Cornerstone Child Care Food Program

Cornerstone Family Ministries is a leading sponsor in the State of Florida for the USDA Child Care Food Program through the Florida Department of Health.

Cornerstone Family Ministries is a leading sponsor in the State of Florida for the USDA Child Care Food Program through the Florida Department of Health. Through this program, privately owned for-profit and non-profit Child Care Centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco and Manatee Counties can apply to be a site under Cornerstone’s sponsorship. The program makes it possible for centers to serve the children in their care a free breakfast, lunch and snack each school day. In addition, Child Care Centers under Cornerstone’s sponsorship are considered part of Cornerstone’s Children’s Nutrition Connection and receive connections to free and discounted resources, funding and educational opportunities and programing as well as prayer and technical assistance to help them stay relevant and sustain their center so they can keep their doors open for children who really need them so parents can go to work and school.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Child Care Food Program (CCFP), in 1968 in response to the need to provide adequate nutrition to a growing number of children in day care. The goal of the CCFP is to see that well-balanced meals are served and that good eating habits are taught in childcare settings. The CCFP provides reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to all children in qualifying childcare centers. The CCFP is administered in Florida by the Department of Health, Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs. The USDA provides funding for the program.
*The application and on-boarding process may take up to 60 days.
CCFP is a supplemental program through the USDA and administered in Florida by the Department of Health. This program pays qualifying licensed Centers and Childcare Homes for “serving” up to up to two nutritious meals and one snack to all children (including infants) in their care.
▶ Expedited Enrollment In the CCFP .
▶ All children receive nutritious meals.
▶ Reimbursement for every nutritious meal served.*
▶ Technical assistance to help center staff get started and throughout the year.
▶ Food and nutrition training to center staff for in-service credit at no cost to the center.
▶ Approved menus that take the worry out of menu planning.
▶ Assistance contracting an approved caterer (if needed).
▶ In addition to all of the benefits of being a Cornerstone Sponsored CCFP site, because Cornerstone Family Ministries is a ministry, we also provide the following FREE added benefits:
▶ Cornerstone’s Garden Movement – FREE Garden to Table Nutrition Education for Children and Teachers. These sessions are offered on-site at your location or as a field trip to our Community Garden classroom. In addition, you will have access to a scholarship to start your own garden box program at your center!
▶ Cornerstone’s Literacy Outreach – Book Collections that Provide Books to your Center
▶ Cornerstone’s Care Packages for Kids – Weekend Care Packages of Nutritious Food and Nutrition Information for Parents
▶ Other Shared Materials & Resources that at are solicited by and donated to Cornerstone for the Childcare Centers we sponsor.
A minimum of 25% of the children enrolled in your center must qualify free or reduced meals (Note: We will help you qualify your families. A family of 4 making $48,470 or less would qualify toward your 25%).
You must be one of the following:
▶ A public agency;
Private non-profit organization (must have a tax-exempt status (501(c)(3))
▶ Private for-profit organization meeting the 25% qualification
▶ Private for-profit accepting School Readiness benefits for at least 25% of enrollment or 25% or 25% of licensed capacity, whichever is less.
Cornerstone Family Ministries
▶ Provide technical assistance and training on nutrition, food service operations, program management and record keeping.
▶ Review and monitor program services to ensure good nutrition for all eligible enrolled participants.
▶ Determine the proper eligibility of enrolled children and maintain the centers enrollment roster in a confidential way.
▶ Distribute to the centers all necessary record keeping forms. Collect monthly, all necessary program records for claiming CCFP meal reimbursement.
▶ Process monthly claims for sponsored centers. Distribute payments to the center within 5 working days of receipt of monthly reimbursements from the Department of Health
Child Care Centers
▶ Prepare and serve age specific meals that meet the meal pattern requirements, or serve meals that are received from an approved caterer. Provide all enrolled children the same meal at no separate cost to the parent.
▶ Attend Required Trainings (Initial Training and Annual Training events)
▶ Collect Child Free & Reduced Meal Service Applications from Each Parent Once a Year
▶ Submit Food and Supply Receipts, Staffing Costs, Attendance and Meal Serving Records Monthly
Florida Department of Health
▶ Provide the funding for reimbursement of meals served, determined by the number of eligible enrolled participants and the reimbursement rates set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Finding out if you qualify to participate is easy. We will guide you every step of the way but the first step is yours click the Apply button below to fill out a simple screening application and we will be in touch promptly!