CACFP is Highlighted in Congressional Testimony for CNR by Reynaldo Green

Yesterday, the National CACFP Forum President, Reynaldo Green testified at the Child Nutrition Reauthorization: Healthy Meals and Healthy Futures hearing by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

"We are at a critical juncture to strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program through Child Nutrition Reauthorization.  This will allow us to continue the original intent of the program: To address hunger and improve the nutritional well-being of millions of children across this country."  Reynaldo Green

Watch the testimony here.
Read the complete testimony here.

In his testimony, Green, highlights the healthy foods provided by CACFP and the vital role it plays in a child's development.  Not only does he testify that the CACFP plays a significant role in boosting children's access to healthy foods and quality learning experiences, Green also lays out the problem of eligible child care programs not participating and why.

1. benefits are inadequate,
2. the program is wrought with burdensome paperwork;
3. the losses and penalties are too detrimental to child care programs that operate on razor thin margins.

"The brunt of these barriers disproportionately impacts both communities of color and providers with fewer resources, contributing to gross inequities in child care quality and nutrition."

Mr. Green goes on to provide recommendations to the committee to address these inequities which include allowing an additional meal, annual eligibility for proprietary child care centers and streamlining program requirements to reduce paperwork among many others.  Read them in the testimony here.

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For more on CNR click here.
The Forum has a long history of advocacy for the food program, see what we've done here.
In 2008, Emeritus Board Member, Paula James testified in front of Congress on behalf of CACFP, see it here.