Child Care Food Program Requirements

What is the Child Care Food Program?

The Child Care Food Program (CCFP) is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. The program is administered in Florida by the Department of Health, Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs. Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas, Inc. sponsors licensed family child care providers located south of 22nd Avenue N. in St. Petersburg.

Purpose of the Child Care Food Program

• To provide reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to children in child care settings.

• To improve the nutritional quality of meals served to children in child care.

• To provide ongoing training in food safety, nutritional needs of the children served; and technical assistance in meeting the program’s requirements.
  

Nutrition Requirements

Meals and snacks served to children must meet specific USDA meal pattern requirements. The meal pattern includes milk, fruits and vegetables, meat (or meat alternates) and grains or breads in amounts specified by age.

Eligibility Requirements

• Family day care homes participating must be licensed by the Pinellas County License Board.

• Family day care homes must also be affiliated with a sponsoring organization.

• New licensed child care providers are added to the program at the beginning of each month following introductory training and approval from the Florida Department of Health. These evening classes, presented by Food Program staff, are generally held once each month.
  
  

Program Requirements/Reimbursements

Participants have the responsibility to plan and serve nutritious foods that meet the CCFP requirements. Participants must maintain written menus and meal counts. Approved meal types may include two meals and one snack or two snacks and one meal. Meals claimed for reimbursement are based on actual daily count of eligible, enrolled children. Providers are reimbursed for meals on a monthly basis.

The USDA has established a two-tiered rate structure for meal payments for all Child Care Food Programs. Under the law, Tier I homes are those that are located in income-eligible areas as defined by the USDA or those in which the provider’s household meets the income guidelines for free or reduced price school meals. These providers receive a reimbursement known as the Tier I rate (higher reimbursement). Providers who are income eligible may also receive reimbursement for meals served to their own enrolled child(ren) under age 13.

A provider who does not meet one of the above criteria could receive Tier I rates if they care for children who are income-eligible or who are on a qualifying state or federal supported program. These programs include WIC, Food Stamps, TANF, and free/reduced school lunch. All other providers receive the Tier II or lower reimbursement.

Monitoring

The USDA requires that participants be monitored minimally three times per contract year (October 1- September 30). One meal observation is accomplished for each meal type that has been approved. Additional visits are made to provide technical assistance as needed.

Meals and snacks served to children must meet specific U.S. Department of Agriculture meal pattern requirements. The meal pattern includes milk, fruits and vegetables, meat (or meat alternates) and grains or breads in amounts specified by age.

Monitoring reviews note compliance in the areas of menu planning, record keeping, food handling and service, safety, and sanitation. Copies of the reviews are regularly forwarded to the CCC Provider Services Department and to the Pinellas County License Board, when necessary.

Provider Training

Each participant must attend a mandatory Agreement Renewal Meeting annually.

Additional Services/Benefits

Newsletter:

A newsletter, "The Food Digest", is prepared by the Food Program staff and is distributed to the providers three times each year. It addresses a variety of issues such as dental health, healthy diets, menu or program reminders, food purchasing information, general information about child nutrition, and food related activities.

Technical Assistance:

Food Program staff provides assistance to providers and parents in such areas as appropriate feeding, food handling, and meal planning and preparation. Informational pieces are continually reviewed, researched, and prepared by the Food Program staff. A new topic is distributed to the provider during each monitoring review. These are also available for parent use.

Contact Information:

If you are a licensed family child care home provider and live south of
22nd Ave. N., in St. Petersburg, and are interested in joining our Food Program,
please call 727-547-5790.

*In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, all institutions participating in the Child Care Food Program are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.  20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.