Shusterman, Hill-Evans to introduce Child and Adult Care Food Program Supplement to help feed care facility participants

Rep. Melissa Shusterman, Rep. Carol Hill-Evans    October 25, 2021 | 3:10 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 25 – State Reps. Melissa L. Shusterman, D-Chester/Montgomery, and Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, have announced they will introduce a bill to provide additional food funds for care facilities enrolled in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federal program that compensates care facilities for meals served to participants.

“Care facilities across the state deal with incredibly high operating costs,” Shusterman said. “Unfortunately, the federal program meant to help them feed our neediest citizens does not go nearly far enough to alleviate the extraordinary costs they face. It’s time for Pennsylvania to supplement this vital program.”

Hill-Evans agreed.

“Pennsylvania’s economy is stronger when our most vulnerable residents have access to essential resources,” Hill-Evans said. “By ensuring our care facilities have adequate funding, we would enable more Pennsylvanians to enter the workforce.”

According to the PA Department of Education’s website, participating facilities are eligible to be reimbursed for up to two meals and one snack per participant, per day. The new bill introduced by Shusterman and Hill-Evans would expand that. Currently, participating facilities also receive federally donated commodities, nutrition education materials and annual training workshops.

The following care facilities are eligible to participate in the CACFP:

  • Licensed, nonprofit, non-residential child or adult care centers.
  • Licensed, for-profit, non-residential child or adult care center that receive Title XIX or XX funding for at least 25% of either enrolled participants or the licensed capacity of the center.
  • Licensed, for-profit, non-residential childcare centers where 25% of the enrolled children or the licensed capacity are income-eligible for free or reduced meals.
  • Licensed, registered and approved family or group day care homes operated in a residence.
  • Emergency shelters.

Children and adults who meet one of these requirements may participate in the CACFP:

  • Children 12 or younger.
  • Migrant children 15 or younger.
  • Children 4-18 years of age for the At-Risk Afterschool Program
  • Children 18 or younger in Emergency Shelters
  • Special needs children 12 or older in care facilities primarily serving children under 18.
  • Functionally impaired adults.
  • Adults older than 60.