Fact Sheet Five Ways States Can Make CACFP More Accessible and Equitable
Catherine Kuhns, Gina Adams, Fernando Hernandez-Lepe
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In this fact sheet, we highlight five key takeaways from our research on how states can make the Child and Adults Care Food Program (CACFP) more accessible and equitable for license-exempt home-based child care (LEHBCC) providers. First, policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders in the child nutrition and child care fields could prioritize making more LEHBCC providers eligible for participation in CACFP, including exploring alternate ways to determine eligibility for the program. Second, states could offer sponsors resources and additional financial support for recruiting, enrolling, and retaining LEHBCC providers. Third, state agencies could invest in the development of materials, resources, and staff training guides for sponsors to use to provide tailored supports to LEHBCC providers. Fourth, CACFP agencies could audit their own agency requirements to identify steps that may create additional barriers to enrollment in CACFP. Lastly, states could collaborate with underserved communities and develop partnerships with trusted organizations to address barriers for underserved LEHBCC populations.

Research and Evidence Family and Financial Well-Being Work, Education, and Labor Research to Action
Expertise Labor Markets Upward Mobility and Inequality Early Childhood
Research Methods Qualitative data analysis
Tags Child care Child care and early education Child care workers and early childhood teachers Food insecurity and hunger Children and youth
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