CACFP Administrative Manual Section 3.2
Section 3: Centers Reimbursement Determination
Section 3.2 At-risk Afterschool Center and Emergency Shelter Reimbursement Determinations
At-risk Afterschool Centers (ARA)
An ARA center must be area-eligible in order to participate in the CACFP. An area-eligible center is one that is located in the attendance area of a public school in which at least 50 percent of the enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. As a result, all children who attend an ARA center are considered to be in the free eligibility category. All snacks or meals claimed will be reimbursed at the free rate. Meal Benefit Forms (MBF) are not required. Please refer to Section 1.5 for information about ARA centers eligibility.
Emergency Shelters
Children 18 years old or younger that reside in an emergency shelter are eligible for free meals. The shelter may also claim reimbursement for the meals served to residents of any age with mental or physical handicaps, provided that the shelter serves a majority of residents 18 years of age or younger. MBFs are not required, and meals are reimbursed at the free rate. If the shelter serves adults with disabilities, the shelter must document the adult participant’s disability. This may be self-reported by the participant in writing (i.e., through a shelter intake form) or by other means. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as one of the following:
- A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual;
- A record of such impairment; or
- Being regarded as having such an impairment.
When claiming meals served to disabled adults, the shelter must maintain an Emergency Shelter Eligibility Roster (ESER) form. The ESER form is used to document adults with disabilities and verify that the total number of adults with disabilities does not exceed the total number of residents that are 18 years of age or younger.
All emergency shelters must maintain an Emergency Shelter Roster and Meal Count form. This form is used to record resident name, age, and shelter enter/exit dates as well as meal counts.
Both forms are located in the Download Forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). Please refer to Section 1.5 for more information about emergency shelters.
Participants that Decline the Child and Adult Care Food Program
If a parent or guardian does not wish their child to participate in the CACFP, it is a best practice for the agency to obtain a form signed by the parent or guardian declining participation. The Parent/Guardian's Form for Declining Participation in the CACFP can be found in the Download Forms section of the CNIPS.
References: 7 CFR, section 226.2, 226.17a(1)(i) through 226.17a(1)(v), 226.17a(b), 226.9, 226.11(c)(3), Participation of Emergency Shelters in the child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – Questions and Answers.
Questions: A list of program specialists that can assist is found on the CACFP Contact List.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.