Child Care Provider Shares Food Program Concerns with Congressman, Josh Harder.

For Immediate Release

Family Resource Center Rebecca Ray

Director of Community Relations & Development 209.461.2937

rray@frrcsj.org

Congressman Josh Harder Visits Local Childcare Provider in San Joaquin County, Highlights Impact of USDA Child & Adult Care Food Program

August 22, 2024

(Tracy, CA) On Wednesday, August 21^st, Congressman Josh Harder (9^th District, CA) visited a Family Child Care Home Provider who participates in the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Rosie Hurtado, of Rosie’s Daycare in Tracy, CA , welcomed Congressman Harder and staff to her Child Care business operated in her home to share her challenges in serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in her care.

Hurtado, a licensed, large Child Care Provider (capacity to care for fourteen children) has participated in the program since 1997. The federal nutrition program provides reimbursement for the nutritious meals and snacks served to children who are enrolled at participating family child care homes. Hurtado shared with Representative Harder what the costs are for her and how little she is reimbursed (an average of just 1/3 of costs are reimbursed), advocating for higher reimbursement rates to keep up with rising food costs.  

Family Resource Center (FRC), a sponsor of the CACFP in 15 Counties across CA, echoed Ms. Hurtado’s concerns. FRC’s Director of the (CACFP), Lisa Jimenez, also shared with Congressman Harder that Child Care Providers are choosing to disenroll from the program, despite their passion to ensure that the children in their care have access to nutritious, healthy meals. “We are asking for Congress to support H.R. 5569/S. 3294 The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act. Our Providers are coming out of pocket to cover the costs of the regulated meals they serve. We need to support our Providers and, ultimately, our kids.”

During Congressman Harder’s visit, he engaged with both Ms. Hurtado and the children; observing the early care learning environment and all that is entailed in operating a full-time care facility in a residential home. “Thank you for making sacrifices for working families who need care,” expressed Congressman Harder. “I know first-hand what it is like to need child care-I have two young children myself. Working families cannot do this without dedicated professionals like you.” Hurtado also shared with the Congressman that she voluntarily participates in programs that enhance the quality of care she provides such as the CCTR program and the Early Head Start program because of the passion she has for the children and families.

For families in San Joaquin County, the CACFP program has become a critical resource, giving parents the peace of mind that their children are receiving healthy meals while they are in care. This support is felt across the community, from the children benefitting from the program to the families and Providers who rely on it. According to Feeding America, an organization that tackles hunger across the United States, 98,860 San Joaquin County residents (report issued in 2022) were said to be “food insecure.” The USDA’s CACFP works to be part of the solution to end child hunger.

As the Family Resource Center continues to work alongside local leaders and caregivers, visits like Congressman Harder’s demonstrate the power of collective efforts to uplift the well-being of children and families across the region.

For more information on the CACFP, or how to get involved, please contact the Family Resource Center at (209) 948-1553, or visit: Child Care Food Program (CACFP) – Family Resource Center (frcsj.org)