Daycare Food Program

[daycarediva]

I only have to have parents fill that information in if I want to claim a higher benefit rate for the lower income children. If a certain % of my children are under income limits, then I believe there is a higher benefit rate as well.

I just do the standard lower rate (we are in a higher income area). I would NEVER ask my daycare parents about their income.

[Unregistered]

I checked with the center owner I knew and she said it was part of her enrollment packet all parents filled it out. So you need not to warry about that form it is a part of official formality

[MarinaVanessa]

I suppose that the center could have worded it differently and explained it better for their own purposes and so that parents can understand better. In essence the food program enrollment form does not HAVE to be filled out but a center OR FCC can require it as a part of their enrollment. I do.

But I explain it a bit differently. I have a list in the handbook of necessary forms that are required (by me and some by licensing) in order to enroll a child into my daycare. The food program enrollment form is one of them. Any one of the forms missing or incomplete and I won't accept a child. Forms have to be renewed annually.

I also word the meal thing differently to say that ... there is no additional cost for meals. In a way my meals are included in the price of daycare but I don't say it like that, I say that the food is a bonus and that no additional cost is required by the parent. If they don't turn in the enrollment form or it's incomplete and I can't get reimbursed for those meals then they are required to provide the child's meals, remember .. I don't charge extra for the meals but they are a bonus if I get the paperwork filled out.

So if the center is requiring a client to fill out food program paperwork that the center has never disclosed is necessary and they advertise that meals are included in the price of child care then I don't see how they can force to have a client fill out a form or otherwise not get meals. I think they should reword their policies a bit.

But I am glad that you have a little bit more of an understanding of how the food program reimbursements work and are satisfied now with with the reasons to their request.

[Hunni Bee]

Can I just add that as a provider I'm a little shocked by this requirement for centers????

I fail to see how it is or should be any different than family child care :confused:

That sort of information is NOT the governments business nor should it be relevant to anything having to do with caring for someone else's child. It's not personal/individual assistance for criminey's sake.


If I was required to obtain such private details from my daycare parents I would simply refuse to be affiliated with a food program.


I'm sorry but this just blows my mind...........

Yes, it's ridiculous. We had to collect the same info, along with what neighborhoods our families lived in, their races, etc.