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Your Monthly News & Updates | |
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National Days in November
Nov. 2: National Deviled Egg Day
Read An Extraordinary Egg (Lionni, 1948;) Egg (Sky Koster, 2020;) and First the Egg (Vaccaro Seeger, 2008)
Cook and eat eggs a variety of ways: baked, scrambled, over easy, over medium, over hard, boiled, poached, deviled, or in omelets!
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Food Program Anniversaries in November
20 years: Jana Matush
30 years: Lori Ann Kendl
Congratulations on your commitment to serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in your care!
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Welcome to our New Providers!
Mariah in Milwaukee
Latoya in Milwaukee
Starlicia in Milwaukee
Molly in Green Bay
Gisela in Manawa
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Ask the Food Program
Question:
What do I do about some claim deductions for a child not being approved for breakfast or for p.m. snack?
Answer:
The Food Program has processed the July, August, and September claims using new claims processing software. We recently emailed our providers with these instructions about how to prevent future child-specific meal and snack deductions:
First: Correct information on your copy of the Child Enrollment Form:
- Print a copy of the Child Enrollment.
- Mark the days, meals, and snacks that should be authorized for that child.
- If there is variability in the child’s schedule – because of the parent’s work schedule, because of the school schedule (such as early release,) or for other reasons - indicate “Schedule Varies.”
- Have the parent sign and date the changes. Keep the form in your Food Program binder for review by your Area Coordinator during Home Visits.
Be sure to carefully review the Child Enrollment information any time you and the parent enroll or re-enroll a child. Inaccurate or incomplete information is considered provider error and is not adjustable.
Second: Communicate changes to the database information for the children being deducted on your Claim Summary:
Email [email protected]
In the Subject: List your name and your 6-digit provider number
Ask that the database information be updated. Be specific:
- Write the child’s full name: Example Mary Smith, child #1
- Write the child’s id number (as listed in CACFP.Net)
- Write the days that SHOULD be authorized
- Write which meals and snacks should be authorized: BALPDE would be all meals and snacks
- Attach a copy or an image of the corrected Child Enrollment form for any affected children
NOTE: The Food Program will not adjust for any deductions to claims that have processed due to children’s enrollment information being incomplete or inaccurate.
As always, the Food Program recommends that providers check their Claim Summary information to see how their claim was paid. This is a good way to catch problems early and prevent future deductions to your claim!
To view your recent claim summaries, go to My CACFP Info
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Welcome Our New Area Coordinator Carrie Brooks!
I will start out by telling you I’m a super bubbly person who loves life. I am happily married to my husband, Scott, and together we have five children. Before joining the WECA team, I was an in-home child care provider for 25 years and recently earned a degree in human services. I love being involved in our community, spending time with family and friends, sewing, traveling, and holidays. I look forward to meeting everyone and can’t wait to start this next chapter as a WECA employee.
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Departing Words from JoAnn Hayden
“It is with mixed feelings that I write this. Many of you know that I have worked with the Food Program for 30 years. For the last few years, I have had dual roles with WECA in the Food Program and Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN). I have decided to concentrate my efforts on the WEESSN side of my employment. Therefore, I will be leaving the Food Program.
I really appreciate that you welcomed me into your homes so gracefully. It has been enjoyable to meet you. Each of you has made my life richer in your own way. Remember, I am not leaving WECA - just switching departments!”
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Taste These Recipes
Baba Ghanoush
National CACFP Sponsors Association offers this recipe for Baba Ghanoush, a perfect dip for raw veggies or whole grain crackers:
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Sarah’s Spicy Curry Turkey Soup
Are you looking for a new way to use up leftover turkey? Try this recipe provided by MyPlate:
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Is it a Grain-Based Dessert? Perception Counts!
Grain-based desserts are not creditable in the CACFP, but some products are tricky/confusing. Is it a grain-based dessert, or isn’t it? Consult this resource from CACFP for help.
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Fall Seasonal Produce
With food costs high, buying and serving foods that are in season helps stretch food dollars. Fall seasonal produce is often bright in color and rich in flavor and nutrition. Consider recipes that focus on root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, onions, parsnips, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Or, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and brussels sprouts. Not sure whether your child care children will eat these foods? Remember, your mandate is to serve meals and snacks that meet the CACFP guidelines. Children will determine from the foods offered, what – or even whether! – they will eat them and how much.
If you are unfamiliar with some of these vegetables and unsure how to prepare them, consider cleaning them well, slicing or chopping them, and tossing a variety of veggies with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. Transfer vegetables to a large roasting pan and spread in an even layer. Place in a preheated 475-degree oven. Stir every 10 minutes or so, cooking until slightly caramelized and cooked through, about 30-45 minutes total.
SO easy, warm, delicious, and nutritious!
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Milk on CACFP
Must be served at all mealtimes:
_____ True _____ False
Must be pasteurized:
_____ True _____ False
Not creditable when used in cooking:
_____ True _____ False
Children 2 – 5 years must be served unflavored skim or low fat (1%) milk:
_____ True _____ False
Families may request nutritionally-equivalent non-dairy substitutes in replacement for cow’s milk for disability or non-disability reasons:
_____ True _____ False
Must be served as a beverage, poured over cereal, or a combination:
_____ True _____ False
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Did you know?
Fluid milk used in smoothies can credit toward the milk requirement. A portion of smoothie must contain at least ¼ c of dairy milk of the proper fat content.
For more information about milk on the CACFP, consult the Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
*Answers: Scroll to the bottom of the November PC.
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(CACFP Creditable and Non-Creditable Foods Guide: 1-18 Year Olds and Adult Participants in Adult Daycare Centers:
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/community-nutrition/pdf/creditable_non_creditable_foods_guide.pdf)
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Creditable and Non-Creditable Cheeses
Natural cheese, cheese food, cheese product: What’s the difference? This handout from DPI is a handy guide to creditable and non-creditable cheeses.
Remember: Cheese food and cheese spread are NOT creditable for infants.
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New Census Data
2024 Child and Adult Care Food Program area eligibility data are now available.
Area Eligibility | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
Note: The map works best when opened in a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser.
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Tiering for Children Enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start
Do you have one or more children enrolled in Head Start enrolled in your child care? According to DPI, “All children enrolled in Head Start, including Early Head Start, are automatically Tier 1 eligible with certification from the Head Start agency.”
Proper documentation of Head Start enrollment is:
- A copy of the approved Head Start application; or
- A document that includes:
- Certification that the children are currently enrolled in Head Start
- Name or signature of Head Start personnel providing the certification
- Date of certification
The above documentation must be provided annually to verify a child’s continued eligibility for Tier 1.
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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 [email protected] or
fax it to 866-222-9520.
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Moving? Let Us Know!
As soon as you know your new address and moving date, notify us! Call or email your Area Coordinator to let them know. Email a copy of your updated regulation listing your new address to [email protected]
You cannot be paid without a current regulation on file or if there is a lapse between the end date of your former license or certificate and the start date of your new regulation.
Remember that your new address may also affect your tier, which determines your rate of reimbursement. If your banking information changes as result of your move, submit an updated Direct Deposit form.
Milk on CACFP quiz: All answers are True.
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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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