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Every child deserves access to nutritious food, especially during the early years, when healthy growth and development depend on good nutrition.

For child care providers, making sure children receive healthy, balanced meals and snacks can be a significant responsibility. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps make that responsibility more manageable by providing federal meal reimbursements while also giving providers access to training, guidance, and ongoing support.

Through its CACFP sponsorship, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) helps child care providers do more than serve meals, we help them build the knowledge and confidence to nourish the children in their care.

More Than Meal Reimbursement

Sponsored by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, CACFP helps eligible child care programs provide nutritious meals and snacks to children. But for many providers, the value of participating goes far beyond the reimbursement itself.

As a CACFP sponsor, 4-C provides training and technical assistance to help providers understand nutrition requirements, maintain accurate records, plan meals, and meet federal program standards. Our team is also there to answer questions, provide guidance, and help providers stay current with changing requirements and best practices.

One sponsored provider shared:

“I’ve learned a lot of best practices regarding nutrition for young children. Having requirements gives me a model to provide the best meals for the children I serve.”

For small family child care homes and centers, this support can make a meaningful difference. Providers don’t have to navigate the program alone. They have a knowledgeable partner they can turn to when questions arise.

“4-C has always kept me up to date on everything that is going on. They help keep me organized and up to date on what and how much the littles need for all their nutrition needs to be met. Good nutrition is one of the main things that keeps them healthy.”

Healthy Food Helps Children Thrive

Nutrition plays an important role in children’s growth, development, and overall well-being. Young children need a variety of nutrient-dense foods to support their growing bodies and developing brains.

Child care providers have an important opportunity to introduce children to healthy foods and help them develop positive eating habits that can last a lifetime. Offering whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and other nutritious foods—and limiting added sugars and less nutritious choices—helps create an environment where healthy eating is part of a child’s everyday routine.

CACFP gives providers a framework for doing just that. And when providers have access to resources and support, they can also share what they learn with families.

One 4-C-sponsored provider explained:

“Participating in the food program allows me to serve the children foods that are healthier and more fresh, without always worrying about only purchasing the items that are on sale or more affordable. It also helps me educate the parents on how to feed their children in a healthier way… Having 4-C as a sponsor helps me to feel more confident in knowing that I’m educated in best practices and that I always have someone to turn to when I have questions or concerns.”

Supporting Providers. Investing in Children.

The financial support provided through CACFP can help child care providers stretch their food budgets and offer children a greater variety of nutritious foods. Just as importantly, the program provides accountability, education, and a trusted source of support.

“It has helped me to pick healthier options and hold me accountable for those healthier options for my children. I’m able to reach out to my sponsor with different questions and she is always responding back within minutes, which I love.”

That combination of reimbursement, education, and support is what makes CACFP sponsorship so valuable to child care providers.

4-C’s CACFP Impact

In 2025, 4-C sponsored 97 child care providers across our service area:

• 58 family child care home providers in 13 counties
• 39 child care centers in Jefferson, Warren, and Barren Counties
• $2,041,399.86 in federal meal reimbursements provided to participating programs
• 840,452 nutritious meals and snacks served to children

Every meal represents more than food on a plate. It represents an opportunity to nourish a child, introduce healthy foods, support healthy development, and help children build positive relationships with food.

And behind every meal is a child care provider working hard to give children the best possible start.

Through CACFP, 4-C is proud to support those providers and help ensure that nutritious food is part of quality early care and education.

During Give for Good Louisville on Thursday, September 10, 2026, make a gift to 4-C and invest in the educators who nurture, teach, and inspire our community’s youngest children.

Give for Good. Give to 4-C. Invest in educators. Empower children. Strengthen our community.

Early Giving begins September 7th! Click here to donate!