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One of my DKCs is lactose intolerant. The Mother agreed to supply the milk. I am on the USDA Food Program and must supply milk at EVERY meal except snacks. If I do not supply milk I can not claim that meal. The Mother has started slacking off on supplying the milk. (Pediasure) She doesn't even pay for it as she has told me WIC supplies it all to her free of charge. I told her when she enrolled I had to supply milk for every meal. Now she informs me that her child doesn't need that much milk, one a day is fine. Problem is now there will be one meal every day that I can not claim for feeding because there is no milk product. She doesn't seem to care so should I just eat the cost or try to persuade her to send more milk. OR is there another alternative I am missing?
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My state food program as an 'allergy exemption' form. Maybe yours has something like this? Then even of the mother does not supply the special milk you could still serve water and count the meal? -
Do not accept the child into care without the supplies required. When she shows up at the door without the things you need (diapers, wipes, change of clothes, milk....) tell her that the child can not stay until you have the things you need to do your job. And if it is required of you by the State then it is required for you to do your job.
It's in my policy handbook that all children must come ready for the day and that includes having all the supplies that they need.
Do not suck up the extra expense and buy it for her!Comment
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If you don't have any recourse according to the program then I would require she send the milk per your licensing instructions OR let her know that you will purchase it and charge her for it. That should light a fire under her. Not bringing milk is not an option.Comment
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With the food program in my state if the parents supply ANY part of the you may not count the meal from my understanding. So if the parent is bringing the milk you can't count it anyway. Check with you food program and see what they say. Also if you have a note from the doctor that she cannot have milk than you can serve water and count the meal. I had a little girl who was gluten intolerant and her parents had to supply everything for her to eat.Comment
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Absolutely. I charge enough money per child per month in my daycare fee to cover grocery costs of feeding the DC kids (I'm in Canada and not lisenced, so no food program here)... this is how for-profit businesses operate. As much as I love my DC kids, I CAN'T do it for free, as I live in the real world where everything costs money.Originally posted by cheerfuldom View Post
If mom isn't providing the milk, I would and up the the weekly/monthly fee to include the cost of child's lactose-free milk so I could still claim the meal. If she has a problem than she can leave... only to likely encounter this same issue elsewhere.Comment
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My daughter is not only intolerant to milk, she is downright allergic! We learned that the hard way when she was 8 months old and fed her a yogurt and ended up in the ER. I definitely feel for you on the mom not bringing the Pediasure. Although, I'm almost positive that contains milk, as that was something I checked in to for my daughter? Anyway, I was on the food program for a time, and I had a child in my care who was a vegetarian. All I had to do was get a signed doctors note stating his diet was approved/acceptable, and then I could claim him on the form. I honestly wouldn't lose a good child over not being able to claim them on the food program. Just ask the mom to supply you with the doctors note to keep on file. I can say however, that I would NEVER take my child somewhere for the day without making sure she had some soy milk on hand to drink if needed.
On a side note, water is very healthy for kids, so you may just need to stick with that for a while until her mom gets the message.Comment
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Our food program just has the parent and their doctor sign off on the child being allergic to something. That way we still claim the meal and don't have to serve that particular item.
The food program even pays us to feed the babies breast milk their mothers have pumped. They tell us that we still have to freeze it, thaw it, warm it and serve it, just like any other food. We therefore get paid.Comment
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I'm not sure that mom should supply the milk anyhow. Isn't the purpose of the food program to reimburse you for for part of what YOU spend on food/drink for the children? It seems unethical for you to be reimbursed for something you are requiring mom to provide.
Not trying to be rude/judgmental, that's just the way I understand the food program.Comment
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I don't think she's trying to be reimbursed for something only the mom is providing. She's providing the entire meal. She can't claim any of it unless there is milk served. She just wants to be reimbursed for the out-of-pocket expenses for his meals.
I definitely would call the food program about your situation; I am sure they can provide a solution.Comment
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The food program requires a Doctors note stating that a child needs an alternate item. It is fine to serve the alternate but that alternate MUST then be served at the meal or I can not claim any part of the meal. Water is given through the day but it can't take the place of milk during a meal or again I can not claim it.
As for me being reimbursed I only get a portion of actual cost. If I would go out and buy pediasure I would be in the hole deeper than if I just served juice and didn't claim the meal, so I told her I am not going to supply it. Also consider the fact that WIC supplies this parent with whole cases of pedialite free of charge so I feel she can pass it on here for her child. It costs her nothing. If the child were eating at home she would have to supply it there.
I called WIC today and inquired about the amount a child would be elligible for and I was told at least 48 but usually a child gets 72 cans depending on what the doctor had advised the child to have. He is here 5 days a week so when I do the math I don't see where the problem is (20 cans a month est). That leaves her with 52 can still at home. I wouldn't tell the WIC lady the name of the client of course due to the privacy policy and I wouldn't want to open that can of worms anyway. The WIC lady says it sounds like the Mother is not being honest and may be possibly selling it as they have had occurences like that in the past where they discovered parents got the special provisioned items to sell them for a cheaper cost and pocket the money.
I am going to give the Mother a copy of my food program regulations and show her that I NEED the pediasure or I can not be paid for the meal. I am thinking about adding this issue to my contract as well. Something like: If I am un able to claim a child on the food program for any reason the parent will then be required to supply the meal or have addition cost added.
It never fails, a new issue pops up to be added to the contract with almost every new client.Comment
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But if she has the mom get a Special Diet statement form filled out by the parent then she can be reimbursed for the entire meal (minus the milk) the mom doesn't need to supply it and she can if she wants the child to have it but otherwise just skip it.Comment
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Increase her weekly tuition rate (by whatever 5 cans of pediasure a week will cost) and just buy the special milk yourself. Even if she starts bringing the milk or brings a doctor's note she still pays the increase. It will be an inconvenience fee for you
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