Research featuring New Mexico’s home-based child care providers is out this week in a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The special issue is centered on equitable access to food and nutrition assistance programs for low-income families with young children, and features two pieces based on University of New Mexico research. Both pieces focus on the role of home-based child care providers in serving children healthy food through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The study was conducted by researchers at the UNM Cradle to Career Policy Institute and the UNM Health Sciences Center, and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In an opinion editorial based on administrative data researchers report on the high percentage (86%) of New Mexico children receiving child care subsidies who use that subsidy with a CACFP-enrolled provider—meaning they receive healthy meals and snacks while in care. The percentage is even higher (90%) for children who use their child care subsidy in a license-exempt registered home care setting. The editorial points to the importance of state policies and regulations, such as New Mexico’s policy of requiring most registered homes to participate in CACFP, in ensuring that federal nutrition programs reach the children who need them most.
The special issue also contains a related research note based on the perspectives of home-based providers in New Mexico and their experiences enrolling in CACFP and complying with its requirements. The research note speaks to the benefits of the program, such as the value of training and reimbursement the providers receive, as well as challenges providers encounter around issues such as submitting menu documentation. Given the importance of home-based providers in connecting vulnerable children to healthy food, a better understanding of the barriers these providers face to accessing the program has important implications for food equity.
Additionally, researchers conducted interviews with New Mexico’s CACFP sponsoring organizations, who support providers in accessing CACFP and monitor their compliance with its requirements. In their role supporting many home-based providers over time, sponsors have a broad perspective on CACFP in New Mexico and the challenges providers encounter. Findings from these interviews are available as a research brief in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Read a high-level summary of project findings and policy implications or a full report of findings across the project here.
Support for this research was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
