Child Care Choices Child & Adult Care

Food Program

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) program that provides reimbursement for serving nutritious meals to children that are in child care settings. Through nutrition education the CACFP also helps to develop positive eating habits for young children enrolled in family child care homes and centers across the nation. In Minnesota, the CACFP is administered by the Department of Children, Families and Learning.

Child Care Choices is a sponsor of the CACFP for family child care providers.

As a sponsor of the food program, Child Care Choices offers providers the information, materials and training to assist them in receiving the maximum eligible reimbursement.

In accordance with federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). To file a complaint, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202)720-6382 (TTY). USDA an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Family Size & Income Guidelines

USDA has released the new Family Size and Income Guidelines effective July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006. If your income level is at or below the guidelines listed, please call our office or your Field Representative to request an application form. If you have recently submitted a Family Size & Income Application to us, you need not reapply.

Can I apply for Tier 1 rate if I do not have children on my own or my children are 12 and older?

Yes! You don’t need to have children of your own to qualify for Tier 1 rate.  Please call Jo or Laurie in the St. Cloud office for a Family Size and Income Application.  Fill it out immediately and mail it to our office along with your Tax form 1040, Schedule C and two most recent paycheck stubs for all family members who are employed.

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Household Income Chart (7/1/07 - 6/30/08)

If your household’s income, before deductions, is less than or the same as the amounts listed for your household’s size on this chart, you apply and are approved, you will receive Tier 1 rates for all day care children in your care.

If you are eligible and all your information is complete, we will call you and advise you on your eligibility.

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Mission & Goals

Child Care Choices Food Program

Mission

To promote child care excellence by providing up-to date nutrition information and financial reimbursement to family child care providers

USDA Child & Adult Care Food Program

Goals & Objectives

Goal:  to assist organized child care services, including family child care homes, to provide nutritious meals and snacks to the children in their care.

Objectives:

• To Provide financial reimbursement that will increase the family child care home provider’s ability to meet the children’s nutritional needs.

• To promote positive food attitudes and eating habits in an environment which contributes to the development and socialization needs of the children.

• To promote understanding of the role of nutrition in children’s physical, mental and social health.

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Appeals Process

Child Care Choices, Inc. must provide written notification of any proposed action against a provider. That notice shall contain the basis for the proposed action and shall be sent to the provider at his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall inform the provider of his or her right to appeal the proposed action.

To file an appeal, the provider must provide a written request for review to the Executive Director of Child Care Choices, Inc. (a simple letter directed to the Executive Director requesting an appeal will be satisfactory to begin the process) An appeal is timely if postmarked or received on the 15th calendar day following the date of receipt.

Upon receipt of a request for review, the Executive Director of Child Care Choices, Inc. shall forward the request to the designated Hearing Officer, who is the Executive Director of Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association (MLFCCA). The Hearing Officer shall schedule a review hearing. The provider shall be provided with written notification of the date, time, and place of the hearing at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

Any information on which the agency's action is based shall be available to the provider for inspection from the date of receipt of the request for review. However, the agency can protect the identity of any private individual making a report to the agency.

The provider has the right to submit written documentation to the Hearing Officer for consideration at the review hearing. This documentation must be provided no later than the date of the hearing. The provider also has the right to appear at the review hearing and present his or her reasons why the proposed action should not be taken. Failure of a provider to appear at the scheduled review hearing shall serve as a waiver of his or her right to personally appear, but shall not waive his or her right to proceed on the basis of written documentation already submitted.

At the hearing, the provider will meet with the Hearing Officer and the Child and Adult Care Food Program Director and review the materials and information available.

Following the hearing the Hearing Officer will review both the written and oral information provided up to this point in time and based on this information, will make a determination within 30 days of the date of the hearing whether to continue with the proposed action. During this time, the Hearing Officer may request further information from either the provider, or other involved parties. The decision will be sent to the provider by certified mail, return receipt requested.

A provider may then appeal a negative decision by the Hearing Officer to the Board of Directors of Child Care Choices, Inc. within 10 days following receipt of the decision.

To file this appeal, a simple letter directed to the President of the Board of Directors of Child Care Choices, Inc. requesting an appeal of the decision will suffice. The Board of Directors or a committee designated by the Board President, shall schedule a time for a second review hearing. As before, the provider shall be provided with written notification of the date, time, and place of the hearing at least 10 days prior to the hearing. The Board of Directors will also include an outside representative on this second review committee to help ensure an objective viewpoint.

The Executive Director may present the agency's position, but shall not participate in the decision of the Board. This final decision shall be made within 30 days of the second review hearing.

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