You are receiving this newsletter because you are enrolled in the WECA Food Program. | |
Your Monthly News & Updates | |
Stay connected: Check out our current staff directory here. | | |
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April 1: National Sourdough Bread Day
Read The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story (DePalma, 2020)
Try making your own sourdough starter and baking sourdough bread!
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Sade in Milwaukee
Kathy in Milwaukee
Latasha in Milwaukee
Sharaine in Milwaukee
Maria in Fitchburg
Lisa in Rothschild
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5 years – Kelly Melton &
Elizabeth Enderby
10 years – Susan Lamka
15 years –Wanetta Coleman
20 years – Veronica Chambers, Angela Baker & Jenifer Cribben
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We appreciate and applaud your long commitment to serving nutritious meals and snacks!
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Week of the Young Child 2023: Great Lineup of Events!
WECA is kicking off Week of the Young Child! We’re excited to mark this important event, annually sponsored by National Association for the Education of Young Children, with several activities, events, and other opportunities to highlight the importance of early learning April 1-7. Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7 feature a daily theme, which will be incorporated into our wide range of activities.
How will YOU celebrate?
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Overnight No-Cook Banana Oatmeal
Need a quick, nutritious breakfast option? Try this recipe from American Heart Association.
| Is your child care nut free? Withhold the nut topping. Sprinkle with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for a sweeter taste – no sugar added! | |
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Your Responsibilities on CACFP: The What and When | |
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Federal Record Keeping Requirements for the CACFP
Keep three years, plus the current year, of food program records. They must be maintained onsite for the most recent 12 months plus the current month. Records prior to the most recent 13 months can be stored offsite. You may store them electronically or on paper, but they must all be accessible for WECA, DPI, or USDA review at any time during your normal business hours. If you don't use offsite storage, all 3 years of records, plus the most recent 13 months, must be stored onsite.
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Is Your Contact Information Correct?
To keep you informed, the Food Program needs your correct contact information.
Changed your email?
Notify us here: Change in Email Address
Has your name, address or phone number changed?
Notify us here: Change in Provider Information
If your name or address changed, you MUST submit a copy of your new cert or license: Email it to foodprogram@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or fax it to 866-222-9520.
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Electronic Re-enrollment Reminder
Formerly-enrolled children who now appear in yellow and with an asterisk need to be re-enrolled immediately! This is the process that helps the WECA Food Program capture current information – updated address and phone number, for example – for your child care children and fulfills an annual mandate for a Food Program sponsorship by Department of Public Instruction and United States Department of Agriculture.
DO NOT CLAIM CHILDREN IN YELLOW WITH AN ASTERISK UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE RE-ENROLLMENT PROCESS. Doing so may subject you to disciplinary action.
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Special Needs Definition for the Food Program
Special Needs applies to a child aged 13 or older with a handicapping condition that significantly interferes with day-to-day life. A documented Special Need allows a child who would normally “age out” of Food Program participation to continue to be claimed past the 13th birthday. The Food Program does not use Special Needs for children under 13, as the Program must be equally available to all children in child care from birth through age 12.
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Homemade Combination Foods
Whenever you serve one of your own recipes that combines two or more foods, be sure to enter each component on your menus. We don’t know your recipes! Be sure the appropriate serving size (by age) for each component is being served to each child.
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What Are Commercial Combination Foods? | |
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Commercial combination foods are only creditable when the actual content is known and documented by the product’s manufacturer. If you serve any commercial combination food, you must keep one of these on file:
- Its Child Nutrition (CN) label OR
- Its product information statement, which you may request from the manufacturer.
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The CN label shows the item’s contribution to the USDA meal pattern requirements. Read labels carefully: Some products might meet only one requirement. A CN label does not indicate that a product is healthy. Commercial combination foods are often high in sodium, fat, and calories and can be expensive.
When your Area Coordinator observes commercial combination foods being served, they may verify that adequate portions were served, using your required documentation. Your area coordinator must view this documentation when these foods are indicated on a provider’s menus. Otherwise, per USDA regulation, they must deduct that meal service.
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Food Program Direct Deposit Date Hotline
Dial 1-800-783-9322
For English, press 1
For the Food Program, press 2
For the check mailing date, press 1
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Join WEESSN’s Educator Assistance Program (EAP) | |
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Do you wish you had access to more professional benefits or could offer them to staff working in your program?
To help you thrive, WEESSN launched an Educator Assistance Program (EAP) for All early childhood professionals who work in a WEESSN-enrolled child care program – and their family/household members – on Jan. 1, 2023. WEESSN is excited to bring this type of service, well known in major companies, to early care and education. This valuable benefit promotes emotional well-being, offering FREE and 100% confidential access to:
- Mental health counseling
- Unlimited health and wellness coaching
- Legal consultation
- Convenience Resources
- Financial expertise
- Confidential coaching about handling difficult situations
If you have EAP questions, please contact us at EAPWEESSN@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or contact SupportLinc directly at 866-255-WECA (9322).
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Career Development Counseling Now Available
WECA Career Development Counseling is back. This free one-on-one service serves English and Spanish speakers and is dedicated to helping early childhood educators determine career paths and journey in early care and education. The process begins by filling out a questionnaire designed to get to know you and emailing it to us. We then follow up with a conversation with one of our three knowledgeable and helpful counselors. Get more details, including the onboarding form, on our website!
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WECA’s 2022 Annual Report
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association is pleased to announce the release of its 2022 Annual Report, which highlights the organization’s extensive impact, influence, and work on behalf of early care and education, children, families, and communities across the state.
In a newly reimagined format, the report begins with reflections from WECA Executive Director Ruth Schmidt and is followed by a narrative on WECA’s 2022 work to advance early childhood workforce supports, advocacy, coalition building, professional development, membership, training, food systems, and nutrition. It includes first-hand perspectives from various providers and partners in addition to WECA-wide and program-level data and impact highlights.
The report, which is available in both English and Spanish for the first time, also is an opportunity to thank WECA’s generous donors who help support and enrich the organization’s mission.
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Advocacy: We Need Your Voices – and Letters
WECA and Raising Wisconsin are calling on the state to continue the Child Care Counts Program in Wisconsin’s 2023-25 budget, which is being formulated now. Take a moment to send a letter to your state legislators – it’s as easy as a few clicks in an online portal to send a pre-populated message! And, share the link with others in your network to expand our impact.
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You know how vital supporting child care is for the early childhood workforce, young children, families, and Wisconsin communities. To learn more about the details of this critical state budget request, including background information, talking points, and other resources, check out Raising Wisconsin’s State Budget Request page and the website’s Take Action section. | |
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The Provider Connection is published by the WECA Food Program.
Provider Connection Editor: Julie Giles Questions: Call 608-240-9880 or visit our website.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider | | | | |
