Provider, sponsor and family perceptions of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participation and COVID-19 reimbursement increases.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Declining participation by family childcare home (FCCH) providers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) may stem from inadequate tiered reimbursements for nutritious foods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal waivers temporarily eliminated tiers and increased reimbursements. We evaluated provider, sponsor and family perceptions of CACFP benefits and challenges in general and regarding the temporary removal of tiers and increased reimbursement rates.

Design

From September 2023 to February 2024, FCCH providers, CACFP sponsors and CACFP family recipients in California participated in semi-structured interviews about CACFP benefits and challenges, perception of tiers and the COVID-19 waiver, quality of food and business viability. Thematic analysis was con

SUBMITTER: Bacon KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12722094 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature