Over the past year, child care centers, family child care homes, and care facilities that serve daily nutritious meals across our nation wrote to the CACFP Roundtable to share their stories of challenge and resilience.
"When COVID19 started, we thought this was a nightmare.
We soon realized it was reality."
We heard from many child care providers who, in the blink of an eye, lost their entire income, and found themselves unable to pay for food, utilities, and rent. Through it all, these care facilities fought to stay open and ensure healthy CACFP meals made their way to the children and families they serve.
"We didn’t think it was going to affect everyone the way it did. We were struggling to get food... we were limited even to get only one gallon of milk."
"I believe that many [CACFP] sponsors are in the same position as our office
with real concern as to whether we will be able to continue to provide our vital service. The collapse of even part of CACFP would be tragic for families and children in need."
Despite incredible losses and financial shortfalls, these community-based and caregiving organizations have been offered very little relief -- relief that is desperately needed to meet the immediate needs of the families and support long-term viability.
Yesterday, USDA announced free school meals through summer, a measure meant to aid at feeding the country’s 12 million food insecure children. We applaud the USDA for taking this administrative action to support school-aged children and families and the stability of our school-based nutrition programs. Still, advocates rightfully argue that schools will need even more financial support to recover from the fallout of the pandemic and are encouraging lawmakers to provide free school meals for all K-12 students in the 2021–2022 school year and beyond to reach more children with the nutrition they need which also will help support school nutrition finances. To this, the CACFP Roundtable says YES AND child care too!
The pandemic has done great harm to the early childhood care system - which was fragile before COVID. Before it is too late, community organizations that operate the CACFP need help. We encourage lawmakers, as they consider ways to support the food security of our K-12 children, to provide similar attention to our youngest learners and the program that supports their nutritional needs - the CACFP.
The CACFP provides healthy meals and snacks that support good nutrition, helps children fully develop, and prepares them to be ready to learn at school. CACFP also provides high-quality, affordable child care that supports parents’ ability to work. Unfortunately, CACFP meals and snacks are out of reach for millions of young children in child care.
Several opportunities to address the aftermath of the pandemic and support ongoing access to CACFP are within reach, particularly through the upcoming Congressional Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill:
Expand access to CACFP by allowing the option of an additional meal service (typically a snack or supper);
Allow annual eligibility for proprietary centers;
Increase CACFP reimbursements;
Improve the area eligibility test (establishing a 40 percent standard);
Reduce paperwork;
Maximize technology to improve program access (including increasing the use of CACFP direct certification and creating community eligibility options);
Enhance program reimbursements for CACFP sponsors;
Continue funding for USDA’s CACFP nutrition education and program efficacy; and
Extend the COVID-19 expansion allowing young adults up to 24 years old to be eligible to receive up to three healthy meals at homeless and youth serving shelters.
Feeding our youngest children is essential. Child care workers are essential. Our care giving system is essential. This has never been more clear than it is in the wake of the pandemic. Let's make sure our investments and laws reflect our values as a nation and that no child goes hungry and we support the child care field that is being held up primarily by small businesses, women, and people of color.
"We work very hard to serve, we do so in love and concern for our children,
all we ask is to be noticed and helped."
Questions? Contact Elyse at elyse@ccfproundtable.org