New Mexico Sponsors Identify Time and Money as Factors Affecting Home-Based Provider Child and Adult Care Food Program Engagement

Abstract

ObjectiveDescribe Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsor perspectives on barriers and facilitators to home-based provider CACFP eligibility, enrollment, and participation and ways to improve provider support. MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with 11 New Mexico CACFP sponsor staff representing 9 out of 13 agencies (69% response rate) from August to September, 2020. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis with an essentialist/realist epistemological approach. ResultsSponsor-perceived barriers to provider CACFP: eligibility (costs, background checks, fear/stigma, and delays in becoming state-approved providers); enrollment (lack of translated/low-literacy materials and cumulative systems requirements); and participation (challenges maintaining qualifying menus and documentation and accessing qualifying food, inadequate reimbursements, and unannounced visits). Sponsors suggested systems changes to improve provider support (eg, more assistance with becoming state-approved and for start-up costs and accessible, progressive nutrition training opportunities). Conclusions and ImplicationsSponsors noted CACFP barriers for home-based providers and identified corresponding systems changes that could be tested.