The Way It Was

[itlw8]

lots of talk about the food program lately. I thought you young ones might like to hear how it was.

When I started. we all got the same amount of money. 1x a year our check would be 1 to 2 months late because congress did not sign the farm bill.

We all got commodity butter and cheese. and lots of it. Who really needs 6 lbs of butter a month the cheese was good

Then one year they were going to cancel ALL of the food program. We all called and wrote letters. It was still in the budget except with the teir system. They did stop the free cheese and butter but we still got a small check.

Then they started adding more and more rules. Luckily for me Obama made a change and the teir system is based on any school ( including the high school) your child would attend. Luckily for our town the 9th grade center was over 50% free and reduced lunch and we all are teir one for 5 years. many friends say they may retire after those 5 years.

[Country Kids]

Oh, I have been on teir one for 17 years.

I'm not sure what you are talking about with the Obama issue as it didnt change a thing here. It still goes on what elementary school your childcare is nearest too.

[daycarediva]

I am tier 2. Kinda stinks because I do all whole grain/organic and it costs lots more!

I think some of the food program rules are silly, but it does help (usually covers about a weeks worth of food for daycare per month) so I am happy for that!

[Blackcat31]

Oh, I have been on teir one for 17 years.

I'm not sure what you are talking about with the Obama issue as it didnt change a thing here. It still goes on what elementary school your childcare is nearest too.

I have also always been on Tier 1 and it has been because of the school district my daycare is in. There are a few providers on the other side of town who get Tier 2 due to the school district they are in, but what they do is have the parents of the daycare fill out income verification forms and then if the families qualify the provider gets Tier 1 for those families. If the provider themselves qualify as low income, they also get Tier 1 reimbursement rates.

My MIL had a 24 hour daycare years ago when my DH was young. She siad there was no such thing as a food program or child care assistance back then. She said she ran for many years without being licensed because they didn't have that regulation then either. Funny to hear about how much things have and will continue to change in this profession.

[CrackerJacks]

You gals are lucky..the county I live in doesn't even offer a food program..

[Patches]

I'm teir 2 because of what MY income is. But I can get paid teir 1 for children that qualify for free/reduced lunches but ONLY those children

[Meeko]

I get tier one due to the school district. I receive about $900 - $1200 a month depending on days/attendance etc, so it's worth the hassle.

[LaLa1923]

I'm teir 2 because of what MY income is. But I can get paid teir 1 for children that qualify for free/reduced lunches but ONLY those children

I thought it went based on the school district?

[daycarediva]

I get tier one due to the school district. I receive about $900 - $1200 a month depending on days/attendance etc, so it's worth the hassle.

I get $200 for my group of 8. That's it (and I still think it's worth it!) Jealous over here!

[Scout]

I get tier one due to the school district. I receive about $900 - $1200 a month depending on days/attendance etc, so it's worth the hassle.

holy cow! that is awesome!! I wish I could get into the program.

[Blackcat31]

I get tier one due to the school district. I receive about $900 - $1200 a month depending on days/attendance etc, so it's worth the hassle.

Same here. It's a rare month that I reach $1000 but the average amount I get is around $800-900.

I receive Tier 1 reimbursement rates and have 11 full time children plus a few drop ins or after school Kindy kids here and there.

Totally worth doing the paperwork to get the check.

[Willow]

My mother in law has said when she did daycare there was no food program

I was tier 2 in my old county, since moving I am now on tier 1.....holy buckets the difference. Lets just say I actually *make* money feeding the kids in my care and I feed them very well (lots of organic, 95% whole non-processed foods).

[SilverSabre25]

Having the food program *almost* makes me want to get licensed. I would get Tier 1. But the hassles of being licensed, when i don't actually *have* to be, keep making me resist. Maybe someday. I think all it would take would be a suspicion of tragedy related to home daycare and Ohio's regulations would tighten right up like other states. It's always in the back of my mind, and I do try to run things as "by the book" as possible...just in case.

[Blackcat31]

Having the food program *almost* makes me want to get licensed. I would get Tier 1. But the hassles of being licensed, when i don't actually *have* to be, keep making me resist. Maybe someday. I think all it would take would be a suspicion of tragedy related to home daycare and Ohio's regulations would tighten right up like other states. It's always in the back of my mind, and I do try to run things as "by the book" as possible...just in case.

Silver, can I ask you...have you ever sat down and wrote out a list of pros and cons of being licensed? I mean I know it is different in every state but is there any one big reason why you don't want to become licensed? (and I don't mean something simple like not wanting the government in your business.. )

Just curious.....

OP......Sorry, I do not mean to hi-jack your thread.

[SilverSabre25]

Silver, can I ask you...have you ever sat down and wrote out a list of pros and cons of being licensed? I mean I know it is different in every state but is there any one big reason why you don't want to become licensed? (and I don't mean something simple like not wanting the government in your business.. )

Just curious.....

OP......Sorry, I do not mean to hi-jack your thread.

well aside from the hassle and the government telling me what to do with my kids and the insane cleaning regs that do NOT mesh with my beliefs about cleaning...the cost of getting licensed is a bit of a hindrance, and the two main benefits of being licensed seem to be food program and ability to take title XX (which I'm still torn about whether I want to). I'm actually working toward it; but it's a slow process for me. It's totally optional where i live.