New Reimbursement Rates
The new USDA reimbursement rates, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, are posted on the WECA website.
Parent/Guardian Must Complete Child Enrollment Form Thoroughly
Each parent or guardian must thoroughly complete the enrollment form for his or her child. Before you submit any child enrollment form to the office, it’s your responsibility to be sure this information is complete and correct.
State Attendance Records: Not a Substitute for Daily Meal Counts
Your menus and meal counts (including each child’s name or number) must be recorded by the end of each business day, whether you claim online or on paper. State attendance records are not a substitute for meal counts.
Keep proper records and always have them available for your area coordinator. When records aren’t available at a home visit, she is required to deduct all meals and snacks that are not recorded, per USDA regulations.
Juice Reminder
Only 100% juice is creditable on the food program. Entering just "juice" is not enough information. Enter "100% juice" or the name of the first fruit or vegetable listed in the juice ingredients (tomato juice, orange juice, etc.). The product label will state “juice, full-strength juice, single-strength juice, 100% juice, reconstituted juice, juice from concentrate or juice concentrate.” Juices that have the words cocktail, beverage, or drink are not 100% juice.
IMPORTANT juice changes effective October 1, 2017:
- Juice is no longer creditable for infants.
- For children over one year: You are limited to serving juice once per day, per family day care home.
Remember to Provide WIC Information to All Parents
You are required to provide the current WIC information to ALL parents of children in care. You may either post the information where all parents can see it, or include it with the child enrollment information you provide to each parent.
Wisconsin WIC Income Eligibility is posted on the WECA website.
WIC promotes and maintains the health and well-being of nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and of infants and children. It provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education/support, supplemental nutritious foods and referrals to other health and nutrition services.
Apply for Tier One at Any Time
When your household circumstances change (your household size increases, your household income decreases or you now receive a qualifying service), you may apply to receive higher tier one rates. (You may also qualify to claim your eligible residential children, if applicable.) You can also apply to claim your eligible foster child(ren) at any time. Forms are available on the WECA website under Financial.
Tier two providers may request that their site address be reviewed for possible tier one school/census eligibility at any time. Call extension 7237. Tier two providers can distribute parent income eligibility applications to parents whenever parents' household circumstances change, or whenever a new child is enrolled. After WECA receives and processes each application, children whose households qualify will be reimbursed at the higher tier one rates. Remember:
- Parents/guardians are not required to complete the income application to have their child participate in the food program.
- You may submit the completed application directly to WECA only if the parent/guardian initials their approval in Part 3 of the form.
- Head Start children enrolled in care may be reimbursed at tier one rates when you serve them eligible meals/snacks. Updated documentation is required each year. Call extension 7237 for information.
October 1: Are You Ready? New USDA Meal Pattern Requirements Start Sunday, October 1, 2017
You must start using the new USDA meal patterns on Sunday, October 1. Each month, more of you make changes. Congratulations on being proactive!
Information on changes you can make now (Early Implementation), and other handouts are posted on the WECA website under October 1, 2017 New Food Program Meal Patterns. If you have questions, don’t wait. Contact your area coordinator right away!
IMPORTANT: Sweet tooth warning! Grain-based desserts are NOT creditable in the new meal pattern requirements.
Cookies; cake; coffee cake; sweet pie crust; fruit turnovers; doughnuts; cereal bars; breakfast bars; granola bars; toaster tarts and pastries; sweet rolls; cinnamon rolls; brownies; sweet bread pudding; rice pudding; sweet biscotti and scones made with fruits, icing, etc.; gingerbread; cobbler and fruit turnovers are not creditable.
- Even if they’re whole-grain-rich or homemade, grain-based desserts are not creditable.
- If a grain-based dessert is labeled with a different name than what it really is, it’s still a grain-based dessert and is not creditable.
Based on feedback, USDA will no longer designate sweet crackers (graham crackers and animal crackers) as grain-based desserts. These items will be creditable on the food program. However, USDA encourages you to serve these on a limited basis due to their higher sugar content.
A Handout to Share with Parents about the Required Meal Pattern Changes
Growing a Healthier Future with CACFP is available in English and Spanish on the WECA website.
Creditable Whole Grain Products Handout
This handout, posted on the WECA website, will get you started with whole grains.
Don't use MMs and CMs, Effective 10/1/17
Beginning October 1, 2017: Master Menus and Custom Menus are not reimbursable. They don’t meet new USDA meal pattern requirements and will be deducted. New pre-planned menus may be available on CACFP.Net in the future.
Claiming Online Helps You and Helps Us
Every month, more of you switch to online claiming with CACFP.Net (or the mobile app). Using these tools can guide you toward meeting the new meal pattern requirements successfully.
Thank you to everyone who files electronically! You help yourself, and you help the WECA Food Program keep our claim-processing costs down. We especially thank those of you who have used CACFP.Net from its very beginning.
For one-on-one assistance with the mobile app or with claiming online, call Mary Mahl at extension 8031.