{"id":179757,"date":"2021-12-06T07:15:16","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T12:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=179757"},"modified":"2021-12-03T08:33:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T13:33:52","slug":"study-usdas-child-and-adult-care-food-program-underused-by-connecticut-child-care-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2021\/12\/study-usdas-child-and-adult-care-food-program-underused-by-connecticut-child-care-centers\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: USDA\u2019s Child and Adult Care Food Program Underused By Connecticut Child Care Centers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connecticut child care centers cite low awareness, burdensome reporting requirements, and low reimbursement rates as reasons for lack of participation in the USDA\u2019s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), according to a new study<\/a> from researchers at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health. Because of this, Connecticut child care centers missed out on over $30 million in federal funds in 2019.<\/p>\n

Child nutrition in the United States is in a crisis, with millions of children at risk for poor diet, unhealthy weight gain, and food insecurity. CACFP provides meal reimbursements to child care programs for serving food that meets specific nutrition standards. Despite multiple benefits for children, their families and child care providers, such as access to nutritious foods, nutrition training, and financial support, CACFP is not used by many eligible child care providers.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrategies to increase participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program are urgently needed. We know from our research that participating centers perceive CACFP as a critical benefit in helping them serve nutritious meals to children, especially those lacking adequate food at home,\u201d says Tatiana Andreyeva, Director of Economic Initiatives at the Rudd Center and lead author of the study. \u201cBut, CACFP is not used by many eligible child care centers, and until we understand why, we can\u2019t help increase participation rates and help bring healthy meals to young children and federal funds to Connecticut child care providers.\u201d<\/p>\n

To identify facilitators and barriers to CACFP participation, researchers used data from an online survey of licensed child care centers in Connecticut. They analyzed predictors of CACFP participation, assessed program experiences and challenges, and gathered opinions on increasing program appeal. Researchers also assessed the amount of federal funding foregone because of CACFP underuse in the state.<\/p>\n

Key findings include:<\/strong><\/p>\n