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February 2024

Stay connected: Check out our current staff directory here.

Food Program Staff Directory

Your Monthly News & Updates

National Days in February

Feb. 4: National Homemade Soup Day

Read Growing Vegetable Soup (Ehlert, 1987) and try the recipe in the book for homemade vegetable soup – or use your own! *

Consult this helpful resource from DPI Community Nutrition Team for Foods Prepared from Scratch.

(Source: The Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/crediting-handbook-child-and-adult-care-food-program)

Food Program Anniversaries in January

10 years:  Christy Schneider
15 years: Meira Grabiner
20 years: Heather White, Jennifer Burke
25 years: Audrey Kreklow

We applaud your commitment to serving nutritious meals and

snacks to the children in your care! 

Welcome to our New Providers!

Bryna in Albany

Ashley in Milwaukee

Colette in Milwaukee

Rasheeka in Milwaukee

Jimmy in Brown Deer

We welcome you and applaud this mark of professionalism!  

National CACFP Week: March 10–16, 2024

“CACFP Week is a national educational 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. The CACFP brings healthy foods to tables across the country for children in child care centers, homes and afterschool, as well as for adults in day care.” (Source: nca@cacfp.org)

How will you celebrate?

Ask the Food Program

Question:

I have a temporary exception granted by my regulator, but WECA did not pay for the meals and snacks for this child. Why?

Answer:

The WECA Food Program does not accept exceptions made by regulating agencies to exceed the maximum number or age ratios of children. Exceptions were granted for a short period of time during the Covid 19 pandemic, but this is no longer the case. WECA uses the group size information handed down by Department of Public Instruction to Wisconsin Food Program sponsors:

Annual Food Program Provider Survey

The Annual Provider Survey is here! This is your opportunity to share feedback with the Food Program. Tell us what you like – and also give us your constructive feedback about what we might improve. We value your input!

Take Survey Now

Components and Crediting

Documenting a Child’s Special Diet

A Special Diet Form is required whenever a child in your care can’t be fed according to CACFP guidelines.

Documents to Complete for Disability Related Special Dietary Needs Requests: “A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more ‘major life activities’ including caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, eating, breathing, digestive, bowel and bladder, neurological, respiratory, circulatory, and endocrine functions.”

Special Dietary Needs Tracking Form Section 1: Disability (For Providers to Complete)
Medical Statement (For Licensed Health Care Professionals to Complete: Physician, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner (APNP), Dentist, Optometrist, or Podiatrist )

Documents to Complete for Non-Disability Special Dietary Needs Requests: i.e., for preference, including religious or ethnic preferences, or lifestyle reasons.

When a parent requests an alternate milk due to preference, consult the Creditable Non-Dairy Beverages (Milk Substitutions) for beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk:
Refer to Creditable Non-Dairy Beverages (Fluid Milk Substitute)

YOU MUST REPORT EVERY SPECIAL DIET required for a child, whether it’s due to a disability or preference. It does not matter whether the meals are reimbursable or not.

Work with parents/guardians to obtain the required documentation so appropriate and safe meals can be served to the child.

NOTE: Meals and snacks served to a child with a Special Diet between the dates the Special Diet is discovered by the Food Program until it is approved by the Food Program (if it can be *) must be disallowed.

*Remember: NOT EVERY SPECIAL DIET CAN BE REIMBURSED.

Monitoring and Oversight

Want to Know an Easy Way to Support Your CACFP?

Submit a monthly food program claim. Did you know that the money to operate CACFP – any CACFP! – comes from United States Department of Agriculture (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.

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.

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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