Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
The CACFP (Food Program) conducted over 3,000 home monitoring visits to licensed family child care homes during the past year as well as facilitated 150 new provider orientations. Home visits ensure that all USDA program regulations are being met and provide one-to-one in-person support to child care providers and the children in their care. New provider orientations explain the benefits of the food program and clarify the enrollment process. CACFP staff also processed meal reimbursements to over 14,000 children, evaluating the quality of meals served and reimbursing accordingly. Child Care Aware provides resources and support to child care providers and programs, parents, and the general community. Child Care Aware staff serve as Parent Aware coaches to licensed family child care and child care centers. Over the last year, they have worked with 72 programs helping them to demonstrate their quality in preparing children for school success. Our Relatives as Parents Program provided support to 40+ The Early Learning Scholarship program provides scholarships to income qualifying families with young children in order to support their access to high quality early learning opportunities. Last year, we facilitated the process allowing over 500 children scholarships to support their participation in a Parent Aware program. Our four annual Early Childhood Professionals conferences provided professional support and learning to more than 1,000 childcare providers and educators throughout the state.
Current Goals
Our organization's goals include: Moving to a new location, as our 10- year lease ends in October 2015; Renaming our agency, to more accurately reflect who we serve and the services we provide; Staff retention, given the agency has experienced significant organizational change, including program growth and a change in leadership.
Community or Constituency Served
Child Care Choices' programs reach 48 of the 87 counties in MN.
Geographic Area Served
Child Care Choices' programs are delivered in 48 Minnesota counties. We have a concentration of programming that occurs in Central MN...specifically Benton, Stearns, and Sherburne counties.
