Joining CACFP in Connecticut: What child care centers need to know

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps child care centers across Connecticut cover the cost of serving nutritious meals and snacks. If you run a center, CACFP can make a real difference. Your program could be reimbursed for up to two meals and a snack—or one meal and two snacks—per child, every day.

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In Connecticut, the program is managed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). They handle the application approvals, training, reimbursement processes, and renewals. Here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know, from checking if you’re eligible to maintaining required records.

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Eligibility requirements

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To join the CACFP in Connecticut, child care centers need to meet a few key criteria. These requirements vary depending on your center’s profit status.

• Non-profit child care centers: Must hold a valid child care license in Connecticut.
• For-profit child care centers: At least 25% of the children enrolled—or 25% of the center's licensed capacity, whichever is less—must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

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In general, you’ll need to be in good standing with your state license to participate in the program.

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How to apply for CACFP in Connecticut for child care centers

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1. Contact the CSDE’s program staff for guidance

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To officially start your CACFP application, reach out to the CACFP staff at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). They’ll walk you through the requirements, help you gather the required documents, and guide you through each step of the application process.

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You’ll also need to gain access to the CNP system—Connecticut’s online platform for managing all USDA Child Nutrition Programs, including CACFP. This is where you’ll submit your application, file claims, and upload any required forms.

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2. Undergo the required training

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All CACFP participants must complete initial and ongoing training on topics like USDA meal patterns, civil rights, food safety, and more. These trainings help your child care center stay compliant and ensure your staff understands the nutritional USDA guidelines and civil rights responsibilities that come with the program.

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Connecticut offers a range of training resources through CSDE and national agencies like the USDA and the Institute of Child Nutrition. Some of the topics include:

• Meeting the CACFP meal pattern for children (CSDE)
• Civil Rights: Your responsibilities in school nutrition program (CSDE)
• Guidance for food allergies (CSDE)
• CACFP cooking videos (USDA)
• Infant meal pattern requirements training (ICN)

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Recordkeeping and documentation

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Your child care center must keep accurate and complete records to receive monthly reimbursement. This documentation is also required during state audits and monitoring visits to make sure everything’s in order.

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Key documents you should maintain:

• Income eligibility forms (IEFs): This is collected annually for each child receiving free/reduced-price meals.
• Meal count records: Daily counts of meals served by type and eligibility category.
• Menus: Detailed records of all food items served. This includes portion sizes and methods of preparation.
• Receipts and invoices: For all CACFP-related food and non-food purchases
• Enrollment records: This should reflect attendance and hours of care for each child.

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Good recordkeeping is one way to ensure timely and accurate claims for reimbursement and protects your center from potential penalties if you’re ever audited or reviewed.

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Reimbursement process

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Once your child care center is approved, you can begin serving CACFP-approved meals and submitting your monthly claims for reimbursement.

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You must submit your claim online each month through the CNP system. Claims should be submitted no later than 60 calendar days after the last day of the month you’re claiming for. You can check the claim submission schedule here.

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Reimbursement rates are set annually by the USDA and vary depending on the types of meals served and the income level of the children. Additionally, all meals served must follow CACFP meal pattern requirements to qualify for reimbursement.

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Ready to apply?

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Want to bring healthier meals to your child care center in Connecticut? Applying for CACFP is a great way to do it! Don’t wait—you can take the first step today. To learn more about the program and how the process works, reach out to the Connecticut State Department of Education’s staff.

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For guidance on the application process, CSDE’s CACFP team is here to help. Contact them here.

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Get CACFP-ready meals with Ordo

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Ordo makes it easy to serve CACFP-approved meals without stretching your staff thin. From planning to preparation, we’ve got it covered—at no extra cost or added workload. It’s one less thing on your to-do list and one more way to help you keep serving healthy meals to the kids 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.