Does Food Program Really Cover Food Costs?

[TGT09]

I spend right around $80-$100 each week just for daycare food/supplies. Take in mind that I buy mostly fresh and organic though.

[SunflowerMama]

Ok thanks for replies. I understand it a little better. I will no longer look at it as to cover ALL expenses but simply reimburse me for part of my food expenses. What do you guys usually spend a week total for food for children and how many do you have in care?

April was my first month on the food program and I'm set to be reimbursed about $150 for April. I'm on the Tier that offers the least amount for each meal.

I have 6 dkcs (2 are my own girls and then 4 others). I spend on average $100-$125 week in groceries just for the daycare.

[misol]

I asked about the food waste when I first started with the food program. The answer I was given was that I have to "offer" the food. The children don't have to eat/drink it. I was also told I could feed the kids "family style" meaning I set the dishes out for each child, then put all of the food in the center of the table. The deal with that is I need to have enough food for each child a serving. So, if I have 6 kids and they all need to be offered 1/4c of green beans I cook up 1.5c of green beans, and set them on the table and dish up each child's individually. I know Johnny doesn't like green beans, but I put a few on his plate offering them to him. If he wants more his helping is available in the pot, yet not wasted.

Based on a suggestion in another post a while back (might have been from you GretasLittleFriends), I have been serving "family style" as well. Now there isn't nearly as much waste - especially since my son will usually eat most of what's left over.

Also, I did the math one time and I figured out the cost per serving of the actual meals that I served for a week it was VERY close to the reimbursement rate. I felt much better after that

[kpa0627]

twin mama,
do you get reimbursed for the meals you feed your girls?

[Vesta]

Serving family style makes a huge difference.

[sahm2three]

No one has mentioned family style to me. I had the food program rep here last week and we talked about how much waste and she said that it had to be put in front of them. Like on their plates in front of them. The kids don't eat near what they are supposed to. Most of them won't eat fruit and veggies. Do their parents really not feed it to them at home?! UGH!

[SunflowerMama]

twin mama,
do you get reimbursed for the meals you feed your girls?

Nope...even though they are eating the exact same meal. We're Tier II and I think that might have something to do with it. I'm so new to the program so I'm not really sure why they can't be claimed.

[sahm2three]

Nope...even though they are eating the exact same meal. We're Tier II and I think that might have something to do with it. I'm so new to the program so I'm not really sure why they can't be claimed.

In my state, your children only qualify if you make under a certain amount of money per year.

[Unregistered]

I believe you can register with the food program if you are a legally doing daycare with out being licensed through the state. Here we can watch 2 children or 1 family of children without a daycare license.
When my children were younger, I was reimbursed for their meals when I was on Tier II, but if you are Tier 1 or your children are school age, they do not qualify for reimbursement.
Currently I have between 6-8 kids throughout the week and my check in April was $228. Not a lot, but I put it towards my taxes.

[SunflowerMama]

In my state, your children only qualify if you make under a certain amount of money per year.

I actually just got a call from the food program that they are trying to qualify me for Tier I which would be awesome! She said my kids would count and my check would more than double. That would definitely make it worth it! Hopefully they can get it to work!

[Pammie]

Awesome, thanks Pammie! I was hoping another Ohioan would chime in. :-) Any ideas on how to find a sponsoring agency in my area?? Google? I'm in the Cincy area.

Try your county JFS office (Jobs and Family Services). They'd be able to tell you whether they handle registering family daycares or if they have another agency do it. While you have them on the phone, you can ask/check your tier level for food program reimbursement

[TGT09]

Great, Thanks Pammie!

[Childminder]

I spend approx $600 per month on groceries for family and daycare. I average approx $450 from the food program, over $5500 a year. I am mixed tiered with being tier 2 but most of my families are tier 1. Also at tax time I claim A LOT more meals than that because of the only two meal/one snack (and vice versa) and being open longer hours than most daycares, another $2500. That and the government allowable rate ends up being a BIG tax write off. Contact the food program in your area and ask questions. You don't have to join just because you contact them. For me it is a win/win. Also you can go onto the USDA.gov website and they have a multitude of answers plus you can find out the sponsoring agencies for your area.

[MarinaVanessa]

Not at all. Honestly, with all the paperwork and then entering it onto their website, I don't think it is worth it. It is sooooooooooo much extra time and stress making sure they have just enough of this and that. Plus, I have families that don't allow their kids to drink milk and I have to still put it in front of them or get into trouble. So waste. Lots and lots of waste! The kids don't eat near all of what I am required to feed them. I am going to give it a try thru the summer (since I will be feeding so many more kids at each meal time). But I may not continue next school year.

I agree 100%. I'm in CA and I don't know how it works for everyone else but here I'm beginning to think that it's too much hassle just for reimbursement for SOME money. I buy groceries on seperate receipts for my family and my DC. A lot of it is the same food but I buy double and keep the receipts now and ONLY give DC food to DC kids. AT the end of the year I'll just claim all of my DC food and get it ALL back. I keep my families grocery receipts also to prove that I buy groceries for my own family.

Signing up for the food program was easy enough but I had one visit with the worker and she just gave me a bunch of papers and said here's what's allowed and sort of left to think about my own foods and menus. I feel that she didn't give me enough training. It's sort of like a sink or swim type of training. I learned everything I needed to know from other providers on the food program. You have to enter every child's information into a computer program that's connected to the internet so you HAVE to have internet connection. That's ok with me but what about those who don't? Anyway, the menus have to be entered in to this program weekly in advance and god forbid that you send them a menu plan and they come to your home and you changed one little thing on the menu. Even something as little as changing oranges to grapes instead for the fruit is a big no-no. At the end of each meal you have to enter in the info of who was here, who ate, what they ate etc. You can also do this at the end of the day for everyone but it has to be done THAT day. If there's a family emergency or you need to go out and do something after DC or just forget and you don't enter the info that day, you don't get paid for that day. They can also come in to your house whenever they want during your meal and snack times to check that you're feeding them properly. And heaven forbid that you're running late and they show up at lunch and the kids are not eating. You have to tell them what time your meal and snack times are and stick to them.

Not so long ago I started having park days twice a week since my home is walking distance to four really nice parks. We go to a different park each time to keep things interesting and we can be there for a few hours so I take beverages and lunch and snacks with us. The bad thing is that here in CA the food program doesn't cover any meals that are eaten out of the home even if you prepare it at home and pack it with you. Also you have to call them each time you are gone during a snack or mealtime so they don't accidentally show up while you are gone. Too much trouble if you ask me.

[Golden Rule]

I also found it to be too much DRAMA with the constant changing of tiers/regulations (ketchup is a vegetable??!!), services losing their state contracts/having to start process all over, agents repeatedly getting lost trying to find my house/had to send someone to escort them, multiple unannounced (until they called to say they were lost) home visits, redundant paperwork and over-regulation.

I also lost the tax deductions...was not worth it for me, personally.::