funded by USDA and the California Department of Education, provides cash reimbursement to child care facilities for serving nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled children birth, through twelve.  Feeding children well is an important part of a quality child care program. CDI/Choices for Children sponsors family childcare homes and all CDI/CDC child development centers so that children will benefit by receiving nutritious meals; be introduced to different types of food; and learn healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.  Our trained nutritionists assist staff in serving healthy meals and snacks, provide nutrition education for staff and children, as well as provide technical assistance in meeting Federal, State licensing and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation requirements.

 

Since 1976, Choices for Children’s Child Care (Alternative Payment) Subsidy Program has utilized state and federal funds to provide parents with financial assistance for child care services. Parents meet income requirements and have a need for child care while they work, look for employment, attend training or participate in CalWORKS activities.. Parents who are incapacitated, who have children at risk of abuse or neglect, or have children with special needs may also be eligible. Parents have the option to choose any public or private licensed or exempt child care programs in the county that is served.

PTRAC (Provider Training Resource Activity Center)
addresses Santa Clara County’s child care shortage by providing a central location for training, resources and support. Services include Community College Early Childhood Education classes for both family child care providers and child care staff, including homework assistance; CPR and First-Aid training; Curriculum Workshops; a Resource Lending Library and personalized technical assistance.

 

CFC provides one-on-one outreach within our current programs to help spread the First 5 messages to the families and caregivers of children 0-5. Our FIRST 5 involvement includes serving as Lead Agency in the North East Regional Partnership, as well as participatoin in several Regional Partnerships to provide Parent Education and/or on-site Quality Early Learning Opportunities (QELO) for children ages 0-5, and their siblings, while their parents attend personal and professional development classes, such as ESL, computer training, parenting classes, etc.

CARES Program (E3 Institute) P-TRAC serves as a satellite partner to the E3 Institute, serving all child care providers and center staff working in licensed programs serving children 0-5 years old, or in state funded before-and after-school care programs in specific zip codes. PTRAC’s role as a partner includes outreach and education about the CARES stipend program, dissemination and collection of stipend applications, technical assistance to applicants, and application review.