Food Program
4-C is the local sponsor of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for family child care providers – licensed as well as unlicensed! We can even reimburse relatives and others who care for children while their parents work.
4-C reimburses participants for serving nutritious foods to children. The amount providers receive each month varies depending on the numbers of children and meals served. The average monthly check amount is $275.37. Providers who qualify may also be paid for food offered to their own children. There is no charge for the program! Support from 4-C staff makes participation fun, easy and rewarding!
The Food Program simply requires that providers follow a basic meal pattern. The provider may choose fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. and prepare them as desired. The examples below show how easy it is to meet the guidelines.
Menu Example
Breakfast
Milk, cereal and a banana
Lunch
Milk, turkey sandwich, carrot sticks & apple slices
Snack
Graham crackers and grape juice
Meal Rate
There are two levels of reimbursement, Tier 1 and Tier 2. Upon joining the Food Program all family child care providers receive Tier 2 rates. Providers may move to the higher Tier 1 rates depending on:
- The elementary school serving the family child care home
- The income of the provider (if the provider wishes to apply)
- The income of the family whose children are in child care
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Tier 1
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Tier 2
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(Per meal, per child)
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(Per meal, per child)
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Breakfast
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$1.06
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$ .39
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Lunch/Dinner
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$1.96
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$1.18
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Snack
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$ .58
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$ .16
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Program Benefits
- Reimbursement for nutritious meals served to children. Providers who qualify may also be paid for their own children's meals
- Easy reporting via choice of electronic or paper forms
- Newsletters, recipes and fun-filled educational materials
- Easy to use record keeping system to help with the child care provider's income taxes
- Helpful support just a phone call away
- One year membership to 4-C, which includes FREE CPR and First Aid training and other opportunities to meet the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) training requirements
- The Food Program is free to child care providers. Paperwork takes only a few minutes per day
Contact 4-C Food Program
Sue W.
(815) 758-8149, Ext. 234
Ellen
(815) 758-8149, Ext. 235
Sandy
(815) 758-8149, Ext. 238
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