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Your Monthly News & Updates | |
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!
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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!
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Welcome to our New Providers!
Katherine in Monroe
Marshay in Milwaukee
Lennie Ann in Green Bay
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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.
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Ask the Food Program
Question:
“My garden is overproducing! Can I home-can my veggies now to serve to my kiddos this fall and winter?”
Answer:
Kudos on your green thumb, but according to the CREDITING HANDBOOK FOR THE Child and Adult Care Food Program, “home-canned foods may not be served in meals reimbursed under the CACFP because they may contain harmful bacteria even when there is no evidence of spoilage.” For safety, rather than home-canning, consider freezing your veggies now to serve later.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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2023 WECA Conference: It’s Time to Register!
Registration for the 2023 WECA Conference is now open! In-person offerings are available Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 19-21, at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton, Wis.! All in-person registrants for Friday and Saturday will receive books written by the days’ keynote speakers AND have access to all the event’s virtual content through Jan. 21, 2024.
Can’t attend in-person? Don’t worry – there are options for you! Virtual-only registration gives you access to livestreamed keynote presentations, some livestreamed workshops, pre-recorded workshop sessions, and the ability to tour the virtual exhibit hall, all through an on-demand library. This will allow you to receive professional development experience and credit from anywhere even if you can’t join us in Middleton this year.
Check out WECA’s conference website for event details, including current agenda and session information, biographies of our keynote speakers, and sponsors. The registration page also has information on “add-on” sessions and opportunities, and much more!
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We Want to Hear From You: WECA Communication Survey
In an effort to ensure you get the WECA information you need, we want to gain a better understanding of how you like to receive updates from WECA. Your answers to this brief survey are confidential and will only be used to help us serve you better moving forward.
Click here to take the survey! Thank you for taking the time to submit your responses.
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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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