What Do I Need To Know
Meal Requirements
Any enrolled child that has special dietary needs and cannot be served foods as listed below must have a doctor’s written request.
Age 1 year – 12 years:
- BREAKFAST – milk, bread or bread alternate and a fruit or vegetable or a fruit juice
- LUNCH/SUPPER (DINNER) – milk, bread or bread alternate, meat or meat alternate and one (1) fruit and one (1) vegetable
- SNACKS – two (2) different food items from the following food groups: milk, bread/bread alternate, meat/meat alternate and/or fruit/vegetable
Infants Birth – 11 months:
- Menu requirements will be discussed at sign-up.
Fire Safety/Sanitation
Louisiana does not require your home to be licensed in order to participate in the program. A Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Inspector will inspect your home for fire safety and sanitation. This is called “alternate approval”. Your home will be considered “Registered”. There is a $30.00 inspection fee. You will be required to maintain a safe environment for children. The inspection will be required once each year. You will be notified in advance of the Fire Marshal’s inspection date. You will find a list of various items you must have in order to pass the inspection listed below:
- 2A3BC Fire Extinguisher (must have a current inspection tag)
- Refrigerator thermometer (which must read at least 40 degrees)
- Working smoke detector on each level of the home and in all rooms used for sleeping
- Water heater must be properly installed
- Rooms with unvented gas space heaters will be required to meet special standards
A member of the LUNCH Program staff will conduct a Pre-Approval inspection of your home prior to requesting the Fire Marshall’s Inspection. (This takes place during the initial sign-up and once a year afterwards)
Training
Each Provider is trained for participation in the program during the application process. LUNCH Program staff members conduct a Provider Workshop annually. This is a mandatory meeting. All current providers must attend in order to remain eligible to participate. There is one (1) make-up session for those unable to attend the large group meeting.
The LUNCH Program sends a quarterly newsletter, The LUNCHTIME News, to all providers. The newsletter is full of reminders, kid friendly recipes, crafts and seasonal games for the children. It is also a great training tool for providers.
Our staff is always available for questions. Call anytime. (225) 755-8001 or 1-800-72-LUNCH) If you leave a message, it will be returned the next business day.
Minute Menu
Minute Menu / KidKare Systems, LLC is a company that provides Child Care Management Software. The use of this most wonderful program is a free service to you provided by the Department of Education, Division of Nutrition Support Child and Adult Care Food Program. If you have internet service in your home, the Minute Menu/ KidKare program is available to you. KidKare eliminates the need for hand written record keeping, helps with accuracy and is easier for you to maintain all of the required records.
Record Keeping
You will be trained and given forms to record child attendance and meals served each month. (You may be interested in utilizing the electronic reporting system. There is no fee for this service.) You will be required to record meals daily and maintain all records on site at your home at all times.
Meal Service Reviews
The LUNCH Program staff will periodically come to your home at your specific meal service time. These visits will be unannounced. This allows the staff member to observe a normal mealtime experience for the children enrolled in the program. The home review also assures the LUNCH Program, Louisiana Department of Education and U.S.D.A. you are serving nutritious meals that meet guidelines so we may reimburse you for the meal. Each meal type you claim will be reviewed at sometime during every year you are participating in the program.
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 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 Ave. 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.