Childcare providers are financially struggling to keep up with escalating food costs, and yet many early education programs are choosing not to participate in a federal nutrition assistance program due to administrative hassles, according to an upcoming report from Boston-based researchers
While Massachusetts lawmakers have celebrated their investments to make universal free school meals possible, state policymakers are “generally unaware” the initiative does not extend to young children in childcare settings, according to a new study from Children’s HealthWatch, a research and policy network that’s headquartered at Boston Medical Center. One large center provider reported spending over $400,000 on food expenses that are only partially reimbursed, and lamented that money cannot be saved and instead invested in teacher salaries.
Researchers, who plan to release the full report later this week, highlighted their findings Tuesday during a Zoom meeting with Strategies for Children. The study incorporates interviews and focus groups with 26 childcare professionals who live and work in Greater Boston, central Mass., western Mass., and Washington, D.C., said Children’s HealthWatch executive director Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba
A key theme of the study was that childcare providers are “severely financially constrained by the cost of food,” a long-running problem that’s grown more acute with inflation, Ettinger de Cuba said. One state administrator quoted in the study said it’s become “much more common than before” for programs to report spending part of their Commonwealth Cares for Children state grants on food
The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursements for meals and snacks that are served to eligible individuals at participating childcare centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. The program is also available for meals served to children and youth at participating afterschool programs, children living in emergency shelters, and adults over age 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities, a federal webpage says
Reimbursements are calculated based on factors such as the facility type, the income level of participants, and the area income level, according to the CACFP Association
The Children’s HealthWatch study found the program is a “vital but flawed resometimes intrusive oversight,” said research and policy analyst Carley Ruemmele. Still, children attending programs that participated in CACFP were more likely to consume a “diverse” diet and to eat fruits and vegetables, she said
Ruemmele said only 36 percent of childcare providers nationally participate in CACFP. The study captured a string of program hurdles, including “intense” recordkeeping requirements and family childcare providers struggling to find sponsor organizations to enable them to enroll in CACFP
“Given the rise in costs of living and unaffordability generally, not participating in CACFP leaves federal dollars on the table,” Ruemmele said. “But for some, we heard that the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.”
The study recommends policy solutions such as allocating state dollars to support CACFP sponsors, conducting a review of any additional CACFP requirements from the state, and creating a state or regional technical assistance collaborative network focused on early education and care nutrition
Governor Maura Healey’s Anti-Hunger Task Force earlier this year called for boosting participation in CACFP, plus creating a public data dashboard on nutrition program participation to track access and gaps. The report says the number of suppers provided through CACFP has not rebounded since the pandemic. Nearly 1.2 million suppers were served in 2016, compared to 760,000 in 2024
Healey’s office last week announced a partnership with Project Bread to help more eligible childcare and afterschool programs unlock federal funding through CACFP
“Providing access to nutritious food is an essential part of high-quality programming for our youngest learners,” Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw said. “We are excited to support this partnership that will help more childcare programs connect with rers for providers and strengthening the supports available to children and families across Massachusetts.”
Project Bread will also work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to identify participation barriers and conduct outreach to eligible programs, the Healey administration said. The food security organization will support new and existing participants, including offering training to strengthen meal service and helping to develop nutritious menus within program budgets
