Colorado Food Program Highlights Success and Urges Provider Enrollment
Summary
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is highlighting the success of the Colorado Food Program, which serves over 15 million meals annually. The department is encouraging new child and adult day care centers to enroll in the federal initiative to receive reimbursement for nutritious meals.
What changed
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a press release on March 17, 2026, to highlight the success of the Colorado Food Program, a federal initiative administered locally to provide reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in participating centers. The program, which served over 15 million meals last year through approximately 1,500 partners, is encouraging new child and adult day care centers to enroll.
This notice serves as an informational outreach to potential providers. Interested parties can contact the Colorado Food Program for application resources and instructions. While the notice emphasizes the benefits and success of the program, it does not introduce new regulatory requirements or deadlines for existing providers. The primary action for regulated entities is to encourage new providers to enroll.
What to do next
- Review program details for potential enrollment if operating a child or adult day care center.
- Share program information with potential new providers.
Source document (simplified)
CDPHE highlights the Colorado Food Program’s success, urges new providers to enroll
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Submitted by [user:fieldfirstname]
The state celebrates 15 million nutritious meals served to Coloradans annually
Denver (March 17, 2026): The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is highlighting the importance of increased access to nutritious food during National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week (March 15-21, 2026) by encouraging child and adult day care centers to apply to be a part of this vital program. The Child and Adult Care Food Program, known locally as the Colorado Food Program, is a federal initiative offering reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks for children and adults at participating centers and day care homes.
“The Colorado Food Program is more than just a reimbursement mechanism - it’s a cornerstone of quality care,” said Naomi Steenson, Colorado Food Program director. “The program provides families with the peace of mind that their children and seniors are thriving, while giving our dedicated providers the financial and educational resources they need to serve nutritionally sound meals.”
Last year, more than 15 million nutritious meals and snacks reached Colorado’s children and seniors through the CDPHE-administered Colorado Food Program. This massive achievement was made possible by roughly 1,500 local partners, including child and adult day care centers, home child care providers, and school districts. National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week is a dedicated time to honor these providers for their tireless work in expanding access to healthy food across our state."Thanks to the Colorado Food Program, our children enjoy consistent, healthy meals that support growth, learning, and focus,” said Prentael Coker, director with Little Dinos Preschool & Learning Center in Cortez. “The program’s guidance and reimbursement make quality nutrition possible for all families we serve!”
Participating providers follow United States Department of Agriculture meal standards, which include serving milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat/meat alternatives. The meal standards allow for a wide variety of cuisines, and participants have the opportunity to build menus from a wide selection of foods at each meal.
Interested in joining the Colorado Food Program? Call 303-692-2330 or visit cdphe.colorado.gov/COFoodProgram for resources, including helpful step-by-step instructions and a new “How to Apply” video for child and adult care providers.
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El Departamento de Salud y Medio Ambiente de Colorado resalta el éxito del Programa de Alimentos de Colorado e insta a nuevos proveedores a inscribirse
El estado logra y celebra servir 15 millones de comidas nutritivas a los habitantes de Colorado anualmente
Denver (17 de marzo de 2026): El Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado resalta la importancia de un mayor acceso a alimentos nutritivos durante la Semana Nacional del Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos (del 15 al 21 de marzo de 2026) al alentar a los centros de cuidado diurno para niños y adultos a solicitar ser parte de este vital programa. El Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos, conocido localmente como el Programa de Alimentos de Colorado, es una iniciativa federal que ofrece reembolso por comidas y refrigerios nutritivos para niños y adultos en centros y hogares de cuidado participantes.
“El Programa de Alimentos de Colorado es más que un simple mecanismo de reembolso: es una piedra angular de la atención de calidad”, dijo Naomi Steenson, directora del Programa de Alimentos de Colorado. “El programa brinda a las familias la tranquilidad de que sus hijos y personas mayores están prosperando, al mismo tiempo que ofrece a nuestros dedicados proveedores los recursos financieros y educativos que necesitan para servir comidas nutritivas”.
El año pasado, más de 15 millones de comidas y refrigerios nutritivos fueron servidos a niños y personas mayores del estado, a través del Programa de Alimentos de Colorado administrado por el Departamento de Salud y Medio Ambiente de Colorado. Este logro masivo fue posible gracias a aproximadamente 1,500 socios locales, incluidos centros de cuidado para niños y adultos, proveedores de cuidado infantil en el hogar y distritos escolares. La Semana Nacional del Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos es un momento dedicado a honrar a estos proveedores por su incansable trabajo en la expansión del acceso a alimentos saludables en todo nuestro estado."Gracias al Programa de Alimentos de Colorado, nuestros niños disfrutan de comidas consistentes y saludables que apoyan el crecimiento, el aprendizaje y la concentración", dijo Prentael Coker, director de Little Dinos Preschool & Learning Center en Cortez. “¡La guía y el reembolso del programa hacen posible la nutrición de calidad para todas las familias a las que servimos!”
Los proveedores participantes siguen los estándares de alimentos del Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos, que incluyen servir leche, frutas, verduras, granos y carne/alternativas de carne. Los estándares de alimentos permiten una amplia variedad de comida y los participantes tienen la oportunidad de hacer menús a partir de una amplia selección de alimentos en cada comida.
¿Está interesado en unirse al Programa de Alimentos de Colorado? Llame al 303-692-2330 (informes en español disponible) o visite cdphe.colorado.gov/COFoodProgram para obtener recursos, instrucciones paso a paso y un nuevo video "¿Cómo aplicar?" para proveedores de cuidado infantil y de adultos.
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