Posts Tagged ‘Early Care and Education’
A Roadmap for Reducing Added Sugars
A report from the Global Food Institute at The George Washington University, titled Changing the Default: A Policy Roadmap for Reducing Added Sugars in U.S. Children’s Diets, outlines a comprehensive strategy for helping children consume less added sugar and improve long-term health outcomes.
Read MoreNCA Response – Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs
The National CACFP Association (NCA) recently submitted comments on the Administration for Children and Families’ proposed rule, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs (ACF-2026-0595). While NCA supports the proposed rule’s continued emphasis on nutrition, healthy eating, physical activity, and family engagement, NCA raised significant concerns about provisions that could unintentionally undermine nutrition services for children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Read MoreSponsor Spotlight: Doris Acevedo and Terri Alexander with 4C For Children
For more than five decades, 4C for Children has been a cornerstone of support for child care providers and families across southeastern Wisconsin. Among their services is the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), where 4C for Children sponsors 311 family child care homes that collectively serve nearly 4,000 children and provide more than 853,000 meals each year.
Read MoreSponsor Spotlight: Darcie Decker with Youth & Family Services
For more than four decades, Darcie Decker has helped shape the nutrition programs at Youth & Family Services (YFS) in Rapid City, South Dakota. As Nutrition Director, Darcie oversees both the organization’s on-site meal programs and its Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship of family child care homes across much of western South Dakota.
Read MoreSponsor Spotlight: Pat Siergiey with Capstone Community Action
For nearly three decades, Pat Siergiey has dedicated her career to supporting child care providers and ensuring children across Vermont have access to nutritious meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Read about what her organization is doing to uplift the CACFP.
Read MoreStrengthening Protections for Children with Food Allergies Act Introduced
Back to Blog Back to Blog Strengthening Protections for Children with Food Allergies Act Introduced September 17, 2026 The Strengthening Protections for Children with Food Allergies Act (H.R. 10228) has been introduced in Congress by Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). The legislation would strengthen food allergy training requirements across federal child nutrition…
Read MoreKeeping Food Safe: Food Temperatures and Thermometers
September is National Food Safety Education Month, a time to review how to keep food safe. One way to prevent foodborne illness is to cook food to the right temperature. Our partners at ICN explain how to use and care for food thermometers, so you always cook food safely.
Read MoreSponsor Spotlight: Karen Velasco and Anabel Tejada with Child Care Network of New York
Sponsor Spotlight: Karen Velasco and Anabel Tejada with Child Care Network of New York Sponsor of Family Child Care Homes Back to Member Showcase Back to Member Showcase September 8, 2026 Karen Velasco and Anabel Tejada have built their careers at Child Care Network of New York from the ground up. Today, they help lead…
Read MoreSupporting Healthy Nutrition in Early Education & Care Settings
A new report from Children’s HealthWatch examines how child care providers are navigating the growing challenge of serving nutritious meals to young children amid rising food costs, staffing shortages, and complex program requirements.
Read MoreStretched Thin: The Administrative Burden of the CACFP in Family Child Care Homes
For family child care providers, the workday does not start when the first child arrives and end when the last child leaves. Behind every day of quality care are countless hours of preparation, cleaning, recordkeeping, and business management. Providers wear many hats simultaneously, acting as caregivers, teachers, cooks, janitors, accountants, compliance officers, and small business owners.
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