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Colorado Food Program information for family child care homes

Benefits for family child care homes

The Colorado Food Program serves:
  • Infants and children under age 13.
  • Migrant children under age 15.
  • Individuals with disabilities who receive care in a child care center where most participants are under age 18.
     

For family child care centers, participation in the Colorado Food Program:
  • Helps cover the cost of two meals and a snack per child each day that are aligned with licensing rules. Savings can be used for other child care program needs.
  • How much money you might receive?
  • Offers nutrition education and professional development opportunities for child care center staff.
  • Supports marketing of the program to families who want their children to receive nutritious meals.
For children, participation in the Colorado Food Program:
  • Exposes them to new, healthy foods.
  • Provides healthy meals so they can learn, thrive, and be curious about the world around them.
  • Supports their social skills and language development during meal time.
For families, participation in the Colorado Food Program:
  • Helps them stretch their food resources at home.
  • Supports the healthy development of their children during the critical early years.
  • Provides ideas about different meal choices to try at home.

PDIS

On the PDIS website, you'll be joining other early care and learning professionals throughout Colorado to complete training, apply for credentials and qualifications, and more.

PDIS Training Courses
  • Introduction to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) (1 hour) outlines what the CACFP is and the financial and nutritional benefits to early care programs and families. It also walks the learner through a preliminary Eligibility Checklist to determine if your early care program may be eligible to participate and describes the next steps. 
  • This course is also available in Español (Spanish):
    • Introducción al Programa de alimentos para el cuidado de niños y adultos (CACFP) (1 hora)
       

How to apply

Under the supervision of one of our sponsoring organizations, a licensed family child care home provider in Colorado may participate in the Colorado Food Program. Multiple sponsors serve the same areas. Sponsors help providers enroll. They also serve as nutrition consultants and partner with providers to:

  • Meet program requirements using the means (hard copy or technology) comfortable to the provider.
  • Provide inspiration and strategies for planning menus and serving healthy, culturally diverse meals.
  • Support teaching young children about their nutritional and health needs.
  • Guide providers with best practices for feeding young children.

Interested in finding a sponsor? Explore the sponsor list.

Printable brochures