Eligibility Requirements
Any child development home providing care for children in Iowa may participate in the Iowa Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) if the child development home:
- is registered by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and
- has an Iowa CACFP Home Sponsor.
The CACFP Home Sponsor disburses CACFP reimbursement received from the State Agency to participating child development homes for serving meals meeting CACFP requirements.
Reimbursement
Meals – What Meals Can be Reimbursed?
Child Development Homes are reimbursed for planning and serving meals that follow CACFP requirements for children 1-12 years and infants. Homes may request approval to claim breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks (morning, afternoon, and evening). Reimbursement is paid for no more than two meals and one snack, two snacks and one meal, or three snacks per child per day.
Reimbursement is based on the Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 rates. Contact the Home Sponsor to discuss Tier eligibility and meal reimbursement.
Application Procedures
Child Development Homes and Child Care Home with Child Care Assistance Agreement
Contact the Child and Adult Care Food Program Home Sponsor in your county, (click on the list below.) Call the Home Sponsor and ask for the CACFP representative to schedule a visit in your home to explain the CACFP requirements.
Home Sponsor Resources
USDA FNS Instruction 796-2, Revision 4 – USDA's instruction describing CACFP allowable/non-allowable financial costs for CACFP Home Sponsor Administrative annual budget and monthly financial claims.
What is IQ4K?
Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) is Iowa’s voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) licensed Child Care Centers and preschools, registered Child Development Homes and programs operating under an accredited school district or nonpublic school. IQ4K® uses evidence-based practices with proven outcomes for children. Programs assess and enhance their quality through Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). IQ4K® has five levels of quality improvement. Quality ratings are available for the public to see and use as a resource when choosing child care. Participation in IQ4K® not only improves quality, but also gives programs the opportunity to earn bonuses for future growth opportunities.