In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursement for participating centers serving nutritious meals. It is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kessel Kids CcLc participates in CACFP. We follow guidelines for providing healthy meals and snacks, receive training in food and nutrition and observe recommendations for preparation and handling. We are required to annually request for families to complete enrollment information for our records.
Kessel Kids CcLc follows CACFP meal patterns according to the types and amounts of food served. Credible foods are used to meet food component requirements. Children have access to safe drinking water and are encouraged to drink water throughout the day.
Kessel Kids CcLc uses a combination of pre-dished and family style meal services. Providers are encouraged to take part in the meal time experience and be positive role models at this time to promote such things as the use of good manners and desire to try new foods. Children learn how to pass foods, pour beverages and serve foods during meals.
Snack and meal time are located below:
Breakfast: 7:00-7:30
Am Snack: 9:30-10:15
Lunch: 11:15-12:15
PM Snack: 2:30-3:45
We strive to use best practices when feeding infants. Feeding infants when they begin to show signs of hunger and ending feedings when they show signs of being full guides our decision making process. We work with families on feeding plans if and when they have preferences or feeding directions. Our program offers a variety of healthy meals and snacks for infants each day. When developmentally ready, solid foods should be introduced one at a time at home to detect allergies. Parent(s)/ legal guardians must introduce new foods at home before the center will offer the food to the child. Each infant's feeding pattern will be discussed and developed with the parent(s)/ legal guardian and with consideration of CACFP standards. Infants must be held when they are fed and will never be left with a propped-up bottle. All meals are recorded in Procare for parental viewing.
Breast milk and/or iron-fortified infant formula must be served for the entire first year of life. The center offers one allowable iron fortified infant formula, Parent’s Choice, as part of CACFP. If a family prefers an alternative brand of infant formula, the family must provide the formula at their cost. Baby food and infant cereal is supplied by the center. Combination baby foods will not be served.
Formula brought from home must be labeled with the child’s name. Formula will be diluted according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer or from the child’s healthcare provider.
Bottled breast milk or formula to be warmed will be placed in a bottle warmer with temperature display before feeding. Bottled breast milk or formula will never be warmed in a microwave oven.
Baby food will be served from a bowl or cup and not from the container unless the entire container will be used for one feeding. Solids will be fed by spoon only, not bottle. Uneaten food will be discarded.
Only whole, pasteurized milk will be served to children younger than 24 months of age who are not on formula or breast milk. Only formula or breast milk will be served to infants less than 12 months of age.
Food will be cut up into ¼ - ½ inch pieces for finger feeding for children who are six months of age and older. Utensils will be available to children who use them.
Breastfeeding mothers are welcome to do so within the center. Kessel Kids CcLc provides mothers with a comfortable, quiet space outside the classroom to be with their babies while feeding. Mothers are welcome and encouraged to drop in for feedings. Employees are also able and encouraged to access the breastfeeding room. Breastfeeding resources are available near the feeding room.
All breast milk bottles must be labeled with the infant's name and date the milk was expressed. The same is true if a family chooses to bring frozen breast milk to the center. Previously frozen, thawed breast milk must be used within 24 hours. Frozen breast milk will be dated and may be kept in the freezer located within the kitchen for up to 3 months. Frozen breast milk will be thawed under running cold water or in the refrigerator. Kessel Kids CcLc has refrigerator and freezer space to store expressed breast milk
Only cleaned and sanitized bottles and nipples will be used at Kessel Kids CcLc. Human milk will be stored in an identified container with the child’s name and date of collection. The human milk may be kept frozen or refrigerated. Any contents of milk remaining after feeding shall be discarded. Prepared bottles of formula from powder or concentrate or ready-to-feed formula shall be labeled with the child’s name and date of preparation. The content shall be kept refrigerated and discarded after 48 hours if not used.
Unused expressed human milk shall be discarded after 48 hours if refrigerated or by three months if frozen and stored in a deep freezer at zero degrees. Unused frozen human milk which has been thawed in the refrigerator shall be used within 24 hours.
A bottle that has been fed over a period of time that exceeds an hour from the beginning of the feeding or has been unrefrigerated an hour or more shall not be served to an infant.
Cleaning and sanitation of bottles and nipples will be done using the center’s commercial dishwasher during shift changes when staffing allows for a caregiver to leave the classroom as well as part of the classroom closing procedures.
Kessel Kids CcLc must provide food substitutions when a participant has a disability that has been documented by a medical professional unless doing so would be a documented hardship. Special diets indicated by a medical professional for a participant who does not have a disability will be honored as long as the substitutions would not be a documented hardship. An allergy/food exception statement is required when a participant needs to avoid specific foods for medical reasons. Special diets due to food allergies or food intolerances must be clearly expressed to the center director and staff. A parent must provide a physician’s statement regarding the allergy or intolerance and a list of prohibited foods.
Religious exceptions will be honored given a parent statement requesting the special diet and a comprehensive list of all prohibited foods. Kessel Kids CcLc will accommodate by providing alternate foods as needed.
Food items should not be brought from home. Exceptions may be granted for special occasions. Food products brought on these occasions must be commercially purchased not home-made.
The daily schedule within each room provides time for large motor skill activity within and outside of the classroom, weather permitting. Children will go outdoors each day with exception of extreme weather conditions. Teachers incorporate a variety of nutrition and physical activity based planning into their classrooms to encourage children to make healthy choices. Time will be provided within the classroom as well as outdoors for quiet time activities such as reading, relaxing and listening to music.
Children will play outside on a daily basis when weather and air quality conditions do not pose a significant health risk. Weather that poses a significant health risk includes wind chill at or below 15°F and a heat index at or above 90°F, as identified by the National Weather Service.
Air quality conditions identified by the local health officials through alerts will require children to remain indoors. Children with respiratory problems shall not play outdoors when local health authorities announce the air quality is becoming unhealthy.
Children will be protected using shade, sun-protective clothing and sunscreen with UVB-ray and UVA-ray protection of SPF-15 or higher, with parental permission. Children will be encouraged to drink water during activity in warm weather. Providers should ensure that children wear appropriate clothing such as non-layered lightweight, light-colored clothing in warm weather. Children shall also wear sun-protective clothing such as hats or longer sleeves or pants if needed. In cold weather, children shall be kept dry and layered. Providers shall check on children’s extremities at least every 15 minutes to ensure they remain safe.
Kessel Kids CcLc promotes the habit of regular tooth brushing and limits foods high in sugar. All children are encouraged to brush their teeth at least once during the hours the child is in child care. Water is available for drinking throughout the day. Infants and toddlers are never put to sleep with bottles or sippy cups as this can cause tooth decay. Infants and toddler are held or encouraged to sit at the table with bottles or cups.
Children under two years of age utilize a smear of toothpaste (rice grain) on the brush when brushing. Children over two years of age use a pea sized amount. An ideal time to brush is after eating. The provider will brush the child’s teeth or supervise as the child brushes his or her own teeth. Disposable gloves are used by the provider due to the risk of exposure to oral fluids.
Children will have an age-appropriate, personally labeled tooth brush. No sharing or borrowing should be allowed. After use the toothbrushes will be stored on a clean surface with the bristle end of the toothbrush up in the air to dry. The toothbrushes should not contact or drip on each other. The toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
Toothpaste from a single tube is dispensed onto a clean piece of paper or paper cup for each child rather than directly on the toothbrush. Toothpaste should be stored out of a child’s reach.
We are committed to limiting screen time at Kessel Kids CcLc. We encourage physical activity, social interaction and hand-on learning. Limiting screen times supports us with keeping kids physically, emotionally and mentally healthy. Screen time is only utilized when it is an extension of learning associated with our curriculum. Screen time is not used in classrooms with children under the age of two. If and when screen time is utilized, teachers talk about and discuss what the children are seeing and learning. Screen time is never unsupervised. Screen time shall never be used as a reward for challenging behavior.