CACFP Waivers

This page lists the Child Nutrition Program (CNP) waivers that have been applied to and made available to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Waivers are issued by the USDA to allow program operators and/or state agencies to have certain flexibilities that are not part of the regular CACFP operation. These waivers may be issued during natural, man-made, or public health emergencies, or when other needs are identified that will need to be temporarily remedied. Waivers may also be used as part of a USDA pilot program that might lead to future changes in regulation.

Existing Waivers

School Year 2025-26 Ramadan Waiver

The CDSS has received approval from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to provide flexibility for program operators with participants observing Ramadan. This waiver may be requested by CACFP operators of emergency shelters, adult day care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, and at-risk afterschool care centers. This waiver is intended to support eligible program operators in continuing to offer nutritious meals to participants who are in attendance and fasting in observance of Ramadan. This request will waive the following requirements:

• Non-Congregate Meal Service [NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(1)(A) and 7 CFR 226.19(b)(6)(iii),]
• Meal Service Times [7 CFR 226.20(k)]

This waiver would be effective February 17, 2026, through March 19, 2026. For more information, please see Non-Congregate Meal Service During Ramadan Waiver For Federal Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

2025-26 Onsite Monitoring Waiver

The CDSS has received approval from the USDA FNS to waive aspects, as specified below, of the CACFP onsite monitoring review requirement for Day Care Home Sponsoring Organizations (DCH SOs). Specifically, CDSS is requesting to waive parts of Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Section 226.16(d)(4)(iii), allowing CDSS to approve the following flexibilities for DCH SOs in good standing:

• Conduct one of the three required monitoring reviews for each DCH provider offsite (virtually).

The USDA FNS may only approve waivers to program regulations for the period of one federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30). Each year hereafter, CDSS will assess the need to request a waiver of the onsite monitoring review requirements. Such an assessment includes, but is not limited to, stakeholder feedback, waiver impact and use in previous years, potential impact to program integrity, and provider and State agency business needs.

For more information, please see Onsite Monitoring Requirements Waiver For Federal Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Congregate Meal Service Waiver for Unanticipated Facility Closures

The CDSS has received approval from the USDA FNS to waive aspects related to congregate meal service requirements. The USDA FNS intends this waiver to allow local program operators to promptly respond to situations when congregate meal service is limited or negatively impacted by unanticipated facility closures caused by natural disasters, and other unanticipated causes. This request will waive the following requirements:

• Non-Congregate Meal Service [NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(1)(A) and 7 CFR 226.19(b)(6)(iii)]
• Meal Service Times [7 CFR 226.17a(m)]
• Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup [NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(1)(A) and 7 CFR 226.2 (Meals)]
• Enrichment Activity [NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1766(r)(2)(B), 1766a(a)(2)(C), and 7 CFR 226.17a(b)(1)(ii) and (iii)]

This waiver will be effective until June 30, 2026. For more information, please see Congregate Meal Service Waiver Requirements For Program Year 2025-2026.

Pending Waiver Applications

For information about the waiver requests made from the California Department of Social Services to the USDA and for the waiver request protocol, please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Waiver Requests page.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.