Program - Child Care Food Program

Advocate for the Community

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CVCAC’s Family Community Support Services assist people who are having difficulty paying their housing costs, heating their home, paying their utility bill, or buying food. Our Family Housing Partnership works with families who are in danger of becoming homeless. Our Tax Preparation Assistance Program helps families prepare their income tax returns so that they receive all the refunds and tax credits they are due. CVCAC also provides resources and referrals for people who may need help from other agencies.

CVCAC Head Start and Early Head Start programs prepare young children for future success in school and in life. Through full day/full year early education centers, home visitors, and partnerships with private daycare providers, we provide resources, supports, and referral services to help parents be the primary educators in their children’s lives.

The Community Economic Development (CED) program has a number of initiatives dedicated to increasing the knowledge, wealth, and assets of low income Vermonters and the Central Vermont communities in which they live. They include the Micro Business Development Program (MBDP) that provides training and technical assistance to low-to-moderate income individuals who wish to enhance their earnings through the start-up or expansion of a business. The Vermont Women’s Business Center (VWBC) offers statewide and comprehensive business development and support services tailored to the needs and experiences of low-to-moderate income women who are starting or growing a business. Community Capital of Central Vermont offers financing and technical assistance to new and existing business owners who are low-to-moderate income and lack access to sufficient financing from conventional banks. People can improve their personal finances by enrolling in Tangible Assets (TA). While being trained in financial literacy, participants’ savings from earned income are accumulated in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) which are then matched dollar for dollar. These savings can be used for home purchases, developing small businesses, or post-secondary education and training. The Child Care Food Program (CCFP) reimburses private day care providers fro the healthy meals they serve to children in their care. This helps to keep child care affordable for working parents and ensures that hundreds of children are fed nutritious meals each day.

Weatherization reduces energy costs for low-income families by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through insulation, heating system tune-ups, and draft reduction measures.

Community Action Motors provides vehicles to low-income individuals and families so they can get to jobs, school, day care, or medical appointments.

CVCAC Workforce Development supports people in getting and keeping jobs through intensive case management, job development, post-employment support, wage subsidies, and a commitment to meeting the needs of local employers.

Farmworker Training offers support services and job training to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers so that they can obtain permanent, full-time employment.

CVCAC ensures that all voices are heard as we work to engage communities in finding creative solutions to poverty. We work closely with the Vermont Community Leadership Program and serve as a member of the Vermont Low Income Advocacy Council and other groups throughout the state.

CVCAC Workforce Development

Central Vermont Revolving Loan Fund

Childcare Food Program

Community Action Motors

Community Economic Development

Crisis Fuel

Family & Community Support

Family Housing Partnership

Early Head Start & Head Start

Micro Business Development Program

Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers

Residential Weatherization

Resources and Referrals

Tax Preparation Assistance

Vermont IDA

Vermont Women's Business Center

Child Care Food Program

CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

At Central Vermont Community Action Council

Congress created the Child Care Food Program (CCFP) in response to the need for sound nutrition for children. The ultimate goal of the CCFP is to serve nutritious meals and snacks that meet the minimum daily meal pattern requirements and are appealing to children. The meal pattern requirements assure that the meals are well balanced and supply the kinds and amounts of foods that children require to help meet their energy nutrient needs.

CCFP is administered by the Vermont Department of Education, with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Vermont. Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC) sponsors the Child Care Food Program in this area.

A family child care provider is often the first out-of-home care experience for infants and young children. Child care homes represent one of the best opportunities to reinforce and expand good eating behavior started by parents. Child care homes also provide the opportunity to teach both young children and parents healthy eating habits.

Studies have repeatedly documented the importance of both good nutrition and quality childcare in the brain development of preschool children. [Studies have consistently documented how necessary both proper nutrition and quality childcare are in preparing preschool children to come to elementary school ready to learn.]

The Child Care Food Program can make a difference in this goal because it helps child care providers serve nutritious well-balanced meals while at the same time making it financially feasible for providers and parents alike.

Benefits

● Reimbursement for meals served

● Nutrition Education

● Claim your own children (if income eligible)

● Newsletter: Recipes, Menu Planning, etc.

● Providers have the option of doing their

claims online

Provider Comments:

“I would recommend this program to any and all providers. I hear that the paper work is hard. Well, I can tell you, it takes minutes a day. For the amount of money I receive a month, it is well worth the time and effort.”

“The staff is always friendly and supportive. They are willing to help you in the beginning and they follow through with support forever.”

“I am able to serve a meal of quality with the help of this program. I don’t have to take from my personal income as much as I would have to if this program were not in place. By having the financial help from CCFP, I do not have to charge my parents as much as I would otherwise.”

“With my busy work schedule, it’s a relief to know that my children are being fed well-balanced meals throughout the day at daycare.”

If you have a licensed, registered or legally exempt home day care, and are interested in receiving reimbursement, and support for serving children nutritious meals, call for more information.

Presently this office serves Eastern Vermont from the Canadian Border to Bridgewater Corners, Vermont (Orleans, Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, Washington, and Orange counties as well as part of Windsor County).

CVCAC – CCFP
107 North Main Street, Suite 11
Barre, Vermont 05641

Phone: 802-479-0681 or 866-717-479-0688
Fax: 802-479-2867

Contact: Pat Siergiey, CCFP Coordinator
psiergiey@cvcac.org

Rachael Bliss, CCFP Case Manager
Melodie Lewis, CCFP Case Manager

Government Food Safety Information

It is the policy of the Department of Agriculture that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by this agency.