Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2025
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: julia.sclafani@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699–5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
SANTA FE – The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is providing free nutritious meals and snacks to thousands of New Mexicans at participating child care centers, schools, and adult care facilities statewide in Fiscal Year 2026.
Meals are offered at no cost to families at most participating centers, including Head Start programs, public and private pre-K, licensed child care, before- and after-school programs, emergency shelters, hospitals and clinics, and adult day care centers.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), CACFP provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults in various care settings across the state.
All participants at any of the listed locations will be offered the same meals and/or snacks with no physical segregation or other discriminatory action against any person.
A full list of sponsoring organizations and independent institutions approved to administer CACFP is available in the ECECD Family Nutrition Bureau Materials Library under “Family Nutrition Bureau – General Information.”
To learn more about CACFP, including eligibility and how to access free meals, visit the Family Nutrition Bureau page: Family Nutrition Bureau | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
For information on CACFP guidelines, regulations, sponsoring organizations or qualifications to participate in New Mexico, call 1-800-EAT COOL or 505-827-9961.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies; The USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and the institutions listed here who are participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the state or local agency where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; - Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.
Para Español: Llame al 800-845-6136.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.