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

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps child care centers provide children with nutritious meals and snacks that aid their growth and development. Participating in this federal initiative allows these centers to foster healthy eating habits while receiving financial support to offset meal costs and make care more affordable for families.

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In New Jersey, the Department of Agriculture, Division of Food and Nutrition oversees the program, including its application and monitoring. To make applying for CACFP easier for you, we’ve simplified the entire process here, including all the information you need. Get started on your CACFP application and make healthy meals accessible to kids in your care right here.

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Eligibility requirements

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To join CACFP in New Jersey, your center must meet specific criteria:

• Licensed or approved
• Be a public or non-profit organization
• Must be non-residential
• Must submit income eligibility forms

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Non-profit centers must provide proof of non-profit status, while for-profit centers must have at least 25% of enrollees eligible for free or reduced-price meals or receive tuition subsidies.

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Centers can either partner independently with the State or sign up with a state-approved sponsor.

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How to apply for CACFP in New Jersey for child care centers

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1. Create accounts for required websites

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To begin, you’ll need accounts for different websites. Sign up for the following:

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• Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS): Get a unique, nine-digit series to identify your business if you don’t already have one
• System for Award Management (SAM) -  A SAM registration number allows you to do business with the federal government, including bidding on government contracts.
• New Jersey State of the Art Requisition Technology (NJSTART) - For streamlining the procurement process
• Official Site of the State of New Jersey Portal (MyNewJersey) - Creating an MNJ account gives you an authorization code allowing you to access the CACFP system, where you’ll fill out a CACFP application.

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If you need assistance, you can contact Kristen Lento at Kristen.Lento@ag.nj.gov.

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2. Attend the orientation and state-issued training sessions

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The NJDA will hold an orientation to explain CACFP policies and procedures in detail. Here, you’ll determine your center’s viability for the program and learn all responsibilities for compliance.

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Key personnel will be required to do online training sessions on the NJ CACFP Training website. Complete all lessons and assessments with at least an 80% score to get a certificate of completion. You’ll submit this in the application package.

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3. Complete the application package

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After the orientation and creating all the necessary accounts, you can access the application package and fill it out. Provide all information and submit all needed documents in the following sections:

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• Institution Information - Enter institution details and food service contract information
• Responsible Principals and Users - List all key personnel and their personal information
• Facility Program Information - Fill in the section for child care centers and input eligibility, license, meals served, and other program participation information; for-profit centers must input data on enrollment and no. of enrollees eligible for meal subsidies
• Management Plan - Provide info and documentation on staff training, eligibility records, etc., and answer the program integrity questionnaire.
• Budget and Audit Requirements - Include the no. of serving days and the average number of meals served to get the estimated reimbursement.
• Eligibility and Enrollment Information - Shows if you are eligible or not based on the facility program information
• Monitoring Information - Certify that you’re an independent institution and are not required to conduct monitoring (in contrast to sponsoring organizations)
• Permanent Agreement - Confirm all information is correct and sign your e-signature

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For detailed step-by-step instructions, you can refer to the CACFP Cares 2.0 handbook.

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4. Submit the application

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Review all details across sections. Once you’re sure all information is complete and accurate, submit your application to the State.

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5. Wait for approval

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You can check your application status on the portal’s application page. Once approved, you can begin your CACFP program following meal pattern requirements for infants and children.

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Recordkeeping and documentation

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Participating centers must keep proper documents and accurate records for monthly reimbursements, audits, and annual renewals. Organize the following to comply with CACFP regulations:

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• Meal Counts and Attendance: Record daily meal counts and attendance to validate claims
• Income Eligibility Forms: Each eligible child must have an accomplished form to be updated annually
• Menus and Meal Production Records: Provide daily menus based on CACFP meal pattern requirements and USDA nutrition guidelines
• Financial Records: Keep all CACFP-related receipts and invoices for auditing purposes

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Reimbursement process

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Child care centers are eligible for reimbursement for up to three meals (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) or snacks per participant daily, as long as they meet USDA nutrition standards. Monthly reimbursements are based on the latest reimbursement rates, income eligibility categories, and documented meal counts.

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Annual renewal and training

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Centers can renew their CACFP participation annually on the MNJ portal. They’ll have to get the Annual Certification for Returning/Approved Centers, update all records and documents, and complete annual training sessions. Key personnel can attend refresher courses on budgeting, reporting, monitoring, food safety and preparation, etc.

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Ready to apply?

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Applying for CACFP makes providing high-quality meals more manageable and affordable. Start your application today and take the step to improving children’s growth with healthy meals. Contact the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Food and Nutrition office at (609) 984-1250 to speak with the Child Nutrition Specialist in your county.

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Serve CACFP-approved meals with ease through Ordo

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Ensuring every meal meets strict CACFP requirements on top of providing child care and completing administrative work is a challenging feat. Here’s where we come in as your trusted school meal vendor. Ordo makes compliance simple by providing meals that meet USDA standards, ensuring your program aligns with CACFP requirements for no additional cost.

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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. 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.