In South Carolina, the Child and Adult Care Food Program is a key source of support for improving the nutritional quality of meals and snacks served to children and adults in day care. The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federally funded program that gives meal reimbursements to child care centers, adult day care centers and child care homes for serving nutritious meals. The objectives of CACFP are to: Improve the diets of children by providing nutritious meals Help children develop good eating habits Help adults maintain good diets by providing nutritious meals. Participating homes and centers agree to serve meals as outlined in the CACFP meal pattern guidelines; serve creditable foods; keep daily meal participation records and attendance records; collect household size and income information (if applicable); keep menus and other records; attend training sessions as outlined by the State Agency and/or sponsoring organizations; send monthly records to the sponsoring organization (if applicable) or send monthly claims to the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Who can participate? Who gets CACFP meals and snacks? What meals can be reimbursed? How much reimbursement will I receive? What is the CACFP meal pattern? How do I sign up for the CACFP in South Carolina? Income Eligibility Guidelines Reimbursement rates Tiering Who can participate? Child Care Centers Any child care or Head Start organization in South Carolina providing non-residential care for children may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program provided the following requirements are met: The center is licensed or approved by the South Carolina Department of Social Services or approved by a branch of the military. The organization is a public institution, or the organization is a private non-profit organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Code of 1954, or The organization is a private for-profit organization and receives title XX benefits for at least 25% of its enrollees or licensed capacity, whichever is less, or The organization is a private for-profit organization and at least 25% of its enrollees or licensed capacity, whichever is less, are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.  Childcare centers may participate in the program either independently or under the auspices of a sponsoring organization that accepts final administrative and financial responsibility for the program. List of Participating Child Care Centers Adult Care Centers Any adult day care organization providing non-residential care for adults may participate in the South Carolina Child and Adult Care Food Program provided the following requirements are met: The center is caring for aged (60 years or older) or functionally impaired adults The center is licensed by the appropriate licensing authority The organization is a public institution, or the organization is a private non-profit organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), code of 1954 The organization is a private for-profit organization and receives title XIX or title XX benefits for at least 25% of its enrollees or licensed capacity, whichever is less. Adult day care centers may participate in the program either independently or under the auspices of a sponsoring organization that accepts final administrative and financial responsibility for the program. List of Participating Adult Care Centers Child Care Homes Any child care home providing care for children in South Carolina may participate in the South Carolina Child and Adult Care Food Program provided the following requirements are met: The child care home is registered or licensed by the South Carolina Department of Social Services. (Registered homes must also meet alternate approval standards for health/sanitation and fire safety. The child care home is approved by a branch of the military The child care home is sponsored by an approved South Carolina CACFP Day Care Home Sponsor CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors are public or private nonprofit organizations approved by the South Carolina Department of Social Services to perform administrative functions that include: Training and monitoring providers Providing education and nutrition resources Completing a monthly claim for reimbursement Disbursing CACFP reimbursements to child care homes for serving meals that follow the CACFP meal pattern guidelines Sponsors receive reimbursements for administrative expenses, based on the number of homes it sponsors and according to an approved budget and actual expenditures. List of Day Care Home Sponsors Return to the top Who gets CACFP meals and snacks? Children age 12 and younger Migrant children 15 and younger Persons with disabilities regardless of their age   Adult participants that are functionally impaired or age 60 or older Return to the top What meals can be reimbursed? Child Care Centers and Day Care Homes are paid reimbursement for planning and serving meals that follow the CACFP meal pattern guidelines. These facilities may request approval for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon and evening). Currently, USDA rules allow reimbursement to be paid for not more than two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks per child per day. Adult Day Care Centers are paid reimbursements for planning and serving meals that follow the adult CACFP meal pattern guidelines. Centers may request approval for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks (morning, afternoon and evening). Currently, USDA rules allow reimbursements to be paid for not more than two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks per adult per day. Meals served to supervising adults cannot be claimed for CACFP reimbursement. Outside school hours care centers may claim breakfasts and snacks. Lunches served to schoolchildren in these centers may be claimed only when school is not in session such as on weekends, holidays or school vacations. Outside school hours care centers serving only snacks may wish to participate in the "At-Risk" Afterschool Snack Program, if eligible. Return to the top How much reimbursement will I receive? Childcare and adult care centers are reimbursed for meals and snacks served to participants at rates dependent on the child or adult participant's eligibility for free, reduced-price, or paid meals. Reimbursement to day care homes is dependent on the location of the provider's home or the provider's household income, or the eligibility category of a child's family. Higher payments (tier 1) are paid to homes in low-income areas and to low-income providers. Meals and snacks served to children who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals also receive higher rates of reimbursement. Return to the top CACFP Meal Pattern (This chart lists the amounts and types of food to be served to participants of the CACFP). 1-2 year olds 3-5 year olds 6-12 year olds Adults BREAKFAST: Milk (fluid only) ½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup 1 cup Fruit and/or vegetable ¼ cup ½ cup ½ cup ½ cup Bread/Grain ½ serving ½ serving 1 serving 2 servings   Hot Cereal ¼ cup ¼ cup ½ cup 1 cup   Cold Cereal ¼ cup or ⅓ ounce ⅓ cup or ½ ounce ¾ cup or 1 ounce 1½ cups or 2 ounces SNACK (Select 2 of the 4 components) Milk (Fluid only) ½ cup ½ cup 1 cup 1 cup Fruit and/or vegetable ½ cup ½ cup ¾ cup ½ cup Meat/Meat Alternate ½ ounce ½ ounce 1 ounce 1 ounce Bread/Grain ½ serving ½ serving 1 serving 1 serving   Hot Cereal ¼ cup ¼ cup ½ cup ½ cup or 1 ounce   Cold Cereal ¼ cup or ⅓ ounce ⅓ cup or ½ ounce ¾ cup or 1 ounce ¾ cup LUNCH OR SUPPER Milk (fluid only) ½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup 1 cup (milk is not required for supper) Fruit and/or vegetables (2 different types) ¼ cup (total) ½ cup (total) ¾ cup (total) 1 cup (total) Meat/Meat Alternate:   meat, poultry 1 ounce 1½ ounces 2 ounces 2 ounces   or egg ½ ¾ 1 1   or cheese 1 ounce 1½ ounces 2 ounces 2 ounces   or cooked   dry beans ¼ cup 3/8 cup ½ cup ½ cup   or peanut butter,   or other nut butters 2 Tbsp. 3 Tbsp. 4 Tbsp. 4 Tbsp.   or yogurt 4 ounces 6 ounces 8 ounces 8 ounces   or nuts, seeds ½ ounce* ¾ ounce* 1 ounce* 1 ounce* Bread/Grain ½ serving ½ serving 1 serving 2 servings *Nuts and seeds may be credited toward meeting only 1/2 of the meat/meat alternate requirement. Nuts and seeds are not recommended for children under three years of age. Return to the top How do I sign up for the CACFP in South Carolina? Centers Monthly orientations are conducted for childcare centers interested in participating in CACFP in South Carolina. Bi-monthly orientations are conducted for adult care centers. The CACFP application is distributed at these meetings. The application for participation must be completed by your organization and returned to the South Carolina Department of Social Services for approval. An appointment will be made for a pre-approval visit to all centers submitting an acceptable application. In addition, attendance at a CACFP Record Keeping Workshop is required within the first month of approval to become familiar with the Program requirements. Home Programs Day Care Homes must participate in the CACFP under a sponsoring organization. Refer to the list of day care home sponsors below. Call one or more of the sponsors to schedule a visit in your home to explain the CACFP requirements. All sponsors do not operate the program in all parts of the state. In addition, day care homes normally may participate in the CACFP under one sponsor during a program year. Return to the top Income Eligibility Guidelines INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICED MEALS Effective July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 (Use for eligibility determinations and for public releases) ELIGIBILITY SCALE FOR FREE MEALS Household Size Per Year Per Month Per Week 1 $12,740 $1,062 $245 2 17,160 1,430 330 3 21,580 1,799 415 4 26,000 2,167 500 5 30,420 2,535 585 6 34,840 2,904 670 7 39,260 3,272 755 8 43,680 3,640 840 For each additional family member, add: +4,420 +369 +85 ELIGIBILITY SCALE FOR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS Household Size Per Year Per Month Per Week 1 $18,130 $1,511 $349 2 24,420 2,035 470 3 30,710 2,560 591 4 37,000 3,084 712 5 43,290 3,608 833 6 49,580 4,132 954 7 55,870 4,656 1,075 8 62,160 5,180 1,196 For each additional family member, add: +6,290 + 525 + 121 Return to the top Reimbursement rates REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR JULY 1, 2006 - JUNE 30, 2007 Meals Served in Day Care Centers Per Meal Payment Rates in Cents Breakfast Lunch and Supper* Supplement Free $1.31 Free $2.5675 Free $0.65 Reduced $1.01 Reduced $2.1675 Reduced $0.32 Paid $0.24 Paid $0.3975 Paid $0.06 *These rates do include the value of commodities (or cash-in-lieu of commodities) which institutions receive as additional assistance for each lunch or supper served to participants under the program. The cash-in-lieu is $0.1550 per lunch/supper. Meals Served in Day Care Homes Per Meal Payment Rates in Cents Tier I Tier II Breakfast $1.06 $0.39 Lunch and Supper $1.97 $1.19 Supplement $0.58 $0.16 Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes - Per Home/Per Month Rates in dollars:   Initial 50 day care homes $95 Next 150 day care homes 72 Next 800 day care homes 56 Additional day care homes 50 Return to the top Tiering USDA has established a two-tier reimbursement system, Tier I and Tier II, for reimbursing day care home providers participating in the CACFP. Tier reimbursement, which is a higher rate, is reserved for low-income providers and providers serving low-income children. Day care homes qualify for Tier I rates based on the home's location in the state or the provider's household income. To determine eligibility based on location, census data or  elementary school free and reduced price meal percentages may be used. Providers' with a household income that is at or below 185% of the federal income poverty guidelines are also eligible for Tier I reimbursement. Tier II reimbursement, which is a lower rate, is for homes that do not meet the criteria for Tier I reimbursement. If a home is classified as Tier II, the provider has three options for receiving reimbursement: The provider may receive Tier II rates for all meals served to enrolled children, The provider may request that the sponsor collect parent income information to determine the eligibility of all children enrolled in his/her day care, and The provider may have his/her sponsor identify only those children whom the sponsoring organization or the provider already has income information for as categorically eligible for Tier I benefits. Homes located in the following counties are automatically eligible to receive Tier I rates as of February 15, 2006:   Abbeville Hampton Allendale Jasper Bamberg Laurens Barnwell Lee  Calhoun Marlboro Chester Marion Chesterfield McCormick Clarendon Orangeburg Colleton Saluda Dillon Sumter Fairfield Williamsburg Return to the top In accordance with Federal law and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.