TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced this week that it will continue its partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide reimbursable meals to children and adults in day care settings through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn said the federally funded program helps ensure that individuals enrolled in adult and child care centers, family day care homes, after-school programs, emergency shelters and Head Start programs receive nutritious, well-balanced meals. Funding from the USDA is distributed to program operators based on monthly claims submitted through agreements with the NJDA.
Examples of New Jersey organizations successfully using CACFP include Wishing Well Adult Day Health Care Center and Rainbow Children’s Musical Day Care in Mercer County; Programs for Parents in Essex County; Circle of Friends in Union County; Acelero Learning Monmouth/Middlesex Inc.; and Ocean Inc. Child Development Center in Ocean County.
CACFP is open to public or private nonprofit organizations that provide licensed or registered non-residential day care services, including adult and child care centers, FDCH sponsors, after-school programs, schools, food banks and municipal agencies. For-profit centers may also qualify if at least 25% of their participants receive Title XIX or Title XX benefits or qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Organizations interested in participating must complete a multi-step approval process that includes an outreach survey, business pre-registration, required online trainings, obtaining an agreement number and submitting an online application.
Those seeking to apply may email njdacacfpcommunications@ag.nj.gov or call 609-984-1250 for more information.
Following are the Reimbursement Rates for the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026:
Following are the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for determining Household participant meal rates:
The announcement also included required federal civil rights disclosures. USDA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital or family status, income derived from public assistance programs, political beliefs, or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program it funds.
Program information may be made available in alternative formats or languages. To file a discrimination complaint, individuals may complete USDA’s Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) online or submit a written complaint by mail, fax or email to the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410
Fax: 202-690-7442
Email: program.intake@usda.gov
