In [State Name], the Child and Adult Care Food Program is a key source of support for child care in family child care homes and child care centers including Head Start programs. Nonprofit sponsoring organizations recruit, train, monitor and support family child care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Operated under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by the State of [State Name], the program plays a vital role in creating and maintaining quality, affordable child care for preschool and school-age children in our state.

Across [State Name] the food program provides high quality nutrition and learning experiences for a total of ______ children in family child care homes and child care centers. A family child care home is a child care program that takes place in a provider's home. There are __ food program sponsoring organizations, working with _____ family child care home providers to serve _______ children using the food program. In addition, there are ___ child care centers using the food program to serve _______ children.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides reimbursement for food and meal preparation costs, ongoing training in the nutritional needs of children and food safety, and onsite assistance in meeting the program's strong nutritional requirements. Research has shown the importance of good nutrition and quality child care to the development of cognitive abilities.

The success of the food program is well-documented. The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a key building block because of its importance in maintaining and creating quality affordable child care, which:

The food program's proven track record makes it an important resource for helping to ensure a healthy and productive future for [State Name] children.