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Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
2025 - 08
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Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811 |
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Subscription Management
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This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
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USDA Policy, Information, and Implementation Memos |
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Sponsoring organizations and institutions are required by regulation to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply immediately the appropriate instruction to agency programs. The latest policy memos are found on the USDA FNS policy page. Call Child Nutrition Programs if you need further clarification.
CACFP 09-2025: Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods
The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program (CNP), including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in program meals. Sourcing and serving locally grown foods, and other farm to school activities, such as taste testing, gardening, and agriculture education, can infuse new energy and vision into CNP operations, support community health, create new opportunities for American farmers, invest federal dollars in local economies, and strengthen strategies to encourage healthy choices.
CACFP 10-2025: Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs
This memorandum provides notice to child nutrition program operators regarding the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (PL 119-4) (the 2025 Appropriations Act), March 15, 2025. It extends the 2024 provision that Program funds may not be used to procure raw or processed poultry or seafood products from the People’s Republic of China. This prohibition applies to all child nutrition programs and remains effective through
September 30, 2025.
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Additional Topics
 Survey: State Agency Annual CACFP Training
Travel restrictions on non-essential state travel prevent the Alaska DEED Child Nutrition Programs team from hosting our annual State Agency training in Anchorage this year.
We are currently looking into other alternatives so that we can deliver a training experience that supports and strengthens your CACFP operations and administration. Please take our quick survey here: CACFP Training location survey
Please respond to this survey by May 28, Wednesday.
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Survey: Food Program Management Software
The CNP team is also interested in learning about your use of food program management software. Please complete our survey here*: CACFP Food Program Management Software Survey to tell us what kind of food program management software (eg counting and claiming software) you use, if you use any.
Please respond to this survey by May 30, Friday.
*All surveys are voluntary survey: Completion of these surveys is noncompulsory and there are no direct benefits or ramifications as a result of completion or noncompletion. Your participation is greatly appreciated and helps DEED to represent child nutrition programs on your behalf.
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DEED eLearning Modules
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You may find some eLearning modules have been taken down, including Civil Rights. We are working on updating these modules. If you need a current Civil Rights training, please reach out to DEED staff for options. |
Q&As
Can a soy yogurt alternative only be credited as a M/MA, or can it be served in place of fluid milk at one meal per day for adults, like dairy yogurt?
Yes, just like dairy yogurt, soy yogurt may be served in place of fluid milk at one meal per day for adult participants. According to 7 CFR 226.20(a)(1)(iv), once per day, 6 ounces by weight or ¾ cup of yogurt by volume (dairy or soy based) may be served in place of an 8 fluid ounce serving of milk for adult participants only. Yogurt must not be served as a meat alternate in the same meal. Yogurt served in place of fluid milk must comply with sugar limits in effect. Until October 1, 2025, the sugar limit is 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces. Beginning October 1, 2025, CACFP operators must offer yogurt that contains no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces. Please note that CACFP operators may choose to implement the added sugars limits for yogurt early with State agency approval.
Webinars & Conferences
New CORE Online Trainings
USDA FNS would like to announce the launch of two new CORE online courses for CACFP sponsoring organizations. CACFP Operational Resources and Education, or CORE, is a USDA-funded training initiative developed in collaboration with MH Miles Company to provide practical CACFP sponsor-focused trainings and resources for State agencies. The two new courses are Corrective Action and Trainer Success. The CORE CACFP Corrective Action course explains the purpose of corrective action and provides sponsoring organizations with practical tools to assist in determining the root cause of noncompliance, developing an effective corrective action plan, and evaluating corrective action plans submitted by their facilities. The CORE CACFP Trainer Success course is an effective resource for sponsoring organizations to learn the trainer competencies necessary for delivering effective CACFP training to key staff within their organizations and to facility key staff.
Organizations can learn more about CORE and available resources by visiting https://www.core-cacfp.com/. To register for CORE online courses directly, complete the following steps:
- Visit https://core-cacfponline.com/.
- Select the blue Sign Up button.
- Complete the registration to establish a new account.
- Sign in to access the online courses.
National CACFP Association: CACFP Meal Pattern Boot Camp
June 12, Thursday | 7:00 am - 1:00 pm AKT
This boot camp from the National CACFP Association (NCA) explores each meal component. Learn from the experts, bring your questions, and discover creative ways to incorporate these components into your menus. Whether you’re just getting started or need a refresher, this event will give you the knowledge you need to serve up great nutrition with confidence.
This webinar is delivered via Zoom. Standard registration fee for NCA members is $149 and $199 for non-members. Your registration includes access to recordings, available to view through June 26, 2025.
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Resources
Mealtime Memo: Culinary Basics (Legumes)
Learn more about legumes and the positive impact that they can have on children's health through the May issue of Mealtime Memo, a monthly newsletter from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN). Mealtime Memo is focused on nutrition and wellness in child care settings and provides research-based best practices for planning, preparing, and/or serving nutritious, safe, and child-friendly meals in child care settings operating the CACFP.
You can subscribe on the ICN page to receive the monthly Mealtime Memo newsletter and other updates.
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Guide to Plant-Based Proteins
Meat, dairy, eggs, or other animal products are not the only ways to reach your daily protein goals. Beans, lentils, tofu, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and meat alternatives all contain protein, and these ingredients can often be used in place of chicken, beef, pork, or fish in recipes.Learn more about these resources here or through the Meatless Monday Resource Center.
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Team Nutrition Resources
 
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Contact Us
Child and Adult Care Food Program
School Meals
Summer Meals
Food Distribution Program
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
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Farm to School
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Child Nutrition Grants
Child Nutrition Financial Management
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USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
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mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
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fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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