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Child Care Food Program Continues to Contribute to Child Wellness in Florida

Since 1998, Florida Health’s Child Care Food Program (CCFP), a federally-funded program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has provided nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children who are enrolled with participating child care providers. In 2019, CCFP reimbursed 160,785,050 meals served to approximately 317,000 Florida children each day. Throughout the years, CCFP has also guided child care providers on the best ways to serve healthy foods and promote healthy habits for life by encouraging providers to teach young children about food choices.

Children who eat healthy foods are more attentive and are better learners. Eating well early in life has a profound effect on a child’s growth and can even reduce obesity risks. Parents seeking child care in Florida are encouraged to enroll their children with providers who participate 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 child care providers participate?

Lists of participating providers, organized by facility type, can be found at www.floridahealth.gov/ccfp/.

The program is offered at four types of child care-related settings:

• Child Care Centers: In a non-pricing child care center, meals are available at no separate charge to eligible children. In a pricing child care center, which has a separate identifiable charge for meals, children from households whose income falls within the reduced-price income eligibility guidelines are eligible for reduced-price meals. These meals are priced at 40 cents for lunch/supper, 30 cents for breakfast and 15 cents for snacks. Children from households whose income falls within the free income eligibility guidelines are eligible for meals at no charge. Refer to the current Income Eligibility Guidelines listed below.
• Family Day Care Homes: Meals are available at no separate charge to eligible children.
• Afterschool Programs: The Afterschool Meals Program is a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program. Snacks and/or meals are available at no separate charge to eligible children.
• Homeless Shelters and Certain Emergency Shelters: The Homeless Children Nutrition Program is a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program. Meals are available at no separate charge to 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.

Head Start participants and children from households receiving Food Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits are automatically eligible to receive free meals benefits at participating facilities.

Below are the current Income Eligibility Guidelines used in determining a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

Free Meal Scale

Reduced-Price Meal Scale