National Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week

From FEN:

March 17 through 23, 2013 is National Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week. The primary goal of the CACFP is to serve nutritious meals and snacks to children attending child care homes and centers. Secondary goals are to establish positive eating habits at the earliest stages of development, to reduce future health care and education costs due to lack of proper early development, and to train and support child care providers. Research also indicates that the CACFP is one important factor in providing quality child care.

During National CACFP Week, Family Enrichment Network, a New York State based non-profit sponsor of the CACFP joins with Broome and Tioga County family child care providers in acknowledging the many ways our community benefits from the CACFP.

Children that are cared for by providers participating in the CACFP benefit by being fed nutritious meals, meeting USDA standards, which ensure their proper development. These children gain from early nutrition education which helps them establish positive eating habits that will enrich the quality of their diet throughout their life.

Parents of children in child care are assured their children receive high quality meals and snacks. With proper nutrition, children are less likely to experience illness and fatigue and will develop at a normal physical and intellectual pace. Good nutrition is the recipe for an all-around happier child.

Providers receive nutrition education and support services from their CACFP sponsor which helps them serve nutritious meals and snacks and creates a positive eating environment for children. The quality of child care provided in our community is improved due to the educational and financial resources available to caregivers through the CACFP.

The vision of Family Enrichment Network is that all children and families in our service area have the opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential. By offering over 35 programs and services to this community, Family Enrichment Network is able to ensure children and their families a better way of life. For more information, please visit www.familyenrichment.cc or find us on Facebook.