Home Grown Collaborates with Partners and Providers to Develop Detailed Comments to USDA

In February 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule and opened a 90-day public comment period on one, very large, aspect of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): the serious deficiency process. In response, Home Grown collaborated with partners and providers to develop detailed comments to USDA regarding the proposed rules.

Thirty-six national organizations representing early childhood educators in family child care, child care centers, Early Head Start, Head Start, and others serving millions of children in care joined Home Grown in an additional letter. Our shared goal is that children, families and caregivers receive the health, economic and food security investments needed to thrive.

Together, we share USDA’s commitment to improving the serious deficiency process as a crucial step to ensuring children can access healthy meals and snacks in child care from providers and CACFP sponsors who they trust and rely on.

October 9, 2025
Families and child care providers are being squeezed as pandemic-era supports expire and federal funding stalls. Across the country, home-based providers are struggling to stay open amid lower reimbursements and rising costs. Without stronger federal investment in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), tens of thousands of children could lose access to care.
September 30, 2025
Carmela is a family, friend and neighbor caregiver who is proud of her Hispanic heritage. Learn more about how her Hispanic heritage shapes her work as a HBCC caregiver in this blog.