Child Care Food Program
The Child Care Food Program (CCFP) is a Child Nutrition Program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services and Administered by The Department of Health, Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs.
For thirty years, CCSWFL has implemented the USDA Child Care Food Program. The program goal is to educate providers and parents on healthy eating habits and food safety as well as providing nutritious meals to children.
Who is Eligible?
Licensed Family Child Care Homes
To qualify, all family child care providers must:
- Be licensed by the State of Florida and have at least one unrelated child in your care.
- Serve meals that meet USDA patterns, keep records and submit them to Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc., by the 5th of the month.
Family Child Care Homes in the program are reimbursed monthly and will be monitored at least three times a year.
Child Care Centers
To qualify, centers must:
- Have 25% of their enrollment are low income children or
- The center is a non –profit
- Serve meals that meet USDA patterns, keep records and submit them to Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc., by the 5th of the month.
Centers who participate in the program are reimbursed monthly and are monitored three times a year.
Sample Meal Patterns
Breakfast
- Milk
- Juice or fruit or vegetable
- Bread- enriched or whole grain or
- Cereal- cold dry or hot cooked
Lunch
- Milk
- Lean meat, poultry, fish or Alternate protein products such as; cheese,
- Egg (large) or cooked dry beans, peas or peanut butter or other nut butters..
- Two vegetables and/ or fruit
- Bread-enriched or whole grain
Snack
Select two of these four components:
- Milk
- Meat or meat alternate
- Juice or fruit or vegetable
- Bread and/or cereal
A Child Care Food program specialist will be happy to help you establish the child care food program and assist you in completing the required paperwork, and answer your questions. We will provide you with sample menus. Reimbursements are mailed directly to you.
For information, contact Beth Goldberg at bethg@ccswfl.org or at (239) 936-0899.