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Skip Navigation Links / Nutrition / CACFP Participant Information / Handbooks / Instructions / Guidances
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Useful Links

CACFP Handbooks / Instructions / Guidances

The following documents are manuals or instructions to assist institutions in administering and operating the CACFP.

Documents List
  • At-A-Glance: Updated Meal Pattern - Child and Adult Meals (USDA)
  • At-A-Glance: Updated Meal Pattern - Infant Meals (USDA)
  • 2017 Eligibility Manual for School Meals
  • 2016 Eligibility Manual for School Meals
  • 2015 Eligibility Manual for School Meals
  • Adult Day Care Handbook
  • After School Snacks Cycle Menus (Links Document)
  • At-Risk Afterschool Meals Handbook
  • Budget Guidance Manual
  • Budget Guidance-Allocation Tool Worksheet
  • Building Blocks-Menu Planning Link (Links Doc.)
  • CACFP At-Risk Fact Sheet (Spanish)
  • CACFP At-Risk Fact Sheet (English)
  • CACFP/SFSP Vendors List
  • Child Care Recipes Link (Links Document)
  • CACFP Updated Meal Patterns Worksheets (English and Spanish)
  • CACFP Updated Meal Patterns Reference Card
  • Child Nutrition Program's Meal Pattern Requirements Comparison Chart
  • CN Label Manufacturers Report Report
  • CN Label Verification Report
  • Contracting with Food Service Management Companies (FSMC): Guidance for School Food Authorities, May 2016
  • Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Programs
  • Equipment Notice
  • Feeding Infants Guide in CACFP (Spanish)
  • Feeding Infants Guide in CACFP
  • FNS Instruction 113-1 Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement
  • FNS Instruction 783-13- Variations in Meal Requirements for Religious Reasons: Jewish Schools, Institutions, and Sponsors
  • FNS Instruction 796-2-Financial Management CACFP
  • How to Participate in At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of CACFP – Fact Sheet
  • Independent Child Care Centers CACFP Handbook
  • Instructions for Filing a Claim
  • Instruction Guide for Verifying Payment of Annual Registration/Licensing Fees
  • Keeping Kids Safe: Child Care Providers-Links Doc.
  • Limited English Proficiency (LEP) - Know Your Rights Beneficiary Brochure
  • Making Nutrition Count-Child Care Homes-Links Doc.
  • Menu Magic-Planning Guidance CC Homes-Link
  • Milk Flexibilities during Supply Disruptions in the CACFP
  • National Disqualified List (NDL) User Manual for Sponsoring Organizations
  • Navigating the Health Department: A General Guideline for A Smooth Interaction and Permitting Process
  • Prior Approval Items-CACFP Budget
  • Procurement Manual
  • Regulation Changes Due to the Program Integrity Rule Chart
  • Searching for Nearby Farmers Markets
  • Serious Deficiency, Suspension and Appeals Handbook
  • Using the Chart of Accounts for Effective Grant Reporting Tutorial
  • Web-Based Interactive Food Buying Guide Flyer
Best Practices
  • At-A-Glance: Updated Meal Pattern_Best Practices (USDA)
  • At-A-Glance: Using the Updated Meal Patterns to Lower Costs (USDA)
Program Operations/Forms
  • Milk Calculation Chart - Eff 10/1/2017
Program Training/Information
  • SD Webinar Presentation: An Overview of the Serious Deficiency Process in the CACFP – Exclusively for Sponsors – FY 23
  • Basic Accounting Principals-How to Develop a Chart of Accounts (Web Tutorial)
  • Informational Webinar on Proposed Rule Revisions and the Impact to CACFP Participation PowerPoint Presentation
  • FAQs Informational Webinar from Child Care Rule Revision

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