Adult Day Care Centers - Licensed

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Program description - Eligibility requirements - Meal requirements

Reimbursement - Reporting and recordkeeping - How to apply

Program description
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides meal reimbursement to eligible adult day care centers. The target population of this program is elderly and functionally impaired adults, 18 years of age or older and adults 60 years of age or older who are unable to live independently or perform activities of daily living. Functionally impaired adults include victims of Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction, who are physically or mentally impaired to the extent that their capability for independence and ability to carry out functions of daily living is markedly limited.

Eligibility facilities must serve meals meeting eligibility requirements; maintain accurate and complete records; operate a nonprofit food service, train center personnel in program requirements and operations; and collect income eligibility information on all participants claimed as free or reduced.

MDHSS provides reimbursement for allowable meals served; provides technical assistance on nutrition, food service operations, program management, and recordkeeping; and reviews and monitors program services to ensure good nutrition for all enrolled participants. For assistance, contact us.

Eligibility requirements
To participate in CACFP, an adult day care facility must be licensed by an approved state or federal authority and be nonresidential. In other words, the same participants cannot be maintained in care for more than 24 hours on a regular basis.

Private institutions must have either IRS approved tax-exempt status or receive Title XX or Title XIX compensation for at least 25% of enrolled participants. Missouri tax-exempt status will not suffice.

Sheltered workshops are not eligible to participate in the program.

The center must provide a structured, comprehensive program that provides a regular daily schedule of specific activities including health, social, and related support services.

The center must provide services to functionally impaired individuals. Centers serving only adults 60 years of age and older who are not functionally impaired cannot participate in the program.

For each participant, the center must maintain individual plans of care that include:

Meal Requirements
To qualify as a reimbursable meal, each participant must be served, the minimum quantity of food as outlined, by category per meal type, on the Adult Food Chart. This is referred to as the meal pattern requirement. Menus must contain all the food components in the proper quantity.

The Creditable Food Guide defines allowable food items in each of the food categories or components. Questionable food items are listed with an explanation of their creditability. Further discussion is provided in the question and answer section. To qualify as a reimbursable meal, food items must be creditable or allowable as well as being served in the correct quantity.

The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs is designed by the USDA to help you buy the right amount of food and help you determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements. It also has yield data for more than 1,200 food items.

Reimbursement
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provides reimbursement for allowable meals served. A maximum of two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks per participant per day can be claimed for reimbursement.

Currently, the reimbursement rates, effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, are:

A center cannot receive benefits or reimbursement from both Title III of the Older Americans Act and CACFP for the same meal served.

Reporting and recordkeeping

Participating facilities are required to maintain the following records:

For more information about reporting and recordkeeping requirements refer to Adult Day Care Centers Recordkeeping Essentials of the CACFP.

How to Apply

Eligible facilities must submit an application with supporting documentation. Pre-approval and orientation visits are required . If the application is approved, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will enter into a contract with the facility to participate in the CACFP.

Five easy steps to become part of the CACFP: