Some home day care providers in Southwest Louisiana may benefit from a program that reimburses the cost of providing children with breakfast, lunch and a snack.

The Family Day Care Home Food Program was launched Monday and is available to home day care providers who take care of up to six children who are up to 12 years old. The Louisiana State Department of Education runs the program along with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Human Services Department.

Glory Callihan, the parish’s case manager for the food program, said day care providers must be certified by the state to participate. Certification includes a $30 inspection by the state fire marshal, she said.

In order to be reimbursed for meals served, Callihan said day care providers must follow the Food Guide Pyramid when serving meals. They must keep a log of the meals and snacks served daily and how many children are fed.

Human Services officials review the menu logs each month, then submit them to the state Department of Education for review. The state sends approved checks to the parish which then sends them to the providers within five working days.

Callihan said the reimbursements are based on a formula that includes standard rates for each meal. They include $1.28 for breakfast; $2.40 for lunch and 71 cents for a snack. For example, a household day care with six children would be reimbursed $523 in June.

Callihan said any provider that is discontinued from the program for non-compliance will be unable to sign up with any other food program for seven years.

Callihan said there are 50 active home day care providers participating in the program, with one provider in Beauregard Parish.

For more information on the program, call the Human Services Department at 721-4030.

(mgnonline.com)