Ohio's Office of Nutrition, part of the Department of Education and Workforce, has issued a new Electronic Records and Data Policy aimed at CACFP sponsors who may move from paper files to digital recordkeeping.
The policy, announced in a bulletin dated Sept. 21, 2026, describes expectations for how electronic records are stored, accessed, and safeguarded. Those expectations, the office said, follow USDA requirements, and the guidance is meant to give centers a clearer path into digital recordkeeping.
Paper forms remain an option for centers. For those exploring electronic records, the office pointed to the CACFP WebApp, a free tool it said simplifies the transition. According to the bulletin, the WebApp streamlines enrollment, improves accuracy, and cuts staff workload, while reporting attendance and meal counts automatically. Centers using tablets or computers may find it fits easily into existing routines.
Feedback the office said it has received from many centers includes caregivers completing enrollment directly, fewer gaps in information, instant required reports, simpler meal counting and claim preparation, and records that stay secure, organized, and audit ready.
A CACFP WebApp Manual with step-by-step instructions is available through the CRRS Download Forms. Questions can go to an Education Program Specialist or the Office of Nutrition at 614-466-2945 or Child.Nutrition@education.ohio.gov.
The bulletin also restates federal civil rights protections that apply to USDA programs and explains how to file a discrimination complaint.