Family Daycare Support Network

Family Daycare Support Network works to ensure that children from low income families in Alameda County, California have access to nutritious food that promotes their health and development.

ICRI receives funding from the State of California Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture to provide subsidies to child care providers serving children from low income and working poor families. These funds are used to reimburse child care providers for purchasing and preparing meals that meet recommended nutrition standards for young children.

In addition to providing this direct funding for healthy meals, ICRI staff routinely visit participating child care providers to offer them one-on-one training and support. ICRI also works to educate family daycare providers on the importance of good nutrition, and publishes a newsletter with healthy eating tips and suggested recipes.

Outcomes

Currently, approximately 125 family child care providers receive nutrition subsidies, training and support from ICRI.

Over 950 low-income children in Alameda County receive daily nutritious meals at their child care centers through ICRI.

Since FDSN began in 1995, ICRI has distributed over eleven million dollars in nutrition subsidies for low-income children in Alameda County.