Food Program: Worth The Hassle?

[Miss A]

No, I did too. It is really chaotic, here.

It isn't the oversight, I like taking training classes and having occasional visitors. Especially ones who bring treats like a couple of them did. It is the mismanagement, turnover, and incompetence of the various sub-contractors that made the extra work not worth it on the lowest tier. They lost paperwork constantly, missed deadlines, changed providers (and all the paperwork that entails) and often cost me the reimbursement. There was no recourse. I was on the lowest level with a low ratio anyway, so it was barely worth it to begin with. I think I got one out of every three claims. I left after a year.

I joined for the training, not the reimbursement and even that was a cluster. It really has to do with where you live and community resources.

Does your state have a DHS training registry? I was able to enroll in the CACFP provides training course without enrolling in the food program it's self. I took them because I wanted the additional wellness and nutrition trainings.

[Miss A]

In our area which tier you are placed on is based on your household income. My DH's income alone disqualifies us from the higher tier. Based on the information my rep provided, it would be less than $200 a month for me because I only take 4 daycare kids at a time.

My rep is using the food program as motivation for me to consider getting licensed again. The state is lacking providers who will accept CCA, and she was really pushing that to me as well yesterday. She claims that I can get paid at a rate for 10 hours of care provided even if I only provide 6 hours of care, and a bunch of other things that go against the information provided by the state. I started out as a licensed provider and chose to drop it and be legally unlicensed for a reason.

[Meeko]

For $1000-$1200 a month...it's totally worth it for me! We are Tier 1 because of the school district. My program is great and the reps are awesome. We missed the annual training class for our area (2hrs and usually very informative) last month because of sickness. So last week, our rep traveled down from SLC to my town (40 miles) and met us at the library for a private class. Can't beat that for service.

It takes only a few seconds to enter a meal. Nothing more that clicking a child's name. If you take the time to set up a cycle menu in the program, it becomes very easy to record after that..

Kidkare had a lot of bugs in the program and still isn't perfect, but nothing I can't live with.

[Cat Herder]

Does your state have a DHS training registry? I was able to enroll in the CACFP provides training course without enrolling in the food program it's self. I took them because I wanted the additional wellness and nutrition trainings.

Yes, we do now. It is awesome. We have many free onsite trainings available although most are between 2-6 hours away and mid-work week. I rarely participate in those for pretty obvious reasons. :: We don't have to be on the food program to participate.

I currently take about 2 hours per week through an approved trainer at $99 per year, unlimited. Right now my registry shows 587 current hours (a couple 3 month college courses at the trade school were worth 112 hours each, CDA was worth 120 ). I am taking the new infant brain development course series this week, they are fun.

[Miss A]

Yes, we do now. It is awesome. We have many free onsite trainings available although most are between 2-6 hours away and mid-work week. I rarely participate in those for pretty obvious reasons. :: We don't have to be on the food program to participate.

I currently take about 2 hours per week through an approved trainer at $99 per year, unlimited. Right now my registry shows 587 current hours (a couple 3 month college courses at the trade school were worth 112 hours each, CDA was worth 120 ). I am taking the new infant brain development course series this week, they are fun.

May I ask what program you are using? It sounds Wonderful!

I have been completing 2-3 hours per week just with courses provided through our state training registry online. I am really looking forward to the in-person EC-PBIS course this fall though. That is the major one I have waiting to have offered, and completing that with the degree I have allows me to work in our school system with no pre-employment training needed.

[Blackcat31]

In our area which tier you are placed on is based on your household income. My DH's income alone disqualifies us from the higher tier. Based on the information my rep provided, it would be less than $200 a month for me because I only take 4 daycare kids at a time.

My rep is using the food program as motivation for me to consider getting licensed again. The state is lacking providers who will accept CCA, and she was really pushing that to me as well yesterday. She claims that I can get paid at a rate for 10 hours of care provided even if I only provide 6 hours of care, and a bunch of other things that go against the information provided by the state. I started out as a licensed provider and chose to drop it and be legally unlicensed for a reason.

State assistance works like that in my area.

If a child is in attendance for 5.5 hours, we are automatically paid for a full day.

If they are in attendance for 36 hours per week, we are automatically paid a full weekly rate.

[Cat Herder]

May I ask what program you are using? It sounds Wonderful!

Sure! https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/

The $99 individual program. https://www.prosolutionstraining.com...Version_id=279

[Cat Herder]

Forgot to add they have an amazing Library of Resources, FREE. https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/resource_Library/

[sharlan]

Have they *ever* participated though? I do think a lot of providers tend to be suspicious about yet another person overseeing their business that they don't sign on. I think most providers have relatively positive experiences on the FP. I think Sharlan was the only member here I know of who had a really horrible FP sponsor.

That was 20 years ago. I quit for a long time but started after reading Tom's article. I'm with a great program now. I really like my rep.

[Play Care]

That was 20 years ago. I quit for a long time but started after reading Tom's article. I'm with a great program now. I really like my rep.

I remember you telling of your first experience and it was so awful it's stayed with me ::

[CityGarden]

I see the value to what Tom's blog said about the financial value but still decided to opt out of the food program. I provide homemade organic snack but I see value in parents providing lunches from home - it saves me time (grocery shopping and cooking), money and conversations with parents who have very different views on what is healthy and balanced. Also I like the freedom to eat lunch at the park 2-3 times a week all year long, not always on the same days and I would feel annoyed having to notify the food program of that each time.

When I give parents tours I sell the value of them providing lunches:

• My time is not taken away from the dcks to prepare meals.
• Their child gets a mid-day connection to home and take a sense of pride and ownership in their lunch.
• Their child explores new taste at snack (provided by me) but then has something they know matches their taste at lunch.
• Our program provides weekly cooking class and daily organic homemade snacks.

Food seems like one of the largest expenses for most providers and by having parents provide lunch it is less expenses to begin with.

[Snowmom]

I am currently on Tier 1 because of the school district boundaries my home is in.
It is absolutely worth my time because of that. I average $800 a month for 8-10 kids (varying schedules).

In a month, I move. I will then be Tier 2.
I will be dropping it then. I would rather just keep my log in information and do counts at the end of the year for the write off. The drop in reimbursements makes it just not worth it to me because I will then go to an average of $250 a month reimbursement for 8-10 kids on Tier 2.

[BrynleeJean]

I am currently on Tier 1 because of the school district boundaries my home is in.
It is absolutely worth my time because of that. I average $800 a month for 8-10 kids (varying schedules).

In a month, I move. I will then be Tier 2.
I will be dropping it then. I would rather just keep my log in information and do counts at the end of the year for the write off. The drop in reimbursements makes it just not worth it to me because I will then go to an average of $250 a month reimbursement for 8-10 kids on Tier 2.

Thats about the same here for 8-10 kids unfortunately
love the input

[CityGarden]

I am currently on Tier 1 because of the school district boundaries my home is in.
It is absolutely worth my time because of that. I average $800 a month for 8-10 kids (varying schedules).

In a month, I move. I will then be Tier 2.
I will be dropping it then. I would rather just keep my log in information and do counts at the end of the year for the write off. The drop in reimbursements makes it just not worth it to me because I will then go to an average of $250 a month reimbursement for 8-10 kids on Tier 2.

Great point I am Tier 2 which did impact my decision.

[Silly Songs]

A local school my friend’s children attend ( preschool/ daycare) provides snacks wrapped in bags from some program. I’m not sure if it’s the food program but the mom was told it’s a government program. She pays a lot for tuition so she doesn’t know how they are eligible.