About the Food Program

The 4-C Food Program is Free and Easy to Join!

• The program simply requires that childcare providers serve healthy, basic, meals and snacks.
• Family childcare providers choose the fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. and prepare them as they wish following easy to understand guidelines.
• To learn more about the 4-C Food Program, call our CACFP Certified staff at Text-(815) 299-3603, Call-815-758-8149 x234 or Email.  We’re happy to help!

Benefits of Joining the Food Program”

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.  The CACFP reimburses family childcare providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to children.  In order to participate in the program, in the state of Illinois, a provider may be licensed through the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or unlicensed and caring for children whose childcare is partly paid through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP).

• There is no cost to join the Food Program
• The childcare provider chooses the meals and snacks and follows easy, nutritional guidelines.
• The childcare provider keeps records of the balanced meals and snacks that are served to the children in their care
• Providers can even receive reimbursement for serving infants (beginning with expressed breast milk or infant formula).
• Childcare providers who qualify may also be paid for meals served to their own children.
• Newsletters, menu-ideas, resources, and fun-filled informational materials are available.
• Trainings are offered at no cost to help meet DCFS’ annual training requirements (Up to 5 hours per year)
• Being on the Food Program will give childcare providers reassurance that they are serving nutritious food that will improve the health and well-being of the children.
• Parents will feel more at ease knowing their children are being served nutritious meals each day.
• The Food Program will help with planning meals and offering support to help childcare providers teach children about healthy eating habits.
• Being on the on the Food Program is a sign of professionalism and shows concern for the nutritional health of the children.
• Food Program helps with Excelerate Illinois:
  • Training Hours
  • 4-C CACFP Provides Business Resources used in the FCC FCERS
  • Becoming a Member of the CACFP Association is one Professional Organization of many to add under “Professional Development”

Food Program Forms:

Parent Application English

Direct Deposit Form

allowable-milk-substitutions-cacfp

Medical Form for Food Allergies

Provider Holiday Openings 2023-2024

Seriously Deficient Process Packet

 

For all other FNS nutrition assistance programs, state or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination 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/ad-3027.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:
   Program.Intake@usda.gov

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Effective 05/12/2022