Oregon Publishes Child Care Meal List Affecting Baker County Families

The state education agency released the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 roster of programs enrolled in CACFP, a federal initiative that reimburses child care centers, family child care homes and adult-day programs for serving nutritious meals and snacks. Across Oregon, roughly 670 centers and 1,190 family day care providers participate in the program, according to the list. That network includes entries for eastern Oregon counties such as Harney, Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla, and has direct implications for neighboring Baker County families who rely on local child care and adult-day services.

CACFP is designed to reduce hunger, support healthy growth and ease household food budgets. Most centers in eastern Oregon qualify to offer free meals to participating children when household incomes meet federal guidelines. Families already receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically eligible for free meals; certain adult-day participants who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid also qualify automatically. Those eligibility rules simplify access for many low-income households and for older adults who attend adult-day programs.

For Baker County, the program’s reach matters for public health and equity. Regular access to balanced meals supports early childhood development, reduces acute hunger-related health visits, and can improve concentration and behavior in care settings. For older adults in adult-day programs, meals linked to CACFP can be an important part of chronic disease management and social support. Community providers, many of them small family child care homes, rely on CACFP reimbursements to stay financially viable and to adhere to nutrition standards that benefit participants.

Barriers remain in rural areas. Administrative workload, limited staff time and stigma about free meals can keep eligible families from signing up; outreach and assistance with enrollment are crucial. Local public health agencies, child care resource and referral organizations, and county social services can help families learn whether their child care or adult-day provider participates and how income or benefit status affects eligibility.

Parents and caregivers in Baker County should ask their provider whether they are on the FFY2026 CACFP list and whether their household meets income guidelines for free meals. Providers seeking support to enroll or to claim reimbursements can connect with state and regional child care support programs. Expanding participation and awareness in rural communities is a public health and equity priority that can reduce food insecurity and strengthen local care networks.