Food and Nutrition

Day Care Homes Food Program (DCH)

As one of several food programs under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, DCH provides reimbursement for meals and snacks to licensed family child care providers within Kings County.  Child care must be provided in private homes and targets higher levels of reimbursement to low-income areas, and to care providers and children most in need.

Reimbursement is provided for the foods served to small groups of children receiving nonresidential day care and makes the cost of day care more affordable for many lower income families.  Care providers active under the DCH program must ensure that meal patterns and foods served meet USDA guidelines.  Helping to ensure children have access to healthy and balanced meals throughout the day, the guidelines require a variety of fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and less sugar and fat.

We’re here to help!  We have a dedicated staff member who assists care providers enrolled in our program in meeting requirements and guidelines.  They are here to answer questions, respond to concerns, and provide child care providers with as much support as possible.     

If you would like to receive more information about the program, or if you are a licensed child care provider and would like to see if you qualify for the program, please call the Day Care Homes program at (559) 772-4391 Ext. 7602.

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 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.