Stay connected: Check out our current staff directory here.

National Days in October

Oct. 4: National Pumpkin Seed Day 

Oct. 26: National Pumpkin Day 

READ:

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Esbaum, 2009,)

Pumpkin Pumpkin, (Titherington, 1986)

Pumpkin Jack (Hubbell, 2000) 

Try the recipe for Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins from MyPlate!

Food Program Anniversaries in October

5 years: Briana Varnell, Dorothy Phipps, Amy Borchardt

10 years: Sonya Kostuch, Jackie Fischer, Phyllis Mccollum 

15 years: Diane Reynolds, Karen Brandt, Talisha Anderson, Maria Mickschl 

25 years: Mary Olson, Cindy Campbell, Carol Kempf, Carol Brenner, Jeri VerHagen

 

30 years: Shelley Wolff 



Congratulations on your commitment to serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in your care! 

Welcome to our New Providers!

Reva in Milwaukee 

Monique in Milwaukee 

Quintela in Milwaukee 

Jillian in Racine 

2024 Provider Nutrition Training 

Your required annual nutrition training is available on CACFP.Net and on the Food Program website.

Please complete the reading, print the Provider Training Test and complete it. Keep it in your Food Program binder for review by your Area Coordinator during your next Home Visit. Training is due by May 31, 2024.  

DO IT TODAY – DON’T DELAY. 

Components and Crediting 

Cranberry Applesauce 

National CACFP Sponsors Association shares this fall recipe that combines a favorite fruit – unsweetened applesauce! – with the tart flavor of cranberries.  

Imagine this: 

• as a topping for a whole grain waffle at breakfast, served with milk (1% or skim for children aged 2 and older, whole for children aged 1-2); 
• as a topping for plain yogurt (no more than 23 gm of sugar content per 6 oz serving) at Snack 

What Are Commercial Combination Foods? 

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

The CN label shows the item’s contribution to the 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 combination foods being served, they may verify that adequate portions were served, using your required documentation. Your area coordinator must view this documentation when these foods are indicated on a provider’s menus. Otherwise, per USDA regulation, they must deduct that meal service. 

(Taken from 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) 

(Taken from Crediting store-bought Combination Foods and Processed Meat/Meat Alternates  https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/community-nutrition/pdf/cnlabelhandout.pdf) 

Monitoring and Oversight

Requirements for Infants 

You Must: 

• Offer to supply an approved iron-fortified infant formula to each infant in care at no cost to parents. 
• Select the formula name on the Parent/Provider Formula Agreement that you submit electronically with the enrollment for the infant. 
• Offer to supply formula even if the infant now gets breast milk or if the parent now supplies the formula. 

Be sure to keep a copy of the enrollment and Parent/Provider Formula Agreement with your Food Program records. 

• Inform WECA whenever a parent supplies one meal component (solid or fluid) for an infant: On the CACFP.Net Main Menu page, click on One Infant Meal Component Provided by Parent. Complete the form and submit. 
• Inform WECA if you serve different meal components to two or more developmentally ready infants in the same age category at the same meal service. Click on Infants of the Same Age fed Different Foods, complete the form, and submit. 

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 foodprogram@wisconsinearlychildhood.org 

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. 

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.

Explore more of what WECA has to offer:

T.E.A.C.H. | REWARD | FOOD PROGRAM | WECA MEMBERSHIP |

CONFERENCE | TRAINING | WEESSN | RAISING WISCONSIN