The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) Child Nutrition Services section encourages eligible nonresidential licensed child-care centers, family day-care homes, homeless shelters, at-risk centers and some adult day care centers in Washington to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

The CACFP reimburses some costs associated with serving meals to children and qualified adults. In Washington State, the CACFP has been administered by OSPI’s Child Nutrition Services since 1989.

The following care centers and institutions may participate in the CACFP:

1. Nonresidential licensed public or private nonprofit child-care centers or family day-care homes.

2. For-profit child-care institutions in which at least 25 percent of children served are low income based on the center’s licensed capacity or enrolled capacity, whichever is less.

3. Child-care centers that serve at-risk children.

4. Nonprofit homeless shelters that provide temporary residential facilities to children.

5. Qualifying public or nonprofit adult centers, or for-profit adult centers that receive compensation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of their enrolled adults.

The federal food program reimburses meals at established rates based on the family income of the children and adults served. Meals served to eligible homeless and at-risk children are reimbursed at the free rate. The federal funds help institutions offset some of the costs of providing well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled participants.

Meals will be made available to enrolled participants at no separate charge.

The following monthly income eligibility guidelines determine reimbursement rates:

Institutions may apply for the program by contacting Adele Roberts, Child Nutrition Services, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, Washington 98504-7200.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202-690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 or 800-845-6136 (in Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.