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National Days in August

Aug. 3 National Watermelon Day 

Read Water Melon Pip (Carter, 2021) and The Watermelon Seed (Pizzoli, 2013) 



Enjoy a refreshing Watermelon Pop with your child care children!  

Food Program Anniversaries in August

5 years: Yvonne Dixon

15 years: Xochitl Ortega

25 years: Penelope-Ann Baier



We applaud your commitment to serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in your care!

Welcome to our New Providers!

Katherine in Monroe 

Marshay in Milwaukee 

Lennie Ann in Green Bay 

Welcome Maria Avila: New Area Coordinator!

Hello, my name is Maria Avila, I am from Durango, Mexico, I have three grown children. My youngest is starting her first year of college. I have had my family daycare for about 20 years. I look forward to working with all of my providers. This is a new experience for me and I believe as well as you. I look forward seeing you soon. 

Tiering: Return to Tier 1 and Tier 2 Payments

On July 1st, 2023, the Food Program returned to a two-tiered payment system. On July 1, providers were emailed information and applications. Applications also may be found on the Food Program website.

2023-24 CACFP Reimbursement Rates 

WIC Income Eligibility

Current WIC income eligibility can be found online here.

This information should be posted or distributed to your child care families. 

Homemade Combination Foods 

Whenever you serve one of your own recipes combining 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. 

Nut Butter 

Remember only peanut butter and other nut/seed butters are creditable on the Food Program. Products labeled “spread” (peanut butter spread, Nutella spread, etc.) are not creditable. Always read product labels carefully to be sure you serve nut butter, not spread. 

What Are Commercial Combination Foods? 

Commercial combination foods are commercially prepared foods combining two or more menu components (meat and grain, for example) into one item. A few commonly served items are pizza, processed meatballs, and breaded meat/poultry products such as corn dogs, fish sticks, and chicken nuggets.  

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, which you see above, OR 
• Its product information statement, which you may request from the manufacturer. 

The CN label shows the item’s contribution to the United States Department of Agriculture (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 foods being served, they may verify that adequate portions were served using your required documentation. Add CN labels for new commercial combination foods you served to the plastic sleeve your Area Coordinator placed in your Food Program binder for that purpose.  

Your Area Coordinator must view this documentation when these foods are indicated on a provider’s menus. Otherwise, she must deduct that meal service per USDA regulation. 

Correctly Claiming Children’s Meals and Snacks 

According to Department of Public Instruction (DPI), “Providers must only record meal counts of the children who were present during and participated in the meal service. Children are participating in the meal when served all required meal components while seated and engaged at the table during the meal.”  

• Seated and engaged means that meals or snacks may NOT be sent with and claimed for a child who is going to school or going home, with the intention that it will be eaten off site.  
• Providers may serve non-residential children who arrive close to, but have just missed, the regular service time. For example, if your school-aged child care children arrive at 3:25, and your usual p.m. snack time is 3:15, you may offer them a snack.  

PLEASE NOTE: That if you are licensed and serve a p.m. snack to 8 children on first shift who are replaced by 8 children on second shift, the Food Program will not pay for the second shift of p.m. snacks. You may claim and be paid for dinner and evening snack for this group of children, if your regulated hours of care allow for evening care. 

Did You Receive Your Updated Child Care License or Certificate? 

Whenever you have updates to your child care license or cert – for example, type of regulation, address, name change, capacity, age range of children in care, hours of operation, and/or days of operation – you MUST submit a copy of that new cert or license to foodprogram@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or fax it to 866-222-9520. Be certain the most current version is posted on your wall. 

Will You be Transporting Children to School? 

When you signed the Food Program Sponsor/Provider Agreement, you agreed to allow representatives from WECA, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and/or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make announced and unannounced visits to your family child care home. They may review your meal service and Food Program records at any time during your hours of operation. 

When these representatives arrive for a home visit and you’re open (whether children are present or not), your up-to-date menus and attendance records must be available for their review. Remember: If you will be closed for vacation or due to illness, it is your responsibility to notify your Area Coordinator before 7 a.m. If you will be providing transportation to or from school, you must also notify your Area Coordinator of the times you will be away and unavailable for Home Visits.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Provider Connection is published by the WECA Food Program.

Any Questions: Call 608-240-9880 or visit our website.

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