Child and Adult Care Food Program C.A.R.E.: Week of August 3, 2026

• Update: Washington Wildfires
• Action Item: Fiscal Year 2027 CACFP Renewal is Open
• Action Item: Complete Annual Training Prior to FY 27 Renewal
• Update: Sponsor of Unaffiliated Facilities Oversight Training
• Update: SY 2026–27 CACFP Reimbursement Rates
• Update: Cash-in-Lieu (CIL) Rate for 2026–27
• Update: Do You Have New Staff with CACFP Administrative Duties?
• Reminder: CACFP Field Trip Requirements
• Important Dates to Remember

Update: Washington Wildfires

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) would like to acknowledge the impact of the recent wildfires on individuals, communities, and child nutrition programs throughout Washington. OSPI is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with affected sponsors to support them as they troubleshoot operational challenges and explore available waivers where appropriate.

Action Item: Fiscal Year 2027 CACFP Renewal is Open

The Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) is open for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) renewal. Renewal applications are due Tuesday, September 1. 

For details on renewal, review the June 1 CARE.

Use these resources to assist you with FY 27 annual renewal:

• Child and Adult Care Food Program FY 27 Renewal Bulletin
• CACFP Checklist-Preparing to Complete Annual Renewal Application
• WINS Renewal Instructions-CACFP
• FY 27 Application and Renewal Reference Sheet

Questions? Contact your CACFP Specialist

Upcoming Trainings

Sponsors of Unaffiliated Facilities Oversight Training

Date: September 16
Time: 9 am – 4pm

Upcoming Trainings Outside of OSPI

Institute of Child Nutrition CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements 

Four-hour, self-paced online course focuses on CACFP meal pattern requirements. Please note, this training does not fulfil OSPI's annual CACFP training requirement.

Action Item: Complete Annual Training Prior to FY 27 Renewal

CACFP sponsors must certify completion of all training requirements when submitting the sponsor application in WINS during program renewal. Fiscal Year 2026–27 (FY 27) renewal applications will not be approved until the appropriate person has attended all required training.

Review the June 1 CARE for more information.

Update: Sponsor of Unaffiliated Facilities Oversight Training

Non-profit organizations interested in expanding current affiliated CACFP operations should consider attending OSPI’s upcoming Sponsors of Unaffiliated Facilities Oversight Training.

Affiliated versus Unaffiliated: What is the Difference?

• Sponsor of Affiliated Facilities: Sponsor that owns the sites where they oversee CACFP operations (same Tax ID).
• Sponsor of Unaffiliated Facilities: Sponsors that do not own the sites where they oversee CACFP operations.
  • Sponsor assumes administrative and financial responsibility for CACFP operation on behalf of independent, unaffiliated childcare centers and/or family day care homes (different Tax ID).

While this virtual training is geared toward current sponsors of unaffiliated homes and centers, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) invites affiliated sponsors interested in expanding operations to attend and learn more about unaffiliated CACFP operations and requirements. For more information, review the Sponsors of Unaffiliated Sites Reference Sheet.

Training Topic Areas:

• USDA/OSPI Updates
• Monitoring centers
• Developing written procedures for sponsored sites
• Serious deficiency process

Virtual Training Date: September 16
Time: 9 am – 4 pm

Registration closes September 4.

Update: SY 2026–27 CACFP Reimbursement Rates

USDA has released the SY 26-27 CACFP Reimbursement Rates. These rates are effective for meals served July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 and are posted on the CNS Claims, Fiscal Information and Resources webpage.

Reimbursement rates for Child Care Centers, Adult Care Centers, & At-Risk Programs

Reimbursement rates — Family Day Care Home Providers

Update: Cash-in-Lieu (CIL) Rate for 2026–27

USDA has released the 2026–27 Cash-in-Lieu (CIL) rate at $0.3200. This rate is effective for meals served July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Update: Do You Have New Staff with CACFP Administrative Duties?

Please take this short survey to notify OSPI of new staff who have a CACFP administrative role within your organization.

These roles may include:

• Menu planning
• Claim submission
• Staff training
• Monitoring & program oversight
• Recordkeeping
• Conducting monthly participant eligibility assessments
• Ensuring civil rights compliance
• Financial management

Recognizing sponsors with new administrative staff allows OSPI to provide supplementary technical assistance, support and training opportunities.

Please submit additional surveys for each staff member. Additionally, if your responsible principal has changed, please complete the Responsible Principle Contact Form and forward to your CACFP specialist.

Reminder: CACFP Field Trip Requirements

All meals served and claimed as part of the CACFP must be at approved sites. When meals are taken off-site to feed children during a field trip, the sponsor must submit a notification to OSPI before the field trip occurs for meals to be eligible for reimbursement.

Requirements

• A Field Trip Notification must be submitted to OSPI before the field trip occurs and include:
  • Sponsoring organization name
  • Site name
  • CACFP contact name, email and phone number
  • Field trip date
  • Field trip location
  • Meal type served off-site
  • Time of meal service
• All requirements of the meal pattern must be met for the field trip.
• A separate meal count form must be maintained for the field trip.
• Point of service meal count is required.
• If the planned meal taken on the field trip (i.e., sack lunch) differs from the meal served at the site, a separate menu must be kept.
• Health and safety standards set by the local health jurisdiction and Washington State Department of Health must be followed.

If a Field Trip Notification is received on or after the date of the field trip, meals served on the field trip will not be eligible for reimbursement. Changes to planned field trips must be submitted through the field trip notification no later than the day prior to the field trip date.

For more information, please refer to the OSPI CACFP Field Trip Reference Sheet.

Important Dates to Remember