How child care centers can apply for CACFP in Wyoming

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides financial support for child care centers by reimbursing nutritious meals served to eligible children. In Wyoming, this USDA-funded program is managed by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). By participating, child care centers can meet the daily nutritional needs of children in their care, promoting healthy child development at no additional cost.

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To help you apply for CACFP in Wyoming, our easy-to-follow guide will cover everything you need to know, from eligibility requirements and application steps to recordkeeping, documentation, and reimbursement processes.

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Eligibility requirements

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Your child care center is eligible for the program if it meets these requirements:

• A public entity
• Has a tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code
• Holds a license from the Wyoming Department of Family Services
  
  

To qualify, for-profit centers must have 25% of enrollees eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. Additionally, eligible daycare participants for the program include infants and children up to age 12 and children of migrant workers up to age 15.

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How to apply for CACFP in Wyoming for child care centers

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Applying for CACFP in Wyoming starts with a few initial steps:

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1. Check your eligibility

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Begin by confirming your center’s eligibility through the WDE’s prescreening form. After answering a series of questions, you’ll complete an information form and confirm the summary of your responses. If eligible, you’ll receive guidance on the next steps, including access to the Wyoming Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) Online System.

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2. Complete application forms

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To formally apply, you can access and download all the necessary forms on the WDE CNP Application and Claim website. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your application through the portal.

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3. Attend the required training

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The USDA requires new CACFP participants to complete training on CACFP program regulations and operations. The WDE offers comprehensive training opportunities on meal planning, recordkeeping, documentation, and financial management. Start your training here.

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Recordkeeping and documentation

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To maintain compliance, centers must keep clear, detailed records that accurately show how expenses were allocated and used exclusively for nonprofit food service activities. This is necessary to claim monthly reimbursements and ensure annual renewal.

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You should start documenting as early as possible during the application process. The records you need to keep include:

• Attendance and meal counts: Daily meal counts and attendance records to support your CACFP claims
• Income eligibility forms: Updated annually for all children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals
• Meal production records: Detailed menus and production records to ensure compliance with CACFP nutritional standards.
• Financial records: Document all CACFP-related expenses, including receipts for food (including milk) and allowable non-food supplies. These records are needed for audits.
  
  

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Reimbursement process

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The CACFP helps cover the costs of serving healthy meals and snacks by providing monthly cash reimbursements to participating child care centers.

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Reimbursement amounts vary depending on the participant’s household income or the program’s location, following the USDA’s free, reduced, or paid rates. Check the latest Income Eligibility Guidelines and reimbursement rates to estimate your center’s reimbursement claim.

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Ready to get started?

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Take the first step toward changing your child care services for the better—participate in Wyoming’s CACFP program. For more information or assistance, contact the Wyoming Department of Education at (307) 777-7168 or (307) 777-7675, or reach out via email.

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Serve quality, CACFP-approved meals with Ordo

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Serving nutritious, CACFP-compliant meals is easy and hassle-free when you partner with Ordo as your food service provider—at no additional cost. Our team takes care of everything from meal preparation to delivery, so you can focus on nurturing the kids in your care!

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Ordo has become America's fastest-growing school food program, providing fresh meals made from scratch every day in our kitchens. Our chefs focus on cooking homestyle food that’s both nutritious and what students love. Healthy meals result in better student outcomes, and administrators who invest in their nutrition programs invest in their schools.

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Students and parents can place their orders through their ordering app and choose from seasonal menus with 4 to 6 options daily like Tex Mex Crunch Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing or Chicken Bacon Wrap with Pretzels, Carrots & Ranch.

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Our online platform automates compliance paperwork for reimbursable meals, tracks important metrics like daily participation rate, and handles all payment and order processing. Ordo offers both vended meal service where we deliver the food every day and onsite food service management with our chefs preparing food on campus. We have served all types of schools, from preschools and daycare centers to private and public schools. We’ve worked with some of the top brands in early education and child care, including Guidepost Montessori, Bright Horizons, Primrose, and more.

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If you’re interested in providing fresh, healthy food for your school, you can reach out to the school partnerships team here.