 $5,129 - $7,299 $1,184 - $1,685
8 $68,536 $5,712 $1,318 $68,536 - $97,532 $5,712 - $8,128 $1,318 - $1,876
For each additional family member $6,994 $583 $135 $9,953 $830 $192

* The income eligibility guidelines are used to categorize the household income reported on the income eligibility application into the free or reduced category. For example, if the monthly income for a family of two is $2,215 or less, the center would be eligible for reimbursement at the Free rate. If the household income for a family of two is between $2,215 and $3,152 per month, the center would be eligible for reimbursement at the Reduced rate. If the household income for a family of two is $3,152 or more per month, the center would be eligible for reimbursement at the Paid rate.

Further Information

For further information about CACFP, contact the New York State Department of Health at 1-800-942-3858 or (518) 402-7400.