You are receiving this newsletter because you are enrolled in the WECA Food Program.

Stay connected: Check out our current staff directory here.

Feb. 4: National Homemade Soup Day

Read Chicken Soup With Rice (Sendak, 1962) and make a big pot of soup - to sip once or even twice! 

Feb. 9: National Bagel and Lox Day

Read B is for Bagel (Teichman, 2022) 

Dorothy in Greenfield 

Irene in Milwaukee 

Shovonn in Milwaukee 

Taleesia in Milwaukee 

Jessica in Milwaukee 

Cierra in Milwaukee 

Rolanda in Milwaukee 

Pamela in Milwaukee 

Marylin in Milwaukee 

Latoya in Milwaukee 

Rhonda in Mosinee 

Michelle in Granton 

Pamela in Park Falls 

Amanda in Medford

We welcome you and celebrate this mark of professionalism!

5 years – Dorothy Griffin, Summer Seebecker, Victoria Nunez-Vargas 

10 years – Erica Gutierrez 

15 years – Kathy Lewis 

20 years – Megan Adams-Echols 

We thank you for your commitment to providing healthy meals and snacks to the children in your care! 

CACFP Week is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually by the National CACFP Sponsors Association designed to raise awareness of how the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger. Download a flyer to advertise National CACFP Week here. 

 How will YOU celebrate? 

Hello! My name is Shante Jackson. I have four kids – 11, 13, 19 and 28, two boys and two girls. I grew up in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Milwaukee in 1992. I am a very friendly, bubbly person.

I got involved in the child care field in 1996. I also have worked doing medical insurance, health care, retail, administration assistant, and human resources. I enjoy spending time with my kids, taking them to fun activities and trips. 

Question: Is homemade infant formula creditable on the Food Program?

Answer: The short answer is NO. And here’s why: 

According to Feeding Infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (2019):  

The only acceptable alternative to breastmilk is iron-fortified infant formula. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only serving breastmilk, iron-fortified infant formula, or both during the first year of life. Formula must be served as a beverage to be creditable. The infant formula must be FDA approved, should not be on the FDA Exempt Infant Formula list, and must be iron-fortified. 

If a parent declines the iron-fortified infant formula that your site offers and chooses to provide his or her own infant formula, explain that the parent must provide a formula that is iron-fortified and regulated by the FDA.

If a parent sends a pre-prepared bottle to the site, ask what type of formula it is and make sure the bottle is labeled with the baby’s full name and the date the formula was prepared.

The following milks are a few examples not recommended for babies younger than 12 months of age. These are milks that are not creditable in the CACFP infant meal pattern unless supported by a medical statement signed by a baby’s health care provider: 

• Almond milk 

• Cow’s milk 

• Dry milk, reconstituted 

• Evaporated cow’s milk or home-prepared evaporated cow’s milk formula 

• Goat’s milk 

• Hemp milk 

• Nondairy creamer 

• Rice milk 

• Soy milk 

• Sweetened condensed milk 

• Follow-up or weaning formulas 

Feeding Infants in Food Program is a comprehensive source for infant feeding. Need a copy?  Review Here  

Submit a monthly food program claim. Did you know that the money to operate CACFP – any CACFP! – comes from USDA? It is a pre-set amount that food programs receive for each claim that our providers submit. Whether you claim one snack for one child in that month or all meals and snacks for your fully enrolled child care, we receive the same stipend from USDA. Your claim helps you – and it helps CACFP. 

You must offer the Food Program to every child enrolled in your care. Therefore, every child enrolled in your care must have an enrollment form on file for the Food Program. All enrollment forms must be filled out by the first day of care and submitted to the WECA Food Program by the 5th of the claim month. Enrollment forms also must be completed for infants on the first day they start the Food Program. There is no grace period. 

This great trifold resource helps providers: 

• Identify whole grain rich foods 

• Calculate cereal and yogurt sugar limits

• Lists Wisconsin WIC-approved cereals  

Would you like your own copy? Download one here. 

Trying to make healthier food choices while trying to get a bigger bang for your food $? Confused by what food labels mean? This resource from CACFP can help!  

SOS: Vegetable Straws: Not a Fruit, not a Veggie, not a Grain, and NOT CREDITABLE

DPI has informed the Food Program that the January issue of The Provider Connection contained inaccurate information about Veggie Straws. This product does not credit for any component on CACFP. If you choose to serve Veggie Straws, they would be an extra food. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

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