Applying for CACFP in Maine: What child care centers need to know

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps child care centers provide nutritious meals and snacks to the children they care for. Started by the USDA and administered by the Department of Education in Maine, this program supports a wide range of organizations, serving over 4.2 million children across the country.

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By joining CACFP, providers serve healthier meals and be reimbursed for them while gaining the tools to create a positive, nurturing care environment. In this blog, we cover everything child care centers need to know to apply for CACFP, from eligibility requirements to the claims reimbursement process.

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Eligibility Requirements

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CACFP is available in Maine through the state agency or local sponsoring organizations, depending on the type of provider. Eligible care settings include:

• Nonprofit Child Care Centers
• For-profit centers (if at least 25% of children are from low-income households)
• Head Start and Early Head Start programs
• At-Risk Afterschool Care Centers
• Outside School Hours Care Centers
• Adult Day Care Centers
• Emergency Shelters

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Licensed and some legal unlicensed family child care providers can access CACFP through local sponsoring organizations.

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How to apply for CACFP in Maine

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1. Request access to CACFP Basic Training

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To apply for CACFP in Maine, all center-based programs must first complete the required CACFP basic training available through the EnGiNE platform. To access it, you can:

• Email child.nutrition@maine.gov with your name, program name, email address, and an access request.
• Email paula.nadeau@maine.gov expressing interest in the CACFP application to provide your name and email address

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Afterwards, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions on creating your EnGiNE account.

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2.  Complete CACFP Basic Training

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Once logged in, you must complete all required training modules:

• Introduction to CACFP
• Meal Service Records
• Financial Management
• Training Requirements
• Civil Rights Requirements
• Claiming
• CACFP Resources

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Additional modules for child care centers include Enrollment Records, Infant Meal Patterns, and Child Meal Patterns. Each training module ends with a “knowledge check,” which you must pass with an 80% score. Passing gives you a certificate of completion, which you’ll need to provide in your application. You can retake these as many times as needed.

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Important: These training modules must be completed within 6 months of your CACFP application. The application window is July 1 - April 30.

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3. Complete the State of Maine Vendor Form

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Once you’ve completed your training, you’re ready to move forward with your application. The next step is to fill out the State of Maine Vendor Form to get set up in the Vendor Self-Service System (VSS). Here’s where you’ll be submitting monthly claims for reimbursement. You can submit your vendor form here.

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Recordkeeping and documentation

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To maintain compliance with CACFP and ensure accurate reimbursement, providers are required to track meal service and other program data. Some of these include:

• Income Eligibility Forms
• Meal Count Worksheet
• Portion Menu Guidelines
• Menu Pattern Forms
• Enrollment Forms

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You can access all other CACFP forms and documentation templates through the Maine CACFP Forms page.

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Reimbursement process

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Centers can receive reimbursements for up to two meals and one snack per child per day, with rates varying based on the family’s income eligibility: free, reduced-price, or paid. To be reimbursed, centers should submit claims as soon as possible after the last day of the month.

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You can find current reimbursement rates updated annually here.

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Ready to apply?

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Participating in the CACFP makes it easier for child care centers to serve nutritious meals and meet kids’ daily needs. Ready to get started? Follow the steps above or email the Maine DOE at child.nutrition@maine.gov to begin your application today.

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Serve CACFP-approved meals with ease through Ordo

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Complying with CACFP requirements can be more manageable with Ordo. As parents’ and schools’ trusted food service provider, we support child care centers in Maine by providing compliant, nutritious meals that meet USDA standards. With our customizable ordering app, streamlined recordkeeping support, and ready-to-serve meals, we help you stay focused on what matters most—nurturing the children in your care.

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Ordo has become America's fastest-growing school food program, providing fresh meals made from scratch every day in our kitchens. Our chefs focus on cooking homestyle food that’s both nutritious and what students love. Healthy meals result in better student outcomes, and administrators who invest in their nutrition programs invest in their schools.

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Students and parents can place their orders through their ordering app and choose from seasonal menus with 4 to 6 options daily, like Tex Mex Crunch Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing or Chicken Bacon Wrap with Pretzels, Carrots & Ranch.

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Our online platform automates compliance paperwork for reimbursable meals, tracks essential metrics like daily participation rate, and handles all payment and order processing. Ordo offers both vended meal service, where we deliver the food every day, and onsite food service management, where our chefs prepare food on campus.

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We have served all types of schools, from preschools and daycare centers to private and public schools. We’ve worked with some of the top brands in early education and child care, including Guidepost Montessori, Bright Horizons, Primrose, and more.

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If you’re interested in providing fresh, healthy food for your school, you can reach out to the school partnerships team here.