Sponsor Spotlight: Darcie Decker with Youth & Family Services

Darcie’s CACFP journey began shortly after she joined the organization 43 years ago. With a degree in home economics education, she moved to western South Dakota and accepted a position with what was then known as Girls Club of Rapid City. Although YFS was already participating in CACFP through its child care and afterschool programs, a conversation with the state agency opened the door to a new possibility: sponsoring family child care homes. Recognizing an opportunity to expand support for children and providers, YFS pursued the program and has sponsored homes for more than 40 years.

Today, YFS sponsors 68 family child care homes across 31 counties, stretching from central South Dakota to the western edge of the state. With only a handful of CACFP Sponsors operating statewide, Darcie and her team continue to work intentionally to ensure providers have access to the program and the support they need to succeed. At the center of that success is relationship-building.

 

Darcie is quick to share, “The number one success in our family child care is the relationships we’ve built. Many providers want to continue working with us because of those relationships. When an adult comes into their home and listens to their needs, they feel supported. We've also learned from them as they share their successes and challenges. That open communication is incredibly important.”

 

That support takes many forms. YFS provides monthly newsletters featuring CACFP-compliant menu ideas, recipes, and activity suggestions. The team also regularly shares books and educational materials with providers. Most importantly, providers know they have someone to call when questions arise.

Darcie credits much of that connection to the organization’s family child care reviewer, Karen Malone, who travels wherever support is needed. Karen is known for responding quickly to providers’ questions, whether they are about meal patterns, paperwork, or daily program challenges. This dedication has helped foster trust and sustain strong participation.

While supporting providers is a significant part of YFS’s work, the organization’s impact extends far beyond its sponsored homes. Across its centers and afterschool programs, YFS serves about 700 to 800 meals each day. Children enrolled in Head Start, child care, and afterschool programs receive nutritious meals and snacks prepared by an in-house kitchen team committed to high-quality food.

That commitment to nutrition has grown even stronger through scratch cooking and local food initiatives. A recent grant is helping the organization buy more fresh, locally grown produce while building relationships with local growers. YFS also operates a three-acre educational farm where children learn firsthand to plant, maintain, and harvest crops. The farm includes five beehives, giving children unique opportunities to learn about pollinators and food systems through hands-on experiences.

The organization’s garden educator also brings those lessons into classrooms, teaching children where food comes from and how it is prepared. Whether students are learning to make pickles from freshly harvested cucumbers or helping husk sweet corn for lunch, nutrition education becomes practical and memorable.

Community connection is also central to YFS’s summer meal programs. In addition to a closed-enrolled site, the organization hosts an open meal site where children and adults can gather for lunch. In recent years, roughly 170 people have joined the site each day during the summer. Partnerships and grant funding have allowed YFS to serve adults alongside children, eliminating barriers that once prevented entire families from eating together.

 

Incredibly grateful for this funding, Darcie said, “For years, we charged parents $3.00 for a meal. Many couldn’t afford it, and those parents and grandparents would sit and watch their kids eat. Thanks to these funding sources, those adults can now eat a meal with their children. Those adults who walk in need this meal, too.” 

 

Youth & Family Services’ summer sites offer much more than meals. Local organizations regularly provide enrichment activities, health screenings, educational demonstrations, and family engagement opportunities. Children who attend also receive backpacks of food to help bridge the gap over weekends. Together, these efforts create welcoming community spaces where families can access both nutrition and additional support.

For Darcie, the true impact of nutrition programs is often revealed through the stories of the families they serve.

She recalls a mother experiencing homelessness who began bringing her five children to the summer meal site every day. Staff members built a relationship with her, learned about her circumstances, and connected her with Head Start and Early Head Start opportunities. Through those connections, the family gained access to education, housing resources, and additional support. With secure child care, the mother could access training opportunities and permanent housing.

Another moment has stayed with Darcie. During a conversation with a Head Start student, a nurse asked a four-year-old girl what her favorite part of the program was. The nurse expected to hear about playgrounds, friends, or classroom activities. Instead, the little girl replied, “I get to eat until my tummy is full.”

For Darcie, that simple answer captured the importance of CACFP and the role food programs play in addressing hunger and food insecurity.