CACFP COVID-19 Important Information - Child and Adult Care Food Program

To report closures for child care centers, day care homes, adult day care centers, emergency shelters, or head start centers please call 804.944.7129 and listen carefully to the directions. You may also email us at cacfp@vdh.virginia.gov.

Please be sure to include the following information:

Full name and address of center/provider name and address
Full name and phone number of person reporting the closure
The closure date

Virginia Department of Health Updates on Novel Coronavirus

For information on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.

The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States. But individual risk is dependent on exposure. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. The March 11, 2020 presser may be found on the Governor's Facebook page.

Important Hygiene Measures for Centers and Homes to Ward off the Novel Coronavirus

Implement proper handwashing (use soap and hot water) when using the restroom, after sneezing and coughing, before and after eating snacks and meals, and whenever handling contaminated items.
Wipe down all surfaces with commercial cleaners. Wipe down meal areas before and after eating.
If a participant looks/feels sick, please stay home. Likewise, if staff look/feel sick, please stay home.
If an individual presents with a fever, he or she must be fever-free for 24 hours prior to returning to the center/home.

Important Business Practices for Centers and Homes to Ward off the Novel Coronavirus

Minimize chances for exposures with facility policies and practices
Adhere to Standard, Contact, and Airborne Precautions, including the use of eye protection
Manage visitor access and movement within the facility
Implement engineering controls
Monitor and manage ill and exposed Health Care Professionals (HCP)
Train and educate HCP
Implement environmental infection control, use pre-approved EPA products
Implement sick leave policies that are non-punitive, flexible, and consistent with public health guidance.

COVID-19 CACFP Waivers Extended #3 Until June 30, 2022

COVID-19 CACFP Waivers Extension #2 Valid Until June 30, 2021

The Virginia Department of Health's Special Nutrition Programs has received approval for the following CACFP flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please take note of the following:

Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Feeding in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION #2- This waiver is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Service Time Flexibility in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION #2- This waiver is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
- Child and Adult Care Food Program: Providing Multiple Meals at a Time During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children – EXTENSION #2- This waiver is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service During COVID-19: Best Practices for Parent Pick Up
- VDH COVID-19 Parent Pick Up State Plan #5.1
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #12: Nationwide Waiver of 60 Day Reporting Requirements for January and February 2020
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION #4- This waiver is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #39 – Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the Child and Adult Care Food Program -(NEW) valid through September 30, 2021
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #40 – Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION through September 30, 2021

The guidance document noted below is in response to questions received about the Pandemic EBT memorandum issued on March 20, 2020. This document is to give clarification to the administering of the P-EBT. This funding is NOT available through the CACFP.

To download the Question and Answer document, click here. This guidance will be available on the USDA website, here.

Questions and Answers:

The COVID-19 Waiver Certification for Institutions Form for opting in to the above waivers is located HERE. Once complete please upload to the “Application Attachments” within your CHAAMPS application and alert your Application Packet Specialist.

To apply for one or more of the waivers listed above, please complete the VDH CACFP COVID-19 Waiver Request Form and upload the completed form into the Attachment List section of CHAAMPS for State agency review and approval.

Please check back regularly for updates, in addition to important updates pertaining to COVID-19 and the CACFP.

Thank you, and stay well!

All CACFP compliance reviews that have been scheduled through August 31, 2020, have been converted to desk reviews. Institutions that received a compliance review scheduling letter should contact the SNP specialist that issued the letter to confirm the status of the review.