Early Childhood and Child Care Study, Profile of Participants in the CACFP: Final Report, Vol. I

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USDA
United Slates
Department of
Agriculture
Food and
Consumer
Service
Office of
Analysis and
Evaluation
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Early Childhood and Child
Care Study
Profile of Participants in the
CACFP: Final Report
Volume I
July 1997
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DEST COPY AVAILAB!
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USDA United Suites
Department o(
Agriculture
Food and
Consumer
Service
Office of
Analysis and
Evaluation
Early Childhood and Child Care
Study: Profile of Participants in
the CACFP
Volume I Final Report
lul) 1997
Authors:
Frederic B. Giant/
Davul I Rodda
Mar> JoCutlei
William Rhodes
Marian \\ rohel
Submitted by:
Abt Associates Inc.
55 Wheeler Street
Cambridge. MA 02138-1168
Project Director: Frederic M. Glantz
Submitted to:
Office of Analysis and Evaluation
USDA food and Consumer Service
3101 Park Center Drive. Room 214
Alexandria. VA 22302
Project Officer: Jeffrey Wilde
rhisstud) was conducted under Contract No 53-3I98-3-OI8 with the Pood and Consumer Service. I nited Stales Department ol
Agriculture Points of > iew or opinions staled in this report do not necessaril) represent the official position <>i the i ood and
Consumer Service.
/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
List of Exhibits ii
Acknowledgments viii
Executive Summary x
Chapter One: Introduction 1-1
Study Background 1-1
Overview of the CACFP 1-1
Organization and Structure of Child Care Sites 12
Study Objectives 1-4
Organization of This Report 1-7
Chapter Two: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-1
Demographic Characteristics 2-2
Household Characteristics 2-4
Amount of Time Spent in Child Care 2-7
Meals and Snacks Received by Children 2-10
Chapter Three: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3 1
Characteristics of Homes 3-2
Characteristics of Centers 3-14
Chapter Four: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4 1
General Characteristics 4-1
In-Service Training 4-6
Monitoring Visits 4-9
Appendix A Children Tables A-l
Appendix B Provider Tables B-1
Appendix C Sponsor Tables C-l
Appendix D Study Design D-l
Appendix E Weighting Methodology E-l
Appendix F Study Implementation F-l
Appendix G Approximate Confidence Intervals G-1
Table of Contents
//
LIST OF EXHIBITS
aee
Exhibit 1.1 CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Centers
July 1994-June 1995 1-3
Exhibit 1.2 CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Family Day Care Homes
July 1994-June 1995 1-5
Exhibit 1.3 CACFP Administrative Cost Reimbursement Rates for FDCH
Sponsors July 1994-June 1995 1-5
Exhibit 2.1 Most of the Children Participating in the CACFP Are
Preschoolers Between the Ages of Three and Five 2-2
Exhibit 2.2 Ethnicity of Children 2-3
Exhibit 2.3 Children in FDCHs Tend to Come from Households with
Higher Incomes Than Children in Centers 2-4
Exhibit 2.4 The Proportion of Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price
Meals Has Decreased Since 1986 2-6
Exhibit 2.5 Head Start Families Are More Likely to Receive Federal
Benefits 2-6
Exhibit 2.6 Receipt of Food Stamps and WIC Benefits: 1986 and 1995 ... . 2-8
Exhibit 2.7 Receipt of AFDC Benefits and Housing Subsidies:
1986 and 1995 2-9
Exhibit 2.8 Most Children Are in Care at Least Five Hours per Day 2-10
Exhibit 2.9 The Amount of Time Children Spend in Care Is About
the Same As in 1986 2-11
Exhibit 2.10 Most Children Receive Lunch and a Snack While in Care 2-12
Exhibit 2.11 Children in Care Eight or More Hours per Day Receive
Breakfast. Lunch, and an Afternoon Snack 2-14
Exhibit 2.12 Meal Combinations Vary for Children in Caie Less Than
Eight Hour., per Day 2-14
Exhibit 3.1 Selected Measures of Program Size in FDCHs 3-2
Exhibit 3.2 On Average FDCHs Are Serving One More Child Than in 1986 . 3-3
Exhibit 3.3 FDCHs Serve Children of All Age.- 3-4
Exhibit 3.4 FDCHs Have Cut Back on Hours and Days of Opeiation 3-5
List of Exhibits ii
///
Exhibit 3.5
Exhibit 3.6
Exhibit 3.7
Exhibit 3.8
Exhibit 3.9
Exhibit 3.10
Exhibit 3.11
Exhibit 3.12
Exhibit 3.13
Exhibit 3.14a
Exhibit 3.14b
Exhibit 3.14c
Exhibit 3.15
Exhibit 3.16
Exhibit 3.17
Exhibit 3.18
Exhibit 3.19
Exhibit 3.20
Exhibit 3.21
Exhibit 3.22
Exhibit 4.1
LIST OF EXHIBITS
(continued)
Page
More FDCHs Are Serving Toddlers Than in 1986 3-5
Almost All FDCHs Serve at Least Some Fee-Paying Children . . 3-6
Selected Meal Service Characteristics in FDCHs 3-7
Most FDCHs Serve Breakfast. Lunch, and at Least One Snack . . 3-8
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions or Monitoring
Visits of FDCHs 3-9
Most FDCHs Are Monitored by Sponsors at Least Once per Year.
and the Mean Number of Visits Is Five 3-11
FDCH Sponsors Are Conducting fewer But Longer Monitoring
Visits Than in 1986 3-12
Child Care Is an Important Source of Income for FDCHs ... 3-13
Mean Attendance Is About the Same for Head Start and
Child Care Centers 3-15
Mean Enrollment Is Down for Child Care Centers 3-17
Child Care Centers Are Enrolling Proportionally More Part-Time
Children ' 3-17
Head Start Centers and Child Care Centers Are No Longer
Operating at Full Capacity 3-18
Selected Operating and Service Characteristic^ of Centers 3-19
The Proportion of Child Care Centers Serving Infants and School-
Age Children Has Increased Since 1986 3-20
Summary Statistics on Funding Sources in Centers 3-20
Selected Meal Service Characteristics in Centers 3-22
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions or Monitoring Visits
of Centers 3-24
Most Centers Are Monitored, and Their Mean Number ot
Visits Is 28 3-27
Annual Monitoring Time for Head Start Centers Has Decreased 3-28
Sponsors Are Conducting Fewer Surprise Visits to Centers .... 3-29
Number and Types of Sites Sponsored 4-2
List of Exhibits m
N
Exhibit 4.2
Exhibit 4.3
Exhibit 4.4
Exhibit 4.5
Exhibit 4.6
Exhibit 4.7
Exhibit A.l
Exhibit A.2a
Exhibit A.2b
Exhibit A.3a
Exhibit A.3b
Exhibit A.3c
Exhibit A.3d
Exhibit A.3e
Exhibit A.3f
Exhibit A.4a
Exhibit A.4b
Exhibit A.4c
Exhibit A.4d
Exhibit A.4e
LIST OF EXHIBITS
(continued)
Page
Types of Sponsoring Agencies 4-3
FDCH Sponsors Derive Over Half Their Income from the
CACFP 4-4
CACFP Sponsors' Participation in Other USDA Programs .... 4-5
In-Service Training Provided by FDCH Sponsors 4-6
In-Service Training Provided by Center Sponsors 4-8
Summary Statistics on Monitoring of Sites by Sponsoring
Agencies 4-10
Age and Race/Ethnicity of Children A-2
Child Care Arrangements for Children A-3
Child Care Arrangements for Children by Age of Child A-4
Meals and Snacks Received by All Children in Care A-5
Meals and Snacks Received by Children Ages 1 to 2 \ -7
Meals and Snacks Received by Children Ages 3 to 5 A-9
Meals and Snacks Received by Children Ages 6 to 12 All
Meals and Snacks Received by Children in Care 8 or More
Hours per Day A-13
Meals and Snacks Received by Children in Care Less Than 8
Hours per Day A-15
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children of
All Ages A-17
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children
Ages 1 to 2 A-18
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children
Ages 3 to 5 A-19
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children
Ages 6 to 12 A-20
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children of
All Ages Who Are in Care 8 or More Hours per Day A-21
List of Exhibits iv
V
LIST OF EXHIBITS
(continued)
Page
Exhibit A.4f
Exhibit A.5
Exhibit A.6
Exhibit B.la
Exhibit B.lb
Exhibit B.2
Exhibit B.3
Exhibit B.4
Exhibit B.5
Exhibit B.6
Exhibit B.7
Exhibit B.8
Exhibit B 9
Exhibit B.lOa
Exhibit B.lOb
Exhibit B.I1
Exhibit B 12a
Exhibit B.12b
Exhibit B.12c
Exhibit B.12d
Exhibit B.13
Combinations of Meals and Snacks Received by Children of
All Ages Who Are in Care Less Than 8 Hours per Day A-22
Income. Household Size, and Poverty Status of Families A-23
Proportion of Children in Families That Receive Benefits from
Other Federal Programs A-24
Program Size: Family Day Care Homes (Own Children
Excluded) B-2
Program Size: Family Day Care Homes (Own Children Included) B-3
Program Size: Centers B-4
Operating and Service Characteristics of Homes and Centers . . . B-6
Eligibility for Free or Reduced-Price Meals B-8
Key Characteristics of Centers by Years of Operation B-9
Meal Service Characteristics of Homes and Centers B-10
Menu Planning in Homes and Centers B-12
Characteristics of Formal Training in Homes and Centers B-14
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions in FDCHs
and Centers B-15
CACFP Monitoring of Sponsored Homes and Centers B-17
CACFP Monitoring of Sponsored Home and Center Providers
with More Than 52 Visits per Year Excluded B-19
Topics of a Typical CACFP Monitoring Visit by Sponsors .... B-21
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions or Monitoring
Visits of FDCHs and Centers B-23
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions or Monitoring
Visits: Sponsored and Independent Child Care Centers B-26
Total Number of Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions
and Sponsor or Monitoring Visits of FDCHs and Centers B-29
Total Number of Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions
or Monitoring Visits: Sponsored and Independent Child
Care Centers B-30
Funding Sources for Homes and Centers B-31
List of Exhibits v
Vi
Exhibit B.14
Exhibit B.15
Exhibit B.16
Exhibit C.la
Exhibit C. lb
Exhibit C.2
Exhibit C.3
Exhibit C.4a
Exhibit C.4b
Exhibit C.4c
Exhibit C.5
Exhibit D.l
Exhibit D.2
Exhibit F.l
Exhibit F.2
Exhibit F.3
Exhibit F.4
Exhibit F.5
Exhibit F.6
LIST OF EXHIBIT S
(continued)
Page
Role of Family Day Care Business Relative to Household Income
for Family Providers B-32
Participation in CACFP by Centers Claims for Free or
Reduced-Price Meals B-33
Qualitative Feedback on CACFP by Homes and Centers B-35
Number and Types of Family Day Care Homes Sponsored by
CACFP Sponsors C-2
Number and Types of Centers Sponsored by CACFP Sponsors . . C-3
Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies C-4
Frequency and Average Length of Monitoring Visits by Sponsors C-5
Program Areas Ranked by CACFP Monitors According to Time
Spent Reviewing Sponsors of Family Day Care Homes C-7
Program Areas Ranked by CACFP Monitors According to Time
Spent Reviewing Sponsors of Head Start Centers C-8
Program Areas Ranked by CACFP Monitors According to Time
Spent Reviewing Sponsors of Child Care Centers C-9
In-Service Training Provided by CACFP Sponsors C-10
Overview of Study Design D-2
States Included in Study Sample by FCS Region D-3
Data Collection Strategy by Study Objective F-2
Sample Disposition: Family Day Care Home Sponsors. Providers.
and Participants F-14
Sample Disposition: Head Start Center Sponsors. Providers.
and Children F-17
Sample Disposition: Child Care Center Sponsors. Providers.
and Participants F-20
Response Rates for Sponsors. Providers, and Children F-22
Sample Size. Number of Completed Interviews, and
Response Rates F-25
list of Exhibits rt
VII
Exhibit G.la
Exhibit G. lb
Exhibit G.lc
Exhibit G.2a
Exhibit G 2b
Exhibit G.2c
Exhibit G.3a
Exhibit G.3b
Exhibit G.3c
LIST OF EXHIBITS
(continued)
Page
Confidence Intervals for Proportions Based on a Sample
from Children in FDCHs G-3
Confidence Intervals for Proportions Based on a Sample
from Children in Head Stan Centers G-4
Confidence Intervals for Proportions Based on a Sample
from Children in Child Care Centers G-5
Confidence Intervals for Proportions Based on a Sample
from FDCH Providers G-6
Confidence Intervals for Proportions Based on a Sample
from Head Stan Centers G-7
Confidence Intervals for Proponions Based on a Sample
from Child Care Centers G-8
Confidence Intervals for Proponions Based on a Sample
from FDCH Sponsors G-9
Confidence Intervals for Proponions Based on a Sample
from Head Stan Sponsors G-10
Confidence Intervals for Proponions Based on a Sample
from Child Care Center Sponsors G-l 1
l.isl of Exhibits vii
vw
Acknowledgments
The Early Childhood and Child Care Study represents the culmination of more than three years
of effort by many persons in several organizations While it is not possible to thank every
person who contributed to the study, we want to acknowledge the support and contributions of
several individuals.
Special thanks are due to the family day care providers and the staff of the Head Stan and child
care centers that participated in the study The results of this study are useful largely because
these individuals opened their doors to study staff and found the time in their busy days to
complete the lengthy questionnaires. Thanks are also due to State Child Nutrition Directors who
helped assemble listings of family day care homes and child care centers that were used in
selecting national samples for the study. The cooperation of sponsoring institutions was also
invaluable in ensuring the success of the study. In particular, the support of the Child Care
Food Program Sponsors' Forum helped us gain the cooperation of family day care homes
Staff of the Office of Analysis and Evaluation. Food and Consumer Service. U.S. Department
of Agriculture had responsibility for overseeing the project. Jeffrey Wilde served as the Project
Officer for the first three years of the study John Endahl served as the Project Officer for the
final year of the study. Both provided valuable insights and direction throughout the project and
in the preparation of the final report.
Early Childhood Associates. Inc.. of Natick. Massachusetts served as Abt Associates'
subcontractor and was responsible for a portion of the work involved in compiling lists of
participating family day care homes and centers. Their staff conducted many of the telephone
calls to sponsoring agencies to obtain provider lists. Linda Warren was responsible for the
subcontract.
Several staff members at Abt Associates played important roles in the project. Mary Jo Cutler.
Deputy Project Director, provided valuable assistance in managing this large and complex
Acknowledgments viii
I
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
project. Gary Shapiro developed the sampling design. Kurt Veith direcled the survey and field
operations. Susan Palter, Jenny Golay, and Mary Jo Cutler developed the Menu Surveys and
meal observation protocols, developed training materials, and helped train field staff. David
Rodda directed the analyses reported in Volume I. Mary Kay Fox and Nancy Burstein oversaw
analyses for Volume II. Analysts who assisted with one or both volumes include Marian
Wrobel, Dylan Conger. William Rhodes, and Don Laliberty. Joan McLaughlin. Mike Puma,
and Nancy Burstein reviewed and critiqued all reports.
% •
Special thanks are due to Mary Kay Fox who directed the nutrition analyses and is the principal
author of Volume II. Ellen Lee who managed the study's large and complex database and
* f
provided invaluable assistance in all analyses, and Eileen Fahey who coordinated production of
all deliverables and reports. I am indebted to them for their tireless efforts on this project.
Frederic B. Glantz
Project Director
Abt Associates Inc.
Acknowledgments ix
Executive Summary
This report presents findings from the Early Childhood and Child Care Study, a study carried
out by Abt Associates Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, under contract to the Food and
Consumer Service (FCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study
describes the institutions and children that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
(CACFP). It also describes the nutrient content of meals and snacks offered under the program
and the contribution of CACFP meals and snacks to the daily energy and nutrient needs of
participating children. Information for the study was collected from nationally representa'ive
samples of sponsoring agencies, participating child care sites, and children. Data for the study
were collected between January and June, 1995.
This is the first of two volumes of the final study report. This volume provides a descriptive
profile of child care sites participating in the CACFP and the children receiving care in those
sites. Volume II (a separate document) focuses on the nutrient content of meals and snacks
offered by participating child care sites and the meals and snacks consumed by children receiving
child care in those sites.
THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a Federal program that provides meals
and snacks in child and adult day care facilities. The child care component of the CACFP
provides Federal funds for meals and snacks served to children in nonresidential day care
facilities. These include family and group day care homes (homes). Head Start centers, and
some child care centers. In Fiscal year 1995, the program served an average of 2.3 million
children daily at a cost of $1.5 billion. Forty-two percent of these children were served through
homes; 58 percent through centers.
Executive Summary x
Eari\ ('luldhood and Child Care Sluth: \ol. I
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
• Most of tlir children participating in the CACFP are preschoolers
between the ayes of three and five. Virtually all children (99%) in Head
Start centers arc preschoolers However, preschoolers account for 42
percent of the children enrolled in homes and 66 percent in child care
centers.
• The racial ethnic makeup of children in homes is quite different from
that of centers. Children in homes are mostly white with minorities
accounting for onl) 17 percent o\' the children enrolled. Blacks.
Hispanics. and other minorities are more heavily represented in Head Start
centers, where they account tor 63 percent of children enrolled, and child
care centers, where they account for approximately 50 percent o\ the
children enrolled.
• Children in homes tend to come from households with higher incomes
than children in centers. The median family income of children in
homes is $40,484, compared with $10,433 in Head Start centers and
$24,022 in child care centers. Seventy-eight percent of the children in
homes are from families with incomes above 185 percent of the poverty
threshold. By contrast, only 8 percent of children in Head Start centers
and 47 percent of children in child care centers are from families with
incomes above this threshold.
• Most children are in care at least five hours per day. On average,
children in homes and child care centers are in care about seven hours per
day. As one would expect, given the part-day nature of the Head Start
program. Head Start children are in care fewer hours—an average of five
hours per day.
• The amount of time children spend in care is reflected in the types of
meals and snacks received while in care. Nearly all children in care
eight or more hours per day receive lunch while in care. In homes and
child care centers, children in care less than eight hours per day are much
less likely to get lunch in care. However, children in Head Start centers
get lunch in care regardless of the amount of time spent in care each day.
Most children in care eight or more hours per day also receive breakfast
while in care. Part-day children are considerably less likely to receive
breakfast while in care However, most Head Start children (71%) do
receive breakfast in care, reflecting the Head Start standard to serve
breakfast to those children who did not receive breakfast at home.
Executive Summary xi
4
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMES AND CENTERS
Family Day Care Homes
• Homes enroll an average of eight children, including the providers'
own children. Adjusting for absenteeism, an average of seven enrolled
children are in care on a daily basis.
• The typical home provides care 11 hours per day, five days per week.
• Homes serve children of all ages. Most homes serve toddlers and
preschoolers, and about half serve school-age children (54%) and infants
(43%).
• Parent fees are a major source of funding for participating homes.
More than 90 percent of homes serve some children who are not receiving
government subsidies, while less than half (44%) serve some children
receiving child care subsidies. The average hourly fee to parents for lull-time
care is SI.90.
• The most commonly served meals in homes arc breakfast (81 %), lunch
(88%), and afternoon snack (88%). The most common meal
combinations served in homes are breakfast. lunch, and afternoon snack
(31%) and breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack (29%).
• Family day care providers receive some training from sponsoring
agencies in a broad range of nutrition topics either in formal training
sessions or as part of monitoring visits. Nearly all providers (90%)
receive training in menu planning and the types and amounts of food to
serve. About four out of five receive training on the nutrient content of
foods (84%) and nutrition education for children (78%).
Providers also receive training from their sponsors on a broad range of
administrative topics. Most often, providers receive training from their
sponsors on CACFP meal-counting procedures (86%) and food safety and
sanitation (82%).
• Monitoring visits are an important source of training. Relatively few
homes receive training only during formal training sessions. For most
topics, providers receive training only during monitoring visits, or during
both training sessions and monitoring visits. While much training
received as part of monitoring visits, 75 percent of home providers
attended one or more formal training sessions in the year prior to the
study.
Executive Summary xii
Barb Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Many home providers are relatively low-income women for whom
child care is a major source of household income. Child care income
accounts for 43 percent of the median provider's household income.
However, the CACI-'P accounts for a relatively small proportion (14%) of
the average provider's child care income
Nearly 40 percent of home providers have household incomes that are less
than or equal to 185 percent of the poverty level. For these low-income
providers, child care accounts for a more substantial portion (55%) of
total household income.
Head Start and Child Care Centers
• Head Start centers are on average somewhat smaller than child care
centers. The average Head Start center enrolls 60 children compared to
an average of 70 for child care centers. However, after adjusting for
absenteeism. Head Start centers and child care centers are about the same
size. Average daily attendance is 53 for Head Start centers and 57 for
child care centers
• Child care centers cater to parents' work schedules. Child care centers
are open an average o\ 10 hours per day. five days per week. Head Start
centers arc usually open fewer hours per day and fewer days per week
than child care centers The average Head Start center is open about eight
hours a day. Nearly one thud (31%) are open fewer than five days a
week.
• While Head Start programs serve mostly preschoolers, some Head
Start centers serve toddlers in their day care or extended-day
components. Very few Head Start centers (2%) serve infants or school-age
children. Child care centers serve children of all ages. Most child
care centers serve preschoolers and toddlers, and half serve school-age
children. One-third of child care centers serve infants.
• Nearly three-quarters (71%) of child care centers serve both fee-paying
and subsidized children. Only 11 percent serve just fee-paying
children, and only 18 percent serve just subsidized children, The average
hourly fee for full-time unsubsidized care is $1.98.
• As in the case of homes, breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are the
most common meals served in centers. The most common meal
combination is breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack, present in 52
percent of Head Start centers and 40 percent ol child care centers
Executive Summon xiii
Earls Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Food preparcrs/menu planners in centers often receive training on
nutrition-related topics and/or topics related to the administration of
the CACFP. Nearly all Head Start center food preparers/menu planners
(97%) and 82 percent of child care center food preparers/menu planners
received some nutrition-related training during the last year. The most
common topic was the type and amount of food to serve. Similarly,
nearly all food preparers/menu planners in Head Start centers (97%) and
child care centers (84%) received some training on administrative topics.
The most common topic was CACFP meal-counting procedures.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SPONSORING AGENCIES
• Family day care sponsors and center sponsors differ greatly in terms
of the number of sites that operate under their aegis. The median
number of homes sponsored by FDCH sponsors is 54. By contrast, the
median number of Head Start centers sponsored by Head Start sponsors
is seven, and the median number of child care centers sponsored by child
care center sponsors is only two. Sponsoring agencies, however, often
sponsor more than one type of program.
• There are many types of agencies that sponsor homes and centers for
the CACFP. Most often, however, the sponsoring institution is a public
or private social service agency. More than half (55%) of FDCH
sponsors. 43 percent of Head Start sponsors, and 33 percent of child care
center sponsors are public or private social service agencies. An
additional one-third (32%) of Head Start sponsors and about one-quarter
(27%) of the child care center sponsors identify themselves as other
nonprofit entities that include a variety of instutitions such as community
action agencies, child care and early childhood organizations, housing
authorities, tribal councils, and hospitals.
• CACFP administrative cost reimhursements are an important source
of revenue for FDCH sponsors. On average. FDCH sp< sors derive 53
percent of their revenue from CACFP administrative cost reimbursements.
Center sponsors do not receive separate reimbursements for their
administrative costs.
Executive Summary xiv
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Most sponsors provide in-service training to the homes and centers
they sponsor. Most (82%) FDCH sponsors provide such training to the
homes they sponsor. Similarly, 81 percent of Head Start sponsors and 78
percent of child care center sponsors provide such training to food
preparers/menu planners in the centers they sponsor. Center sponsors also
provide in-service training to center staff and administrative staff.
Training is provided on a numher of CACFP suhject areas including
nutrition and/or administrative topics.
• Sponsoring agencies conduct more monitoring visits to homes and
centers than called for in the CACFP regulations. Sponsors are
required to conduct at least three monitoring visits to each home and
center annually. Family day care sponsors conduct an average of 10 visits
each year to the homes they sponsor, with the average visit lasting about
one hour. Head Start sponsors conduct an average of 11 visits per year
to each of their centers, with each visit lasting about two hours. Child
care center sponsors also conduct an average of 11 visits per year to each
of their centers, with the average visit lasting about one hour.
Executive Summary xv
8
Chapter One
Introduction
STUDY BACKGROUND
The Early Childhood and Child Care Study was carried out by Abt Associates Inc. of
Cambridge. Massachusetts, under contract to the Food and Consumer Service (FCS) of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It describes the institutions and children that
participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The study also describes the
nutrient content of meals offered under the program and assesses the contribution of CACFP
meals and snacks to the daily energy and nutrient needs of participating children. Information
was collected from nationally representative samples of sponsoring agencies, participating child
care sites, and children. Data for the study were collected between January and June. 1995.
This is the first of two volumes of the final report for the Early Childhood and Child Care
Study. It provides a descriptive profile of participating children and the child care sites that
serve them. It also describes sponsoring agencies. Volume II (a separate document) presents
the results of the nutrient analyses. It describes the nutrient content of meals and snacks offered
by participating child care sites and meals and snacks consumed by children receiving care in
those sites.
OVERVIEW OF THE CACFP
The CACFP is a Federal program that provides meals and snacks in child and adult day care
facilities. The Early Childhood and Child Care Study focused on the child care component of
the CACFP which provides Federal funds for meals and snacks served to children in non-residential
day care facilities. Eligibility is limited to children age 12 and under; however, an
exception is made for children of migrant workers and children with disabilities, who may
participate through ages 15 and 18, respectively. Participating sites, which include family and
group day care homes (homes), some child care centers, and all Head Start centers, may receive
reimbursement for breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks served to children in care.
Reimbursement is limited to a maximum of two meals and one snack or one meal and two
Chapter I: Introduction 1-1
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
snacks. During the period of time this study was conducted, centers could receive
reimbursement for an additional meal or snack for children in care eight or more hours per
day.1 On an average day in 1995, 2.3 million children received CACFP meals and/or snacks.
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF CHILD CARE SITES
The CACFP is administered in two fundamentally different child care settings: homes and child
care centers (including Head Start centers). Homes are small. They usually consist of one
provider caring for six to eight children in his or her own home.2 The typical center, on the
other hand, enrolls between 50 and 100 children. Homes are shorter lived than centers. In
addition, homes tend to offer more hours of care and are more likely than centers to be open
on weekends. Because of the differences between homes and centers, the CACFP applies
different rules for reimbursement and administration, as well as different criteria for
participation, to the two types of providers. These differences are described in the following
sections.
Centers
Licensed centers, both public and private, are eligible to participate in the CACFP if they are
nonprofit institutions. For-profit institutions are also eligible to participate if they receive
compensation for child care under Title XX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of
the children enrolled or 25 percent of their licensed capacity, whichever is less. Centers may
participate in the CACFP independently or under the aegis of a nonprofit agency that assumes
administrative responsibility for the centers it sponsors (sponsored centers).
Centers receive three different categories of reimbursement for the meals and snacks ihey serve,
depending on children's family income. Meals and snacks served to children from families with
'The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PL. 104-193) mandated several changes
to CACT'P regulations. These changes include a reduction in the number of meals that CACFP centers may claim for
reimbursement to a maximum of two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks, regardless of the length of time a child
is in attendance.
Some homes are larger and are tailed group day care homes.
Chapter I: Introduction 1-2
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Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
income at or below 130 percent of poverty are reimbursed at the "free" (highest) rate; meals and
snacks served to children from families with income between 130 percent and 185 percent of
poverty are reimbursed at the "reduced-price" (somewhat lower) rate; and meals served to
children from families with income above 185 percent of poverty are reimbursed at the "paid"
(lowest) rate.3 The reimbursement rates in effect at the time of the study are presented in
Exhibit 1.1.
Exhibit 1.1
CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Centers
July 1994-June 1995
Eligibility Category Breakfast Lunch/Supper Snack
Free $0.9750 $1.7575 $0.4825
Reduced-price 0.6750 1.3575 0.2400
Paid 0.1925 0.1700 0.0450
Differences Between Child Care Centers and Head Start Centers
Although child care centers and Head Start centers are equivalent with regard to CACFP
eligibility and administration, the two types of centers differ in several other important
characteristics. Child care centers typically operate year round, provide full-day care to working
parents, and serve several different age groups. Head Start centers, on the other hand, typically
follow school calendars and offer part-day programs for low-income preschool children.
Moreover, Head Start programs do not provide child care per se. Rather, these programs are
best viewed as preschool programs intended to promote social competence and improve the
emotional and cognitive development of low-income children. While most Head Start centers
provide only part-day programs of this nature, some centers may combine traditional part-day
Head Start programs with full-day and/or before- and after-school child care programs Head
'This nomenclature is adapted from the National School Lunch Program which uses a comparable three-level reimbursement
structure.
Chapter I: Introduction 1-3
//
Early Childhood and Child Can Study: Vol. 1
Start centers are required by their grantor agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, to participate in the CACFP.
Homes
To participate in the CACFP, homes must meet State licensing requirements, where these are
imposed, or be approved by a Federal, State, or local agency. In addition, homes must be
sponsored by an organization that assumes responsibility for ensuring compliance with Federal
and State regulations and that acts as a conduit for meal reimbursements.
Organizations that sponsor homes for the CACFP are reimbursed separately for their
administrative costs, based on the number of homes sponsored each month. During the time
period that this study was conducted, family day care providers were reimbursed at a flat rate
for each meal or snack served. No income eligibility criteria were applied to children receiving
meals, however, such a criterion was applied to the provider's own children Meals served to
the provider's own children were reimbursable only if the provider's income did not exceed 185
percent of the poverty threshold.4 The reimbursement rates for homes that were in effect at the
time of the study are shown in Exhibit 1.2. Exhibit 1.3 presents the administrative rates that
were in effect at the time of the study.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
Program participation and costs have increased markedly since the last national study of the
CACFP was conducted in 1986. The number of Federally subsidized meals and snacks served
'The Personal ReSponsibilH) and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act ol 19% (P L 104-193)changed the reimbursement
structure tor homes, effective July 1. 1997. A two-tiered structure was established with a higher level ol reimbursement (tier
li lor meals and snacks served to children enrolled in day care homes located in low-income areas, i.e., areas identified. through
the use ol census or elementary school data, as arwi in which at least 50 percent ol children come trom households with income
at or below 185 percent of the poverty threshold. Tier I rates are also paid for meals and snacks served by low-income
providers, i.e.. providers whose personal household income is at or below 185 percent of poverty Homes that do not meet tier
I area- or provider-eligibility criteria are classified as tier II homes and receive a lower (tier III level of reimbursement Tier
II homes may elect to have their sponsor perform means tests to identify individual children whose household income is at or
below 185 percent of poverty: meals and snacks served 10 these children would be reimbursable at tier I rales Meals and snacks
served to provider's own children continue to be reimbursable (at tier I rates) only if the provider's income is at or below 185
percent of poverty.
Chapter I: Introduction 1-4
/<£
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
in the program has increased from 678 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 1986 to 1.5 billion in FY
1995. Most of this growth has occurred in the family day care component of the program.
Exhibit 1.2
CACFP Reimbursement Rates for Family Day Care Homes
July 1994-June 1995
Meal Reimbursement Rate
Breakfast $0.8275
Lunch/Supper 1.5050
Snack 0.4475
Exhibit 1.3
CACFP Administrative Cost Reimbursement Rates for FDCH Sponsors
July 1994-June 1995
Number of Homes Monthly Reimbursement Rate
First 50 homes $69 per home
Next 150 homes $53 per home
Next 80Q homes $41 per home
Each additional home $36 per home
During this same time period, the cost of the program has increased from $689 million (FY
1986; in constant 1995 dollars)5 to $1.5 billion (FY 1995). an increase of 117 percent. The
dramatic increase in the size and cost of the program over the past decade dictates a need for
updated information on program operations, providers, and participants.
'The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was used to inflate 1986 costs to 1995 dollars. Program costs were $496 million in 1986
dollars.
Chapter I: Introduction IS
/3
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
The 1986 study of the CACFP did not include an in-depth assessment of the nutrient content of
meals and snacks offered hy CACFP providers or consumed by CACFP participants (children).
Nor did it include an assessment of food service practices used in implementing the CACFP.
Indeed, these aspects of the CACFP have not been studied in depth since the early 1980s. Given
the increased public health focus on the relationship between dietary intake and health status,
there is an obvious need for updated information on the nutritional characteristics of CACFP
meals and snacks. There is also a need for information on the level of nutrition knowledge
possessed by the individuals responsible for preparing meals and snacks in the CACFP. as well
as the practices used in planning, preparing, and serving CACFP meals and snacks. Such
information can be useful in identifying and addressing technical assistance and training needs
The Early Childhood and Child Care Study was designed to fill these information gaps. The
study has the following specific objectives:
• to describe the characteristics of participating children and their families:
• to describe CACFP program characteristics:
• to describe the food and nutrient content of meals and snacks offered by
CACFP providers (child care sites);
• to describe the nutrient content of meals and snacks consumed by CACFP
participants (children) while in care;
• to assess the nutrition knowledge of individuals with primary responsibility
for preparing CACFP meals and snacks (food preparers); and
• to assess the extent to which desirable food service practices are used in
implementing the CACFP.
The first two objectives are addressed in this volume of the report; the four remaining objectives
are addressed in Volume II.
Chapter I: Introduction 1-6
/4
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT
The remainder of this volume is organized as follows:
• Chapter Two presents a profile of the characteristics of participating
children;
• Chapter Three describes the characteristics of centers and homes; and
• Chapter Four describes the characteristics of sponsoring agencies.
These chapters present summary statistics abstracted from more detailed statistical tables
presented in the ippendices. While the analyses presented in this report focus on 1995. in
selected cases, comparisons are made to highlight changes that have taken place since 1986
This report also includes seven appendices:
• Appendix A with detailed statistical tables on children and families;
• Appendix B. with detailed statistical tables on centers and FDCHs;
• Appendix C. with detailed statistical tables on sponsoring agencies;
• Appendix D. with a nontechnical summary of study design;
• Appendix E. with weighting methodology;
• Appendix F. with study implementation and response rates; and
• Appendix G. with reference tables for approximate confidence intervals.
Chapter I: Introduction 1-7
/&
Chapter Two
Characteristics of Children and Their Families
A major question for any Federal program is "Who is the program serving?" For the CACFP,
this question was last addressed in 1986.' The program has grown substantially since that time:
average daily participation in the program grew from 1.1 million children in 1986 to 2.3 million
children in 1995. In 1995, 969,000 children participated in the program in homes and
1,342,000 children in centers.:
This chapter examines four characteristics of the children who participate in the program and
the services they receive. The four characteristics examined are:
« Demographic Characteristics. What are the age distribution and
racial/ethnic composition of the children served?
• Household Characteristics. What is the income distribution of
households? What is the size of these households? What is the poverty
status and income eligibility of children? What other Federal program
benefits do participants and their families receive?
• Amount of Time in Child Care. How many hours per day are children
in care?
• Meals and Snacks Received by Children. What types of meals and
snacks are received by children while in care?
These characteristics are best understood in the context of the types of facilities in which
children receive care. Throughout this report we distinguish among the three types of sites:
homes. Head Start centers, and child care centers.
'Frederic B. Glantz « a/.. Study ofthe Child Care Food Program: Final Report (U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food
and Nutrition Service. Office of Analysis and Evaluation. 1988).
-'Food and Consumer Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture. National Data Bank. April 1996.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-1
/(,
Earlx Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Age
As expected, most of the children participating in the CACFP are preschoolers between the ages
of three and five (Exhibit 2.1). Virtually all children in Head Start centers are preschoolers,
which is not surprising given that the program is designed for preschoolers. Preschoolers
account for 42 percent of the children enrolled in homes and 66 percent in child care centers.
Exhibit 2.1
Most of the Children Participating in the CACFP Are
Preschoolers Between the Ages of Three and Five
Head Start
Canters
99%
Family Day
Care Homes
/
V
42% I
32%
9%
17%
\
: 1% 66% /
\
■ UnftM
0 3-Syr.oB*
fj 1-Jyi otds
D 6-12yr.okk
Child Care
Centers
10%
1%
23%
Although there has been an increase in the proportion of child care centers serving infants (see
Chapter Three), only 1 percent of the children enrolled in child care centers are younger than
one year old. By contrast. 9 percent of the children enrolled in homes are infants. This
represents an increase from 1986 when infants accounted for 3 percent of the children in homes.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-2
/7
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
There appears to have been a shift in the age distribution of children in child care centers.
Preschoolers now account for a much higher proportion of the children enrolled in child care
centers than in 1986 (66% versus 51 %). This is consistent with the trend toward the increased
use of child care centers and early childhood programs for three- to four-year-olds.3
Ethnicity
The race/ethnicity of children is presented in Exhibit 2.2. The racial/ethnic makeup of children
in homes is quite different from that of centers. Children in homes are mostly white with
minorities accounting for only 17 percent of the -nildren enrolled Blacks. Hispanics. and other
minorities are more heavily represented in Head .Start centers, where they account for 63 percent
of children enrolled, and child care centers, where they account for approximately 50 percent
of the children enrolled.
Exhibit 2.2
Ethn icity of Children1
Head Start Child Care
Race/Ethnicity FDCHs Centers Centers
White 83% 37% 50%
Black 8 44 30
Hispanic 6 11 5
Other 3 8 15
'Detail may not sum due 10 rounding.
While minorities make up about the same proportion of enrollment in homes and child care
centers as they did in 1986, they are a smaller proportion of Head Start enrollment. Minorities
now account for 63 percent of Head Start children compared to 73 percent in 1986. Head Start
Administrative data show a different racial/ethnic distribution. In particular. Head Start reports
'Barbara Wilier et al.. The Demand and Supply of Child Care in 1990 (National Association for the Education of Young
Children. 1991).
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-.1
/S
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Yol I
a much higher percentage Hispanic (24%). This reflects the inclusion of Migrant Head Start
centers in the program's administrative data that were not included in the present study.
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
CACFP benefits were originally targeted at children from low-income families receiving child
care. The program's reimbursement rates, patterned after those used in the National School
Lunch Program, provided higher reimbursements for meals served to very low-income children.
The focus expanded in the late 1970s with the elimination of the means test in participating
homes (PL. 95-627).
Income and Household Size
Children in homes tend to come from households with higher incomes than children in Mead
Start centers and child care centers (Exhibit 2.3). The median famil) income of children m
homes is $40,484. compared with $10,433 in Head Start centers and S24.022 in child care
centers. The mean household size of children in homes and centers is four.
Exhibit 2.3
Children in FDCHs Tend to Come from Households with
Higher Incomes Than Children in Centers
FDCHs'
Head Start
Centers
Child Care
Centers
All
Centers
Median Household Income S40.484 S10.433 S24.022 $18,412
Mean Household Size 4 4 4 4
Percent of Children in
Households with Income:2
130% of Poverty or Less 11* 81% 39% 51%
131% to 185% of Poverty 10% 10% 14% 13%
Over 185% of Poverty 78r/£ 8% 47% 36%
'Detail may not sum due to rounding.
'Does not include providers' own children.
Chapter 2. Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-4
/•?
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. 1
The poverty threshold is a measure of need based on household size and is currently used to
determine the income eligibility status of children in center-based care.4 Nearly two-thirds
(64%) of the children in centers have incomes at or under 185 percent of the poverty threshold,
the limit for free and reduced-price meals. Breaking this down by type of center, 91 percent
of the children in Head Start centers qualify for free (81 %) or reduced-price (10%) meals, and
53 percent of the children in child care centers qualify.5 If the means test had been applied in
homes relatively few children in homes would qualify for free or reduced-price meals, as only
21 percent of the children in homes are from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of
poverty.
In child care centers and family day care homes, the proportion of children eligible for free or
reduced-price meals appears to have decreased since 1986 (Exhibit 2.4). In child care centers
the proportion decreased from 62 percent to 53 percent. Similarly, had a means test been in
effect in homes, the proportion of the children who would have qualified for free or reduced-price
meals decreased from 29 percent to 21 percent. In Head Start centers, the proportion of
children with household incomes at, or below, 185 percent of poverty remained about the same
(94% versus 91%).
Participation in Other Federal Programs
The proportion of children whose families receive benefits in other selected programs targeted
at low-income families is shown in Exhibit 2.5. As one would expect, given the much greater
targeting of services to children served from very low-income families, a much higher
proportion of Head Start families receive benefits from other Federal programs than do children
'The 1978 Child Nuinuon Amendments (PL. 95-627) eliminated the means lest in FDCHs. etfective May 1980. However.
FDCH providers may only claim reimbursement for meals served to their own children in care if their income does not exceed
185 percent of poverty.
"Head Start requires that no rr.ore than 10 percent of families with children enrolled in Head Start can have incomes above
the poverty ievel. Also note that estimates of the proportion of Head Start children eligible for free (81%) or reduced-price
(10%) meals is comparable to that reported by Head Start center directors. Head Start center directors reported that, on average.
95% of the children enrolled were eligible for free or reduced-price meals (Exhibit 3.17).
Chapi.r 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-5
<2<D
Earls Childhood and ChiM Care Study: Vol. I
100%
80%
Exhibit 2.4
The Proportion of Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price
Meals Has Decreased Since 1986
§s
6
•5
60%
40%
20%
•94%'
l&1%|
0%
Family Day Care Homes Head Start Canters
□ 1986
■ 1995
i62%:
Child Care Centers
Exhibit 2.5
Head Start Families Are More Likely to Receive Federal Benefits
Head Start Child Care
Program FDCHs Centers Centers
Food Stamps 9% 577c 23%
WIC 12 44 19
AFDC 6 30 10
Housing Subsidies 3 19 17
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-6
<£/
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
in homes and child care centers. Nearly 30 percent of Head Start families receive AFDC (Aid
to Families with Dependent Children) benefits, 57 percent receive food stamps. 19 percent
receive housing subsidies, and 44 percent participate in WIC.
Exhibits 2.6 and 2.7 compare the receipt of food stamps, WIC benefits. AFDC benefits, and
housing subsidies by FDCHs, Head Start centers, and child care centers in 1986 with their
receipt in 1995. Between 1986 and 1995, the percent of Head Start families receiving AFDC
dropped from 43 to 30 percent. Similarly, the percent of child care center families receiving
AFDC decreased from 19 to 10 percent. These reductions in average rates of AFDC receipt
may be linked to increases in average incomes. In !986, 78 percent of families with children
in Head Start had incomes at or below the poverty level and 43 percent were getting AFDC.
Similarly, in 1995, 67 percent of Head Start families had incomes at or below the poverty level
and 30 percent were getting AFDC." The decrease in the proportion of Head Start families on
AFDC appears to reflect the decrease in the proportion of Head Start families with incomes
below the poverty level. As incomes of families with children in participating centers improve,
the percent of those families receiving Federal government subsidies declines.
AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN CHILD CARE
The amount of time children spend in child care has important implications for the number and
types of meals received and for the importance of the CACFP in meeting their daily nutritional
needs. The more time children spend in care each day. the greater the share of their nutritional
requirements that is provided by the child care facility. At the time of this study, legislation
(P.L. 100-435) allowed reimbursement for an additional snack or meal served to children who
were in center-based care eight or more hours per day. Subsequent legislation (P.L. 104-193)
eliminated the fourth meal in centers, regardles-. cri the length of time a child is in attendance.
The amount of time children spend in care each day is described in Exhibit 2.8.
'Head Siari administrative data show thai 51 % of Head Siari families are receiving AFDC. The Mead Siari administrative
dala reflect families' status at the lime of enrollment some 6 to 8 months before the Household Survey was conducted. Studies
of welfare dynamics show that there is considerable movement on and off the welfare rolls. I'avctti (1993) found that 56% of
welfare spells last no more than one year. It seems likely that many Head Start families receiving AFDC at the time of Head
Start enrollment were no longer on welfare at the time of the Household Survey. [LaDonna Ann Pavetti, The Dynamics of
Welfare and Work: Exploring the Process hy Which Women Work Their Way Off Welfare (Ph.D. diss.. Harvard University.
Cambridge. Massachusetts. 1993)|.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-7
c24
60%
Exhibit 2.6
Receipt of Food Stamps and WIC Benefits: 1986 and 1995
57% □
Family Day Car* Homes
Head Start Canter*
Child Care Center*
50%
44*
40%
3 I
K.
2
I
5
3
§
30%
|23%|
20%
10%
|9%l
0%
,9H
12*
1986
1995
1966
1995
i
Food Stamps WIC
a
a.
a.
<a3
mm ■M
50%
Exhibtt 2.7
Receipt of AFDC Benefits and Housing Subsidies: 1986 and 1995
F im11 y Dcy Cs Tt HOfltM
I HMMI start Cmftm
{'] Child C«re Centers
5
a.
aa
a.
2
40%
5
30%
2 i
2a2
a.
t •a,
a-
&
a
aa
a.
z>
3
20%
110%
10%
0% I..
19M AFDC
1995
1986 Housing Subsidies
1995
a*
■Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 2.8
Most Children Are in Care at Least Five Hours per Day1
Head Start Child Care
Hours per Day in Care FDCHs Centers Centers
Less than 5 21% 43% 27%
5 to 7 15% 44% 13%
8 or More 64% 13% 59%
Mean Hours per Day in Care 7.4 5.3 6.9
Detail ma) mil sum due 10 rounding.
Children in homes and child care centers spend about the same amount of time in care each day.
About 60 percent are in care eight or more hours each day. On average, children in homes and
child care centers are in care about seven hours per day As one would exnect, given the part-day
nature of the Head Start program, relatively few (13%) children in Head Start centers are
in care eight or more hours per day. On average. Head Start children are in care about five
hours per day.7 The amount of time children spend in care is about the same as it was in 1986
(Exhibit 2.9).
MEALS AND SNACKS RECEIVED BY CHILDREN8
The amount of time children spend in care is clearly reflected in the types of meals and snacks
received while in care. Nearly all children in care eight or more hours per day receive lunch
while in care (Exhibit 2.10). In homes and child care centers, children in care less than eight
hours per day are much less likely to get lunch in care. Sixty percent of part-day children in
homes and 48 percent of part-day children in child care centers get lunch in care. However,
"Time in care tor Head Start children may include time spent in an "extended day" program that provides child care
before/after the regular Head Start program.
"These figures differ slightly from those reported in Volume II. The figures reported here use the child as the unit of
analysis, whereas the figures reported in Volume II use the child-day as the unit of analysis. The different unit of analysis
reflects the focus of the analysis In Volume I the focus is a description of children and their families, while in Volume II the
focus is a description of children's nutrient intake from CACFP meals and snacks on a typical day in care.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children aid Their Families 2-10
<2S
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 2.9
The Amount of Time Children Spend In Care
Is About the Same As in 1986
7 7.3
Li7.6
□ 1986
1995
5.7
(20F5
O
Q4 I
S3
x
Family Day Care Homes Head Start Centers Child Care Centers
children in Head Start centers get lunch in care regardless of the amount of time spent in care
each day.
Most children in care eight or more hours per day also receive breakfast while in care. About
80 percent of full-day children in homes. 69 percent of full-day children in child care centers,
and nearly all full-day Head Start children get breakfast in care. Part-day children are
considerably less likely to receive breakfast while in care. Only 38 percent of part-day children
in homes and 20 percent of part-day children in child care centers receive breakfast in care.
While fewer part-day than full-day Head Start children receive breakfast in care, a large
proportion (71%) of part-day Head Start children get breakfast in care.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Famdies 2-11
£&
1
2
a.
2I
Oa
ft.
2
ii
Exhibit 2.10
Most Children Receive Lunch and a Snack While in Care
FDCHs Head Start Centers Child Care Centers All Centers
8 or Less
More Less than 8 or More Less than 8 or More Less than 8 or More than 8
Hours 8 Hours Hours 8 Hours Hours 8 Hours Hours Hours
Breakfast 80% 38 % 99% 71% 69% 20% 72% 44%
L.unch 100 60 100 98 95 48 95 71
Supper 1 1 0 0 0 7 0 4
Snacks 89 81 89 52 95 85 94 70
Morning Snack 36 25 2 12 33 25 30 19
Afternoon Snack 86 67 89 41 90 61 90 52
f-vening Snack 0 2 4 1 0 6 1 4
I
2Ioe
ft.
ca
ft.
2g25
i.a.
?
<37
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
For the most part, it appears that children in Head Start centers receive breakfast and lunch in
care regardless of the amount of time spent in care. This reflects the emphasis that Head Start
places on nutrition. The Head Start Performance Standards require that part-day children receive
a hot meal that provides at least one-third of their daily nutritional needs. Full-day children
must be provided with meals and snacks that provide one-half to two-thirds of their daily
nutritional needs. In addition, the Performance Standards require Head Start centers to provide
breakfast to children who have not received breakfast before they arrive in the morning.
Most children receive some snacks in care regardless of the amount of time in care. Although
only 52 percent of part-day Head Start children get any snacks in care, this is simply a reflection
of the fact that most part-day Head Start children receive breakfast and lunch in care. Very few
children receive supper while in care regardless of the amount of time spent in care each day.
The principal combination of meals and snacks received by children in care eight or more hours
per day is breakfast, lunch, and afteiioon snack (Exhibit 2.11). This combination of meals is
received by 46 percent of the full-day children in homes, 85 percent in Head Start centers, and
54 percent in child care centers. The principal combinations of meals received by part-day
children are more varied, reflecting the time of day that part-day children are in care (Exhibit
2.12).
During the period of time this study was conducted, centers participating in CACFP could claim
reimbursement for an additional meal or snack served to children who were in care eight or
more hours a day.1* However, centers did not take advantage of this provision of the regulations.
Relatively few children who were in care eight or more hours per day received three meals and
a snack or two meals and two snacks in care. Only 15 percent of the children in child care
centers who were in care eight or more hours per day received the extra meal or snack, and 2
percent of such children in Head Start centers received the extra meal or snack.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcilation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) mandated several changes
to CACFP regulations. These changes include a reduction in the number of meals that CACFP centers may claim for
reimbursement to a maximum of two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks, regardless of the length of time a child
is in attendance.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-13
<as
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 2.11
Children1 in Care Eight
Receive Breakfast, Lunch,
or More Hours per Day
and an Afternoon Snack2
Combination of
Meals Received FDCHs
Head Start
Centers
Child Care
Centers
All
Centers
Breakfast. Lunch, and
Afternoon Snack
467 85% 54 7 567,
Breakfast. Morning Snack.
Lunch, and Afternoon Snack 21 2 15 14
Morning Snack. Lunch, and
Afternoon Snack
8 0 11 10
Breakfast and Lunch 10 7 3 3
Other 15 6 17 17
'Excludes intanis.
■'Detail ma> not sum due to rounding,
Exhibit 2.12
Meal Combinations Vary for Children1 ir
Less Than Eight Hours per Day2
i Care
Combination of
Meals Received FDCHs
Head Start
Centers
Child Care
Centers
All
Centers
Afternoon Snack Only 28% 17c 407 237
Lunch and Afternon Snack 11 17 13 15
Breakfast. Lunch, and
Afternoon Snack 8 27 6 15
Breakfast and Lunch 4 38 8 21
Morning Snack and Lunch 9 7 10 9
Other 40 10 23 17
'Excludes infants.
'Detail may not sum due to roundtrig.
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Children and Their Families 2-14
<2?
Chapter Three
Characteristics of Homes and Centers
This chapter describes the characteristics of providers that participate in the CACFP. This
profile of providers is based on the mail survey of providers conducted in Winter/Spring 1995.
While the analysis focuses on 1995 provider characteristics, comparisons are also made to 1986
provider characteristics taken from the Study of the Child Care Food Program.1 The study
examines seven dimensions of homes and centers. The first four provide a snapshot of child
care sites that participate in the CACFP. The next two describe sponsor functions from the
perspective of the care provider. The last describes providers* perceptions of the CACFP. The
seven dimensions are:
• Program Size. What is the average enrollment of providers? How does
enrollment compare to licensed capacity? How does attendance compare
to enrollment? What proportion of children are enrolled part-time?
• Operating and Service Characteristics. How many hours per day is
care provided? How many days per week is care provided? How many
years have providers been in operation? What proportions of providers
serve infants, preschoolers, and :>chool-aged children? What proportion
of providers operate as public or private agencies? What proportion of
providers are for-profit or non-profit agencies?
• Funding Sources. What are the average unsubsidized fees charged for
full-time care? What proportion of children at centers and homes have
their fees paid from government subsidies? Do providers charge sep-arately
for meals?
• Meal Service and Menu Planning. What meals and snacks are served
by providers? Who plans the menus at homes and centers? Do providers
use menu cycles? How long are menu cycles? How often do menu
cycles change?
• Nutrition Training. What are the most common methods of providing
training to providers? How many CACFP training sessions have been
held in the last year? How long are the training sessions? Who conducts
the training? What topics are covered in the training?
'Frederic B. Glantz el al.. Study of the Child Care Food Program: Final Report (U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food
and Nutrition Service. Office of Analysis and Evaluation. 1988).
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-1
So
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Monitoring by Sponsoring Agencies. How often are sponsored centers
and FDCHs monitored by their sponsors? How long do monitoring visits
last? What topics are covered during monitoring visits? Do sponsors
provide advance warning of monitoring visits?
Providers' Perceptions of the CACFP. What are the providers'
perceptions of the importance of the CACFP? What proportion of home
providers' household income is derived from child care? What proportion
of home providers' child care income is derived from CACFP meal
reimbursements? Do home and center providers think that the program
makes an important contribution to the nutritional well-being of children?
What is the perceived burden of the program's administrative require-ments?
What is the perceived adequacy of CACFP reimbursements?
CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMES
Program Size
The number of children enrolled in a home ranges from one to more than twenty. In 1995.
homes enrolled an average of eight children (Exhibit 3.1). This compares with an average
Exhibit 3.1
Selected Measures of Program Size in FDCHs
Characteristic Mean
Enrollment 8 children
Attendance 7 children
Absentee Rate 13%
Capacity Utilization 87%
Percent of Children Attending Part-T me 33%
enrollment of seven children in 1986 (Exhibit 3.2). Some home providers also care for their
own children during the day. When providers' own children are included, the average number
of children in care in homes is eight, the same as 1986. The increase in the number of children
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-2
SI
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
8
7
6
i
Si
O■
5
1« o
Exhibit 3.2
On Average FDCHs Are Serving One More Child Than in 1986
in
izr
Children Enrolled
□ 1986
■ 1995
With Providers' Own Children
cared for is a continuation of a trend that began in the mid-1970s.: On average, enrollment in
FDCHs is 87 percent of licensed (or approved) capacity.
On a typical day, an average of 13 percent of the children enrolled in homes are absent.
Adjusting for absenteeism, an average of seven enrolled children are in care on a daily basis.
Most participating homes (11%) have at least some children enrolled on a part-time basis (i.e..
less than 30 hours per week). On average. 33 percent of the children enrolled in an FDCH
attend part-time.
Operating and Service Characteristics
Homes tend to be open more hours than centers, offering flexibility for parents with infants or
school-aged children or unusual working schedules. Providers are open an average of nearly
•'Frederic B. Giant/. Family Day Care: Myths and Realities (Association lor Public Policy and Management. Washington.
DC. October 1990).
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-3
32
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. i
11 hours per day (Exhibit 3.3). Almost 9 percent of homes are open more than 12 hours per
day. While 88 percent of homes operate five days a week, 10 percent are open six or seven
days a week.
Exhibit 3.3
FDCHs Serve Children of All Ages
Characteristic Mean
Hours per Day Care Is Provided 11 hours
Percent of FDCHs Open More Than 5 Days per Week 10%
Years in Operation 7 years
Percent of FDCHs Serving:
Infants (under age 1) 43%
Toddlers (1-3 years) 92c/c
Preschoolers (4-6 years) 83%
School-Aged Children (over 6 years old) 54%
Although homes are open for longer hours and are more likely than centers to be open more
than five days a week, homes have cut back on their operating schedules since 1986 (Exhibit
3.4). The average home is open 11 hours per day compared with 12 hours per day in 1986
Similarly, only 10 percent of homes are open more than five days a week compared with 17
percent in 1986.
Homes serve children of all ages. Most homes serve toddlers and preschoolers, and about half
serve school-age children (54%) and infants (43%). More homes are serving toddlers than in
1986 (Exhibit 3.5).
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-4
55
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
12
10
S
S6
Exhibit 3.4
FDCHs Have Cut Back on Hours and Days of Operation
12 ["! 1906
\ m i 1995
Mean Hours per Day Open
20%
115% -
8c
"510% -
a. 5%
o%
W]
Q 1986
■ 1995
i
Open More Than 5 Days per Week
100%
80S
60S
40%
20%
0%
Exhibit 3.5
More FDCHs Are Serving Toddler* Than in 1986
■ IMS
92%
5*3*3%
751
43%
Infante Toddlers Prascnootors School Ago
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-5
3/
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Funding Sources
Parent fees are a major source of funding for participating homes (Exhibit 3.6). More than 90
percent of homes (917c) serve some children who are not receiving government subsidies, while
less than half (447c) serve some children receiving child care subsidies. The average hourly fee
to parents for full-time care was $1.90. Less than one percent of homes charge separately for
meals served to children.'
Exhibit 3.6
Almost All FDCHs Serve at Least Some Fee-Paying Children
Funding Sources:
Percentage of FDCHs Serving Fee-Paying Children
Mean Hourly Fee for Full-Time Care
Percentage of FDCHs Serving Subsidized Children
917c
$1.90
449J
Meal Service and Menu Planning
Summary statistics on meal service and menu planning in homes are presented in Exhibit 3.7.4
The most commonly served meals in homes are breakfast (817c). lunch (88%). and afternoon
snack (86% » Half of homes serve a morning snack, and about one-quarter (28%) serve supper.
Only 8 percent of homes serve an evening snack. The proportion of homes serving breakfast,
morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack has not changed appreciably since 1986. However,
the proportion of homes serving supper has declined since 1986s This change is consistent with
the decline in the proportion of homes open more than 12 hours per day.
'Program regulations do noi permit FDCHs to charge separately for meals
'The statistics reported here are hased on information collected in the Provider Surveys and reflect the meals usuallv served
by providers These figures differ slightly from those repotted in Volume II which are hased on an analysis of menus offered
bv providers during a specific five day period As noted in Appendix F. some providers that completed the Provider Survey
did not complete the Menu Survey
'Data for evening snacks are unavailable for 1986
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-6
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.7
Selected Meal Service Characteristics in FDCHs
Characteristic Percentage of FDCHs
Type of Meal/Snack Served:
Breakfast 81%
Morning Snack 50%
Lunch 88%
Afternoon Snack 86%
Supper 28%
Evening Snack 8%
Meals Prepared Off-Site 5%
Plans Own Menus 94%
Uses Menu Cycle 32%
Mean Length of Menu Cycle 3 weeks
Family day care providers typically plan their own meals and, similarly, most homes prepare
their meals on site.
Cycle menus require that menus be prepared in advance and then repeated at specified intervals.
The use of cycle menus indicates that meals are planned in advance and that foods are purchased
to ensure that those menus are served. About one-third (32%) follow a menu cycle. The
average length of the cycle is three weeks. Among homes using a menu cycle, 90 percent have
revised the menu within the last year.
The most common meal combinations served in homes are breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack
(31%) and breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack (29%). The proportion of
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-7
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
homes choosing the latter combination has increased 10 percent since 1986 when only 19 percent
of homes served this combination of meals (Exhibit 3.8).
Exhibit 3.8
Most FDCHs Serve Breakfast, Lunch, and at Least One Snack
Meal Combination 1986 1995
Breakfast. Morning Snack. Lunch, and Afternoon Snack 19% 297c
Breakfast. Lunch, and Afternoon Snack 257 31%
Morning Snack. Lunch, and Afternoon Snack 57c 4%
Other 51 % 367c
Sutrition Training
Sponsoring agencies are required to provide annual training to homes. This training may cover
nutrition-related topics and/or topics related to the administration of the CACFP. Training may
take place in formal training sessions," as part of monitoring visits conducted by the sponsors."
or through newsletters or other self-study methods. Nearly all providers (997c) receive some
training in nutrition and administrative topics in formal training sessions or during monitoring
visits. The types of training received in formal training sessions and during monitoring visits
are summarized in Exhibit 3.9."
Nutrition Topics. Overall, providers receive some training from sponsoring agencies in a broad
range of nutrition topics either in formal training sessions or as part of monitoring visits. The
"Formal (raining sessions for FDCH providers generally lake the form of programs conducted by sponsors for groups of
providers Such sessions are frequently held evenings or weekends. Guest speakers might include persons from the state
agency, the Cooperative Extension Service, the Dairy Council, or a consultant nutritionist
"Sponsors often find monitoring visits a convenient time for providing one-on-one training
"The previous study did not report comparable information on training received as part of monitoring visits.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-fl
37
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.9
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions
Monitoring Visits of FDCHs
or
Percentage of FDCHs Receiving
Training in:
Training
Sessions
Monitoring
Visits
Total Only Only Both
Nutrition-Related Topics:
Menu Planning 90 7c 97c 32 7c 497c
Types and Amounts of Food to Serve 90 8 29 53
Nutrient Content of Foods 84 17 22 45
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 51 20 13 18
Nutrition Education for Children 78 18 21 39
Nutrition Education for Food Preparers 69 18 21 30
Meal Preparation Techniques-' 48 48 N A N A
Administrative Topics:
Meaf Counts 86 4 47 35
Food Production Records 67 7 32 27
Food Safety/Sanitation 82 16 25 41
Food Purchasing 48 17 14 17
Food Storage 59 17 17 25
Family-Style Serving- 23 23 N A N A
Nutrition education for food preparers addresses the basic principles of nutrition science, while the Dietan
Guidelines for Americans deals with a specific set of nutrition goals to improve health
This option not given for sponsor visits
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-9
32
Early ChUdhood and Child Care Study: Vol. 1
seven nutrition-related topics presented in Exhibit 3.9 reflect FCS' traditional interest in
providing technical assistance in food service management issues and a growing interest in
providing information on principles of healthy eating. Nearly all (90%) receive training in menu
planning and the amounts and types of food to serve, and about four out of five receive training
on the nutrient content of foods (84%) and nutrition education for children (78%). Two-thirds
(69%) of providers receive training on nutrition education for food preparers, and about half
receive training on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (51 %) and meal preparation techniques
(48%). On average, providers receive some training in five of the seven nutrition topics
examined.
Monitoring visits are an important source of training on nutrition-related topics. Relatively few
homes receive nutrition-related training only during formal training sessions. For most topics,
providers receive training only during monitoring visits, or during both training sessions and
monitoring visits.
Administrative Topics. Providers receive training from their sponsors on a broad range of
administrative topics. The six administrative topics listed in Exhibit 3.9 reflect FCS' technical
assistance interests. Eighty-six percent of homes receive training from their sponsors on CACFP
meal counting procedures. Most providers also receive training in food safety and sanitation
(82%), maintaining food production records (67%), and food storage (59%). Less than half of
homes receive training in food purchasing (48%) and family-style serving (23%). Overall,
homes receive training in an average of four of the six administrative topics examined. As is
the case for nutrition-related topics, training provided by sponsors during monitoring visits is
an important source of training on administrative topics.
Formal Training Sessions. While much training is received as part of monitoring visits, 75
percent of home providers attended one or more formal training sessions in the year prior to the
study. On average, these providers attended two sessions, each of which lasted about three
hour.1. Most often, sponsors brought in a guest speaker (45%) or someone from the State
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-10
a?
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
administering agency (25%) to conduct the training. Training sessions were rarely conducted
solely by sponsor staff (11%).
Monitoring by Sponsoring Agencies
CACFP regulations require sponsors to visit homes an average of at least three times per year
to monitor their operations. Nearly all (98%) homes received at least one monitoring visit from
their sponsor in the year preceding the study and 88 percent were visited at least three times as
called for in the regulations (Exhibit 3.10). Among home providers that were visited by their
Exhibit 3.10
Most FDCHs Are Monitored by Sponsors at Least Once per Year,
and the Mean Number of Visits Is Five
Characteristic Mean
Proportion of FDCHs Receiving at Least One Visit per Year 98%
Among Visited FDCHs:
Number of Visits per Year 5
Length of Typical Visit 94 minutes
Total Annual Visit Time 7 hours
Proportion Receiving Surprise Visits 52%
sponsor, the average provider was visited Five times, with the average visit lasting 94 minutes.
Considering both the number of visits and the length of each visit, sponsors spent an average
of seven hours over the year with each home visited. About half of home providers reported
receiving at least one surprise visit from their sponsor.
While the total annual amount of time that sponsors spend with each provider on monitoring
visits has not changed since 1986, sponsors are conducting fewer visits and spending more time
with the providers at each visit (Exhibit 3.11). The pverage number of monitoring visits
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-11
■&
Earh Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. 1
100
80
60
40
20
Exhibit 3.11
FDCH Sponsors Are Conducting Fewer But Longer
Monitoring Visits Than in 1986
a
Mean Number of Visits per Year
i94l
i 74?n •
Mean Length of Each Visit
□ 1986
■ 1995
□ 1986
■ 1995
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-12
>#
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
received by homes decreased from eight to five between 1986 and 1995. At the same time, the
length of a typical visit increased from 42 to 94 minutes. This may reflect an effort by sponsors
to improve the efficiency of the monitoring process by reducing travel and other costs associated
with each visit. Sponsors are also conducting more surprise visits to homes. The proportion
of homes receiving surprise visits increased from 41 to 52 percent.
Providers' Income
Many home providers are relatively low-income women for whom child care is a major source
of household income. This section examines home providers' child care income, and the relative
importance of CACFP reimbursements as a source of child care income.
Child care is an important source of income for home providers (Exhibit 3.12). Child care
income accounted for 43 percent of the median provider's household income, with one out of
five home providers deriving more than half of their household income from child care. For
the average home, child care is now a more important source of household income than it was
in 1986. In 1986. child care accounted for an average of 29 percent of home providers'
household income. Many family day care providers are low-income women. Nearly 40 percent
Exhibit 3.12
Child Care Is an Important Source of Income for FDCHs
Providers' Income1
Mean Annual Household Income $32,526
Percent of Providers' Households with Income Less Than or
Equal to 185% of Poverty 38%
Median Percent of Household Income from Child Care 437c
Median Percent of Child Care Income from CACFP 147c
'Gross income.
Chapter J. Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-13
-/*
Early Childhood and Child Care Sturh ■ Vol. I
have household incomes that are less than or equal to 185 percent of the poverty level. For
these low-income providers, child care income accounts for a more substantial portion (557c)
of total household income.
However, the CACFP accounts for a relatively small proportion (14%) of the average provider's
child care income. Even for low-income providers, CACFP meal reimbursements still
contribute a relatively small portion (12%) of child care income. More than three-quarters
(79%) of homes derive less than 25 percent of their child care income from CACFP meal
reimbursements. This represents a change from 1986 when CACFP reimbursements accounted
for 25 percent of the average provider's child care income. This appears to be attributable to
two factors
• Child care fees have increased more than CACFP reimbursement rates
since 1986. The mean hourly fee has increased by 65 percent (from $1.15
to $1.90). while the CACFP reimbursement rate for lunch has increased
by 30 percent (from $1.16 to $1.51).
• Providers have increased the number of children they serve. On average,
the number of children enrolled in FDCHs has increased by 21 percent
(from 6.6 to 8.0 children).
Home Providers' Perception of the CACFP
The perception of the CACFP among home providers is quite positive. More than 84 percent
of providers thmk the program is very important in meeting the nutritional needs of the children
it serves. Providers do not find the program's administrative requirements to be burdensome.
Average estimates of the burden imposed by the application/renewal process, monthly accounting
requirements, and meal pattern requirements are all favorable, falling between one. "not at all
burdensome" and two. "not very burdensome." Nearly 98 percent of providers believe the meal
pattern requirements are appropriate and 94 percent consider the CACFP reimbursement rate
to be satisfactory.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTERS
Centers (public or private) are eligible to participate in the CACFP if they are nonprofit
institutions, or if they are for-profit centers that receive compensation for child care, under Title
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-14
*/*>
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
XIX or Title XX of the Social Security Act, for at least 25 percent of the children enrolled or
25 percent of licensed capacity, whichever is less. Only 11 percent of centers are for-profit
centers. Unlike homes, centers can choose to have a sponsor or to be self-sponsored for the
CACFP. Approximately 70 percent of centers in the CACFP are sponsored centers. The rest
are independent child care centers.9
Because Head Start centers are fundamentally different from child care centers, we differentiate
between the two types of centers when examining center characteristics. The goal of Head Start
is to provide compensatory education for disadvantaged preschool children. In general. Head
Start is a part-day program that follows the school year calendar. By contrast, child care centers
accommodate work-day schedules. While some child care centers are pan-day programs (e.g..
after-school programs), in general child care centers are full-day programs that operate year-round.
Approximately one-third (36%) of centers participating in the CACFP are Head Start
centers.
Program Size
Statistics summarizing the size of centers are presented in Exhibit 3.13. Centers vary greatly
in size, ranging from fewer than 20 to over 200 children. Head Start centers are on average
somewhat smaller than child care centers. The average Head Stan center enrolls 60 children
compared to an average of 70 for child care centers. However, the absentee rate is lower in
Head Stan centers (11%) than child care centers (18%). After adjusting for absenteeism. Head
Stan centers and child care centers are about the same size. Average daily attendance is 53 for
Head Stan centers and 57 for child care centers.
Centers participating in the CACFP operate at less than full capacity. On average, enrollment
is 93 percent of licensed capacity in Head Start centers and 85 percent of capacity in child care
centers.
"The difference between sponsored and independent centers is legal rather than functional. As such, this distinction is rarelv
used in the discussion below.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-15
*&
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.13
Mean Attendance Is About the Same for Head Start and Child Care Centers
Mean
Head Start Child Care Ail
Centers Centers Centers
Enrollment (Number of Children) 60 70 66
Attendance (Number of Children) 53 57 55
Absentee Rate 11% 189: 159;
Capacity Utilization 93% %5% %%%
Percent of Children Attending Part-T me 61 c/c 379? 46r;
As expected, most of the children enrolled in Head Stan centers are pan-time. On average. 61
percent of the children in Head Stan centers are in care less than 30 hours per week For the
average child care center 37 percent of the children aie enrolled pan-time.
There have been several changes in the size of centers since 1986 (Exhibits 3.14a. 3.14b. and
3 14c):
• The size of child care centers has declined. Average enrollment in child
care centers decreased from 82 to 70 children from 1986 to 1995 In
contrast, average Head Stan enrollment has remained about the same (62
children in 1986 versus 60 in 1995).
• The proportion of children enrolled on a part-time basis increased in child
care centers, from an average of 25 percent in 1986 to an average of 37
percent in 1995. In Head Start centers the average proportion of children
enrolled on a part-time basis decreased from 67 to 61 percent.
• Capacity utilization has declined in both Head Start centers and child care
centers. In 1986. both Head Start centers and child care centers were
operating at full capacity. Total capacity in Head Start centers and child
care centers has expanded since 1986. and by 1995 centers were no longer
operating at full capacity. Average enrollment in Head Start centers was
93 percent of licensed capacity, and only 85 percent of capacity in child
care centers.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-/6
<■*&-
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
100
80
$ 80
§40
20
Exhibit 3.14a
Mean Enrollment la Down for Child Care Centers
D 19M
■ 1995
~m
82
Head Start Centers Child Cars Cantors
Mean Enrollment
70%
60S
50%
:40%
■30%
20%
10%
0%
Exhibit 3.14b
Child Care Centers Are Enrolling Proportionally More
Part-Time Children
□ 1986
■ 1995
25%:
Head Start Centers Child Care Centers
Mean Percent Part-Time
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-17
■4,
Early Childhood and Child Car* Study: Vol. I
120%
100%
80%
60% -
40%
20%
0%
Exhibit 3.14c
Htad Start Centers and Child Car* Cantara Ara No Longar
Operating at Full Capacity
□ 1966
■ 1905
'io4%n 1018]
Head Start Centers Child Care Centers
Mean Capacity Utilization
Operating and Service Characteristics
Child care centers cater to parents' work schedules (Exhibit 3.15). Child care centers are open
an average of 10 hours per day. Most child care centers are open five days a week. Only 6
percent of child care centers are open less than five days a week, and only 3 percent are open
six or seven days a week. Head Start centers are usually open fewer hours per day and fewer
days per week than child care centers. The average Head Start center is open about eight hours
a day. Nearly one third (31%) are open fewer than five days a week.
Centers tend to be older organizations than homes. On average. Head Start centers have been
in operation for 14 years and child care centers 15 years. While the average number of years
of operation has remained unchanged for Head Start centers, it has declined somewhat since
1986 (from 19 to 15 years) for child care centers. In 1995. 7 percent of child care centers had
been in operation for fewer than three years compared to less than one percent in 1986.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-1 h
-¥7
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.15
Selected Operating and Service Characteristics of Centers
Mean
Head Start
Centers
Child Care
Centers
All
Centers
Hours per Day Care Is Provided 8 10 9
Percent of Centers Open More
Than 5 Days per Week 1% 37 17c
Years in Operation 14 15 14
Percent of Centers Serving Children:
Infants (under age 1) 2% 33% 227
Toddlers (1-3 years) 597 777c 717c
Preschoolers (4-6 years) 1007c 927c 957
School-Aged Children (over 6 year* old) 27c 507c 337c
Head Start programs serve only preschoolers. Some Head Stan centers, however, serve toddlers
in their day care or extended-day components. A very small proportion of Head Stan centers
serves infants (27) or school-age children (27). Child care centers also primarily serve
preschool children. The proportion of child care centers serving infants and school-age children
has increased since 1986 (Exhibit 3.1$). In 1986. only 19 percent of child care centers served
infants and 36 percent served school-age children. By 1995 these proportions had increased to
33 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Funding Sources
Summary statistics on funding sources of centers are presented in Exhibit 3.17. As expected,
parent fees are not an important source of revenue for Head Start centers. Only 4 percent of
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-19
-¥i
Early Chddhood and Child Can Study: Vol. I
50%
40%
S■? 30%
■ O
a? 20%
10%
0%
Exhibit 3.16
The Proportion of Child Care Centers Serving Infants and
School-Age Children Has Increased Since 1986
19%
□ tew
■ 1905
36%
Serve Infants Serve School-Age
Child Care Centers
Exhibit 3.17
l
Summary Statistics on Funding Sources in Centers
Head Start
Characteristic Centers
Child Care
Centers
AU
Centers
Proportion of Centers Serving:
Only Fee-Paying Children 0% 11% 7%
Only Subsidized Children 96% 18% 46%
Both Fee-Paying and Subsidized Children 4% 71% 47%
Mean Hourly Fee for Unsubsidized -.. „
Full-Time Care $1.98 $1.98
Percentage of Centers That Charge
Separately for Meals 2% 4% 3%
Mean Proportion of Enrollment Eligible
for Free or Reduced-Price Meals 95% 65% 76%
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-20
>&
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Head Stan centers serve any children whose fees are not subsidized. Since the Head Start
program does not charge parents, fee-paying children are probably in an extended day program.
The picture differs at child care centers. Nearly three-quarters (71 %) of these centers serve both
fee-paying and subsidized children. Only 11 percent serve just fee-paying children, only 18
percent serve just subsidized children.
Fees have increased substantially since 1986. The average hourly fee for full-time unsubsidized
care is $1.98. compared to $1.02 in 1986.10 Few centers (47c) charge separately for meals.
Meal Service and Menu Planning
Summary statistics on meal service and menu planning in participating centers are presented in
Exhibit 3.18." As is the case with homes, breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are the
most common meals. Of Head Start centers, 86 percent serve breakfast, 95 percent serve lunch,
and 63 percent serve an afternoon snack. The corresponding percentages for child care centers
are 75 percent, 78 percent, and 88 percent. In 1986, 83 percent of Head Start centers served
breakfast, 100 percent served lunch, and 72 percent served afternoon snacks. For child care
centers the corresponding percentages were 90 percent, 95 percent, and 93 percent.
The most common meal combination is breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack, present in 52
percent of Head Start centers and 40 percent of child care centers. While the combinations of
meals served in Head Start centers are essentially unchanged from 1986. among child care
centers there was an increase in the proportion of centers offering breakfast, morning snack,
lunch, and afternoon snack (from 13% to 21%). This probably reflects the 1988 regulatory
change that permits centers to be reimbursed for an additional meal or snack served to children
in care eight or more hours per day (P.L. 100-435).
lcThe 1986 average hourly fee was $1.42 in 1995 dollars. In constant dollars, average hourly fees increased by 39 percent.
"The statistics reported here are based on information collected in the Provider Surveys and reflect the meals usually served
by providers. These figures differ slightly from those reported in Volume II which are based on an analysis of menus offered
by providers during a specific five-day period. As noted in Appendix F. some providers that completed the Provider Survey
did not complete the Menu Survey.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers J-2/
3D
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.18
Selected Meal Service Characteristics in Centers
Percentage of Centers
Head Start Child Care All
Centers Centers Centers
Type of Meal/Snack Served:
,v Breakfast 86% 75% 79%
Morning Snack 15% 37% 29%
Lunch 95 % 78% 84%
Afternoon Snack 63 % 88 7c 79%
Supper 1% 17c 5%
Evening Snack 2% 47c 3%
Meais Prepared Off-Site 457c 31% 36%
Menus Planned By:
Sponsoring Agency 16% 10% 12%
Center Director 37c 13% 9%
Center Cook 8% 29% 21%
School District 117c 24% 19%
Dietitian/Nutritionist 45% 9% 23%
Other 17% 13% 16%
Use Menu Cycle 70% 68% 69%
Mean Length of Menu Cycle 5 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-22
<sy
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Many centers have their meals prepared off-site. Almost half (45%) of Head Start centers, and
almost one-third of child care centers (31%) serve meals prepared off-site.
Relatively few center directors or center cooks plan the meals served in their centers. Center
directors or cooks plan the menus in only 11 percent of Head Start centers and 42 percent of
child care centers. In Head Start centers menus are most often planned by a dietitian/nutritionist
(45%), the sponsoring agency (16%). or the school district (11%). Child care centers, however,
rarely use a dietitian/nutritionist to plan their menus (9%) Similarly, a sponsoring agency plans
the menus for only 10 percent of child care centers. Nearly one-quarter (24%) of child care
centers have their menus planned by a school district (which also prepares the meals served in
the center).
Head Start centers and child care centers are far more likely to use a menu cycle than homes.
About 70 percent of centers cycle their menus, compared to 32 percent of homes. Among
centers using a menu cycle, the average length of the cycle is four weeks. Most centers (85%)
that use menu cycles have changed it within the last year.
Nutrition Training
Food preparers/menu planners in centers often receive training on nutrition-related topics and/or
topics related to the administration of the CACFP.12 Sponsors are required to provide annual
training to the centers they administer. This training may take place in formal training sessions,
through home-study methods, or, for sponsored centers, as part of a monitoring visit. The types
of training received in formal training sessions and during monitoring visits are summarized in
Exhibit 3.19.
Nutrition Topics. The seven nutrition-related topics presented in Exhibit 3.19 reflects FCS'
traditional interest in providing technical assistance in food service management issues and a
growing interest in providing information on principles of healthy eating. Nearly all Head Start
'•'This includes "off-site" food preparers.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-23
<SA
5 i
s
a-
2
-3,
I3
Ba
a.
Exhibit 3.19
Topics Covered in Formal Training Sessions or Monitoring Visits of Centers
Topic Covered
Percent of Centers Receiving Training in■
I
Head Start Centers Child Care Centers
Total
Iraing.
Only
Visits
Only Both Total
Traing.
Only
Visits
Only Both
Nutrition-Related Topics:
Menu Planning 78% 32% 9% 37% 67% 38% 8% 20%
Types and Amounts of Food to Serve 89 22 12 56 71 39 8 25
Nutrient Content of Foods 71 30 11 31 56 34 7 16
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 52 31 6 15 35 23 3 8
Nutrition Education for Children 85 18 14 52 54 30 8 16
Nutrition Education for Food Preparers/
Menu Planners 69 28 6 35 47 28 5 15
Meal Preparation Techniques' 59 59 N/A N/A 46 46 N/A N/A
Administrative Topics:
Meal Counts 86 16 16 54 70 31 15 24
Food Production Records 76 19 10 47 61 29 8 24
Food Safety/Sanitation 93 16 10 67 74 39 6 29
Food Purchasing 67 24 7 36 49 26 5 19
Food Storage 86 20 12 54 63 34 6 24
Family-Style Serving1 65 65 N/A N/A 33 33 N/A N/A
Filing CACFP Claims 32 13 8 11 38 22 8 7
Free/Reduced-Price Meal Applications 42 17 10 16 45 22 10 12
8
»oo
a.
aa
a.
2i
a
,a.
3=
fc
'Centers were not asked if training in meal preparation techniques or family-style serving were provided during monitoring.
S3-
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
center food preparers/menu planners (97%) and 82 percent child care center food preparers/
menu planners received some training during the last year in at least one of these seven nutrition
topics. However, food preparers/menu planners in sponsored child care centers were more
likely to have received training in nutrition topics than those in independent centers (93% in
sponsored centers versus 71% in independent centers).
Food preparers/menu planners in Head Start centers most frequently received training in the
types and amounts of food to serve (89%), nutrition education for children (85%). and menu
planning (19,%). Between half and three-quarters received training on the nutrient content of
foods, nutrition education for food preparers. meal preparation techniques, and the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. On average Head Start food preparers/menu planners received some
training in five of the seven nutrition-related topics examined.
Food preparers/menu planners in child care centers most frequently received training in the types
and amounts of food to serve (71%). Between half and two-ihirds received training in menu
planning, the nutrient content ol foods, and nutrition education for children. Less than half of
the food preparers/menu planners in child care centers received any training on the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, nutrition education for food preparers. or meal preparation techniques.
On average, food preparers in child care centers received some training in four of the seven
nutrition-related topics examined.
Administrative Topics. As in the case of nutrition-related topics, nearly all food preparers/menu
planners in Head Start centers (97%) received training on administrative topics during the last
year. Similarly. 84 percent of food preparers/menu planners in child care centers received some
training on administrative topics. Again, such training was received more frequently in
sponsored centers (99%) than in independent centers (69%). The eight administrative topics
listed in Exhibit 3.19 reflect FCS' technical assistance interests.
In Head Start centers, the most frequently taught administrative topics were food safety/
sanitation (93%). meal counting procedure (86%), food storage (86%). and maintaining food
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes end Centers 3-25
5?
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
production records (76%) About two-thirds received training on food purchasing (67%) and
family-style serving (65%). Less than half received training on filing CACFP claims (32%) and
processing free and reduced-price meal applications (42%). On average, food preparers in Head
Stan centers received some training in six of the eight administrative topics examined.
For child care centers, the most frequent administrative topics were also food safety/sanitation
(74% ) and meal counting procedures (70%). Other frequent topics included food storage (63%)
and maintaining food production records (61%). Less than half received training on food
purchasing (49% ). processing free and reduced-price applications (45%). filing CACFP claims
(38%). and family-style serving (33%). On average, food preparers in child care centers
received training in four of the eight administrative topics examined.
Formal Training Sessions. Excluding training that sponsors provided as part of monitoring
visits to centers, most food preparers in centers (80%) attended at least one formal training
session Food preparers in Head Start centers were more likely to attend formal training
sessions (88%) than those in child care centers (76%). In Head Start centers, food preparers
attended an average of four training sessions. In child care centers the average was three
sessions. For both Head Stan centers and child care centers, the average training session lasted
four hours.
Monitoring by Sponsoring Agencies
Center sponsors are require 1 to conduct at least three monitoring visits to each center annually.
Some sponsors visit once a week or more.11 while others visit only once a year.
About 91 percent of sponsored centers received at least one monitoring visit from their sponsor
in the year prior to the study (Exhibit 3.20). Eighty-seven percent of Head Stan centers and 79
peicent of child care centers received at least three visits, as required by CACFP regulations.
"Nine percent of sponsored centers are visited more trequenily than once a week These centers lend to be co-located with
iheil sponsor or located in very close proximity to the sponsor.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-26
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Earlv Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.20
1
Most Centers Are Monitored, and Their Mean Number of Visits Is 28
Mean
Head Start Child Care All
Centers Centers Centers
Proportion of Centers Receiving at
Least One Visit per Year 94% 88% 91%
Among Visited Centers:
Number of Visits per Year 26 31 28
Length of Typical Visit (Minutes) 148 125 136
Total Annual Visit Time (Hours) 55 71 63
Proportion Receiving Surprise Visits 70% 58% 64%
The average Head Start center received 26 monitoring visits. The average visit lasted about two
and a half hours (148 minutes). The average sponsored child care center received 31 visits.
The average visit lasted about two hours (125 minutes). Combining the number of visits
received and the length of each visit, sponsors spent an average of 55 hours over the year
monitoring each Head Start center and 71 hours monitoring each child care center.
Both Head Start and child care center sponsors are clearly spending a considerable amount of
time each year monitoring their centers. However, for Head Start centers the average amount
of time spent with each center decreased from 69 to 55 hours since 1986 (Exhibit 3.21). The
average length of a monitoring visit for child care centers increased from 60 to 71 hours since
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-27
51
Sarlv Childhood and Chdd Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.21
80
Annual Monitoring Time for Head Start Centers Has Decreased
70 m |71|
60
50
l55||
r isen
M
g40
I
■
30 ■
20
i•
10 ■
0
n 1986
ffl 1995
Head Start Child Care Centers
Annual Monitoring Time
1986.'" Both Head Stan and child care centers were less likely to receive surprise visits in
1995 than in 1986. The proportion of Head Start centers receiving surprise visits declined from
84 to 70 percent, and the proportion of child care centers receiving such visits decreased from
74 to 58 percent (Exhibit 3.22).
Head Start and Child Care Providers' Perception of the CACFP
Center directors have a positive perception of the CACFP. As with home providers, 98 percent
of center directors believe that the program is important in meeting the nutritional needs of their
participating children. As with homes, center directors do not find the CACFP*s administrative
requirements to be burdensome. Only a small proportion (9%) of center directors reported the
"Although total annual time spent monitoring each center has gone down, the average numher of monitoring visits received
h> Head Start centers has remained about the same (an average of 23 visits in 1986 compared to 26 visits in 1995). The average
number of visits received by child care centers has gone up from 21 in 1986 to 31 in 1995
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-28
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Earlv Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 3.22
Sponsors Are Conducting Fewer Surprise Visits to Centers
100%
80%
£ 60%
□ 1966
■ 1995
5■ 40% a.
20%
0%
84% '
74%[
Head Start Child Care Centers
Receive Surprise Visits
application/renewal process to be very burdensome. Similaily. 9 percent of center directors find
monthly reporting requirements to be very burdensome, while only 3 percent find the meal
pattern requirements to be very burdensome. Nearly 96 percent of center directors believe the
meal pattern requirements are appropriate, and 90 percent consider the reimbursement rates to
be satisfactory.|S
''Note thai aboul 20 percent of center directors did not answer the question on reimbursement rates. This ma> relied the
tact that tor sponsored centers CACFP reimbursements are paid directly to the sponsor. Since lot main sponsored centers the
sponsor controls the center budget, center directors might not be aware of the amount of CACF:P reimbursements received.
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Homes and Centers 3-29
62
Chapter Four
Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies
This chapter describes the characteristics of the agencies that sponsor homes and centers for the
CACFP. This profile of sponsoring agencies is based on the mail survey of sponsors conducted
in Winter/Spring 1995. Three dimensions of sponsoring agencies are examined in this chapter:
• General Characteristics. What is the number of sites sponsored? What
types of child care programs are sponsored? What types of agencies
sponsor child care sites for the CACFP? In what other USDA programs
do these agencies participate? What proportion of their revenue do
sponsors derive from CACFP reimbursements?
• In-Service Training. What proportion of FDCH sponsors provide in-service
training to family day care providers? What proportion of center
sponsors provide in-service training to center administrative staff, child
care staff, and food preparers? What topics are covered in training*
• Monitoring Visits. What is the frequency of monitoring visits to homes
and centers? How long does a typical monitoring visit last? What are the
primary program areas reviewed by sponsors during monitoring visits?
The analysis presented below focuses on 1995 sponsor characteristics. The previous Study of
the Child Care Food Program collected a limited amount of information on the characteristics
of FDCH sponsors and did not collect any information from center sponsors.1 As such,
comparisons to 1986 sponsor characteristics are presented only for FDCH sponsors when
comparable data are available.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Family day care sponsors and center sponsors differ greatly in terms of the number of sites that
operate under their aegis. The median number of homes sponsored by FDCH sponsors is 54
(Exhibit 4.1). By contrast, the median number of Head Start centers sponsored by Head Start
sponsors is seven, and the median number of child care centers sponsored by child care center
'The 1986 study focused primarily on FDCH sponsors" administrative costs.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-1
&
Early Childhood and Chdd Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 4.1
Number and Types of Sites Sponsored
FDCH Head Start Child Care
Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors
Mean Number of Sites Sponsored 156 homes 9 centers 4 centers
Median Number of Sites Sponsored 54 homes 7 centers 2 centers
Percent That Sponsor Other Types of
Programs 45% 59 % 65%
sponsors is only two. The average size of FDCH sponsors is about the same as it was in 1986
when the median number of homes sponsored was 53.
Sponsoring agencies often sponsor more than one type of program. Forty-five percent of FDCH
sponsors sponsor other child care or early childhood programs. Among the FDCH sponsors
with other programs 84 percent sponsor child care centers and 36 percent sponsor Head Start
centers. Similarly. 59 percent of Head Stan sponsors and 65 percent of child care center
sponsors also sponsor other programs. Twenty-one percent of Head Stan sponsors and 31
percent of child care center sponsors also sponsor homes. Nearly half (45 7c) of Head Stan
sponsors with other programs also sponsor child care centers, and one-third (33%) of child care
center sponsors with other programs sponsor Head Stan centers.
There are many types of agencies that sponsor homes and centers for the CACFP (Exhibit 4.2).
Most often, however, the sponsoring institution is a public or private social service agency.
More than half (55%) of FDCH sponsors are social service agencies. Similarly. 43 percent of
Head Stan sponsors and 33 percent of child care center sponsors are social service agencies.
About one-quaner (24%) of FDCH sponsors identify themselves as other nonprofit entities.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-2
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Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 4.2
Types of Sponsoring Agencies
FDCH Head Start Child Care
Agency Type Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors
School district 10% 8% 10%
Public social service agency 18 18 9
Private social service agency 37 25 24
College or university 4 1 6
Charitable foundation 4 1 7
Religious organization 3 0 7
Child care chain (for-profit) 0 0 7
Other nonprofit entity 24 32 27
Other 2 14 2
For the most part, these are agencies whose only activity is CACFP sponsorship. In 1986. 28
percent of FDCH sponsors were agencies whose only activity was CACFP sponsorship
Nearly one-third (32%) of Head Start sponsors and about one-quarter (27%) of child care center
sponsors identify themselves as other nonprofit entities. However, for Head Start and child care
center sponsors this category includes a variety of institutions such as community action
agencies. ci:«ld care and early childhood organizations, housing authorities, tribal councils, and
hospitals.
FDCH sponsors receive a separate reimbursement for their administrative costs. These
reimbursements are based on the number of homes sponsored each month. CACFP
administrative cost reimbursements are an important source of revenue for FDCH sponsors
(Exhibit 4.3). On average. FDCH sponsors derive 53 percent of their revenue from CACFP
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-3
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Eariv Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit 4.3
FDCH Sponsors Derive Over Half Their Income from the CACFP
Proportion of Revenue FDCH Head Start Child Care
from CACFP Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors
Less than 25% 30% 100% 92%
26% to 50% 15 0 8
517t to 75% 13 0 0
76% to 100% 42 0 0
Mean 53 13 15
Median 54 12 16
administrative cost reimbursements (this compares to an average of 39 percent in 1986). Forty-two
percent of FDCH sponsors derive more than 75 percent of their revenue from CACFP
administrative cost reimbursements. FDCH sponsors that derive a very large percentage of their
revenue from CACFP administrative cost reimbursements tend to be single-purpose agencies for
whom the CACFP is the mainstay of the organization.2
Center sponsors do not receive a separate reimbursement for their administrative costs. Rather,
center sponsors receive the meal reimbursements generated by the meals and snacks served by
the centers that they sponsor.3 On average. CACFP reimbursements account for a relatively
small proportion of revenues received by center sponsors. The mean percentage of revenue
-'Previous studies of the CACFP have distinguished between single-purpose and multi-purpose FDCH sponsors. The single
purpose sponsors tend to have little involvement with their FDCHs beyond that lequired by the CACFP regulations. Multi-purpose
sponsors lend to provide an array of services to their FDCHs above and beyond those required for CACFP participatu.il.
See Frederic B. Giant/?/a/.. Study ofthe Child Care Food Program: Final Report (U ,S. Department of Agriculture. Food
and Nutrition Service. Office of Analysis and Evaluation. 1988)
'Note that center sponsors that also sponsor FDCHs receive a separate administrative cost reimbursement for the homes that
they sponsor.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-4
6A
Earlv Childhood and Ch'Jd Cart Study: Vol. I
derived from CACFP reimbursements is 13 percent for Head Start center sponsors and 15
percent for child care center sponsors.
Sponsoring agencies often participate in other USDA programs (Exhibit 4.4). Most often.
CACFP sponsoring agencies also participate in USDA's Nutrition Education and Training (NET)
program. Sixty-one percent of FDCH sponsors and Head Start sponsors, and 58 percent of child
care center sponsors participate in the NET program. Among FDCH sponsors. 15 percent
participate in the Summer Food Service Program and 10 percent participate in the school
nutrition programs (i.e., the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program)
and 10 percent participate in the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Only
7 percent of FDCH sponsors participate in the Food Donations Program. For Head Stan
sponsors, participation in other USDA programs includes the Food Donations Program (41 %).
EFNEP (227c), and the Summer Food Service Program (19%). About one-quarter of child care
center sponsors participate in the Food Donations Program (259c) and the Summer Food Service
Program (28%). Between 7 and 8 percent of child care center sponsors participate in both
school nutrition programs and EFNEP.
Exhibit 4.4
CACFP Sponsors' Participation in Other USDA Programs
USDA Programs FDCH Head Start Child Care
Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors
National School Lunch Program 10% 3% 8%
School Breakfast Program 10 4 7
Summer Food Service Program 15 19 28
Special Milk Program 0 1 0
Food Donations Program 7 41 25
Nutrition Education and Training 61 61 58
Expanded Food Nutrition Education _ 22 7
Program
Other 9 8 7
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-5
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Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
IN-SERVICE TRAINING
Family Day Care Home Sponsors
Most (82%) FDCH sponsors provide in-service training to the homes they sponsor. Training
may be provided on nutrition and/or administrative topics (Exhibit 4.5). Of those sponsors that
provide in-service training to homes, nearly all cover menu planning (98%) and the types and
Exhibit 4.5
In-Service Training Provided by FDCH Sponsors
Percent of FDCH sponsors providing in-service
training to FDCHs: 82%
Among sponsors providing training, percent providing
training in:
Nutrition-Related Topics
Menu planning 98%
Types and amounts of food to serve 94
Nutrient content of foods 82
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 66
Nutrition education for children 76
Nutrition education for food preparers 71
Meal preparation techniques 71
Mean number of nutrition topics 6
Administrative Topics
Meal counts 89%
Food production records 50
Food safety/sanitation 89
Food purchasing 59
Food storage 66
Family-style serving 66
Filing claims 72
Free and reduced-price meal applications 61
Mean number of administrative topics 6
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-6
4
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
amounts of food to serve (94%), and the nutrient content of foods (82%). Between two-thirds
and three-quarters of FDCH sponsors provide training on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
nutrition education for children, nutrition education for food preparers, and meal preparation
techniques. On average, FDCH sponsors provide training in six of the seven nutrition-related
topics examined.
Similarly, of FDCH sponsors that provide training, the vast majority (89%) provide training on
meal counting procedures and food safety/sanitation. Between half and three-quarters of FDCH
sponsors provide training on food production records, food purchasing, food storage, family-style
serving, filing claims, and free and reduced-price meal application1;. On average. FDCH
sponsors that provide training to their homes cover six of the eight administrative topics
examined.
Head Start and Child Care Center Sponsors
Both Head Start and child care center sponsors may provide in-service training to administrative
staff, center staff, and food preparers/menu planners (Exhibit 4.6).
Head Start Sponsors. Nearly all (96%) Head Stan sponsors provide training to the staff of their
Head Start centers. Two-thirds (67%) provide training to their administrative staff, and 81
percent provide training to food preparers/menu planners/food purchasers. On average. Head
Stan sponsors provide training on four of the seven nutrition-related topics examined. Most
often. Head Start sponsors provide training on the types and amounts of food to serve (83%).
Between half and two-thirds of Head Stan sponsors provide training on menu planning (66%).
the nutrient content of foods (58%). nutrition education for children (58%). nutrition education
for food preparers (61 %), and meal preparation techniques (57%). Less than half (40%) provide
training on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
On average. Head Stan sponsors provide training on five of the eight administrative topics
examined. The most frequently covered administrative topic is food safety/sanitation (84%).
About two-thirds of Head Stan sponsors that provide training cover meal counting procedures
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-7
6S
Early Childhood and Child Care Stud\: Vol. I
Exhibit 4.6
In-Service Training Provided by Center Sponsors
Head Start Child Care All Center
Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors
Percentage of sponsors providing in-service
iraining to:
Administrative staff 67% 677 677
Center staff 96 77 83
Food preparers/menu planners/food
purchasers 81 78 79
Among sponsors providing training.
percentage providing training in:
Nutrition Topics
Menu planning 667c 637 647
Types and amounts of food to serve 83 78 79
Nutrient content of foods 58 46 50
Dieiars Guidelines for Americans 40 33 35
Nutrition education for children 58 42 48
Nutrition education for food preparers 61 45 51
Meal preparation techniques 57 45 49
Mean number of nutrition topics 4 4 4
Administrative Topics
Meal counts 687 627 647
food production records 69 59 62
food safet) sanitation 84 80 81
Food purchasing 58 50 53
Food storage 68 51 57
Family-style serving 63 42 49
Filing claims 21 34 29
Free and reduced-price meal 38 42 40
applications
Men number of administrative topics 5 4 4
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-H
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Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
(68%), food production records (69%), food storage (68%), and family-style serving (63%).
Fifty-eight percent provide training on food purchasing. Relatively few Head Start sponsors
provide training in filing CACFP claims (21%) or free and reduced-price meal applications
(38%).4
Child Care Center Sponsors. About three-quarters of child care center sponsors provide
training to center staff (77%) and food preparers/menu planners (78%), and two-thirds (67%)
provide training to administrative staff. Like Head Start sponsors, child care center sponsors
provide training on fewer nutrition-related topics than FDCH sponsors. On average, child care
center sponsors provide training on four of the seven nutrition-related topics examined. The
most frequently covered nutrition-related topic is the type and amount of food to serve (78%).
About two-thirds of child care center sponsors provide training on menu planning. Less than
half provide training on the nutrient content of foods (46%), the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans (33%), nutrition education for children (42%). nutrition education for food preparers
(45%). and meal preparation techniques (45%).
On average, child can." center sponsors provide training on four of the eight administrative topics
examined. Like Head Start sponsors, child care center sponsors most frequently provide training
on food safety/sanitation (80%). Between half and two-thirds provide training on meal counting
procedures (62%), food production records (59%). food purchasing (50%), and food storage
(51%). Less than half of child care center sponsors provide training on family-style serving
(42%). filing CACFP claims (34%), and free and reduced-price meal applications (42%).
MONITORING VISITS
In Chapter Three, monitoring was examined from the providers' perspective Here we examine
monitoring from the sponsors' perspective. Providers may view all visits from the sponsoring
agency as monitoring visits. However, from the sponsors' perspective not all visits are
monitoring visits. Sponsors may visit homes and centers for purposes other than monitoring
'Eligibility determination and filing CACFP claims are often performed by the sponsor lor Head Start centers.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-9
67
IJI
Earlx Childhood and Child Care Study Vol. I
program operations and records. As previously noted, sponsors are required to provide training
to providers, and sometimes do this during site visits.
Family Jay care sponsors conduct an average of 10 monitoring visits each year to the homes
they sponsor, with the average visit lasting about one hour (Exhibit 4.7). Considering both the
Exhibit 4.7
Summary Statistics on Monitoring of Sites by Sponsoring Agencies
FDCH Head Start Child Care
Sponsors Sponsors' Sponsors'
Mean number of limes per year each
site visited 10 11 11
Mean length ol typical visit 54 minutes 102 minutes 74 minutes
Mean total annual visit time per site 14 hours 16 hours 11 hours
I xcludo sponsor* ilui are co-locaicd with then centers
frequency and duration of monitoring visits, the typical EDCH sponsor spends an average of
about 14 hours per year monitoring each home sponsored. This is considerably more monitoring
than the average of seven hours per year reported by homes (see Chapter 3. Exhibit 3.10). The
difference reflects the unit of analysis In this chapter the unit of analysis is the sponsor rather
than the provider The vast majority of homes that participate in the CACFP operate under the
aegis ol large sponsors These large sponsors tend to be single-purpose sponsors that conduct
no more than the three monitoring visits required by CACFP regulations. Small sponsors tend
to be multi-purpose sponsors that conduct considerably more monitoring visits than required by
the program.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-10
&
Early Childhood and Child Care Sludv: Vol. I
Head Start sponsors conduct an average of 11 visits per year to each of their Head Start centers,
with each visit lasting about two hours. Over the course of the year. Head Start sponsors spend
an average of 16 hours monitoring each of their Head Start centers. Child care center sponsors
also conduct an average of 11 visits per year to each of their centers, with the average visit
lasting about one hour. On average, child care center sponsors spend about 11 hours each year
monitoring each of their centers.5 The difference in the frequency and duration of monitoring
visits as reported by sponsors and their centers (see Chapter Three, Exhibit 3.20) probably
reflects the difference in perspectives noted above. Not all sponsor visits are monitoring visits
although they are probably viewed as such by centers.
Sponsors review a variety of program areas during monitoring visits. The survey asked sponsors
to identify the areas on which they spend the most time during monitoring visits. Family day
care sponsors spend the most time reviewing the types and amounts of food to serve, meal
counting procedures, and menu planning. The least amount of time was spent reviewing the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, free and reduced-price meal applications, and food storage.
Both Head Start and child care center sponsors spent the most time during monitoring visits
reviewing meal counting procedures, food production records, and free and reduced-price meal
applications. Head Start sponsors spend the least amount of time on nutrition education for food
preparers. food storage, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Child care center sponsors
spend the least amount of time on nutrition education for children, nutrition education for food
preparers. and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
sThese figures exclude sponsors that are co-located with their centers.
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Sponsoring Agencies 4-11
6?
Appendix A
Children Tables
Appendix A contains detailed statistical tables on the characteristics of children and their
families. Highlights from these tables are reported in Chapter 2 of this report. Note that all
results are weighted except the N's, which provide the unweighted sample size.
Appendix A: Children Tables A I
7o
F.ark Childhood and ChUd Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit A.I
AGE AND RACE/ETHNICITY OF CHILDREN
Family Day
Centers
Head Start Child Care
Care Homes Centers Centers All Centers
Proportion of children that are: N = 246 N = 391 N = 320 N = 7U
Under Age 1 99? 07, \7, 19;
Age 1-2 32 9? 07, 10 7c 79?
Age 3-5 427r 99 7c 669; 759?
Age 6-12 \17, \7c 23% 179?
Proportion of children that are:
Hispanic Latino 69; 117, 57 79;
Black 89? 447, 307c 349;
White 83 7 317, 507, 479;
Asian or Pacific Islander 17, 07 19? 19?
Native American 07, 27, 0% 17r
Other 17, 57, 139; 119;
Souiii' lli'UNchi'lJ Suiu'v
Appendix A: Children Tables A-2
?/
Early Childhood and Child Cart Study: Vol. I
Exhibit A.2
CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN
Centers
Family Day Head Start Child Care
Care Homes Centers Centers All Centers
Children of all ages N = 236 N = 390 N = 317 N = 707
Hours/day in care:
Less than 5
5 -7
8 or more
Mean hours/day in care
Median
217c 43% 217, 32 %
1598 449? 135? 227,
(A 7c 1395 599? 467,
7.4 5.3 6.9 6.4
8.0 5.0 8.0 7 0
Mean aee of children in care: 3.4 43 46 4 5
Source Household Survey
Appendix A: Children Tables A-3
7*
Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Vol. I
Exhibit A.2a
CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN
BY AGE OF CHILD
Centers
Family Day Head Start Child Care
Care Homes Centers Centers All Centers
Children under age 1
Hours/day in care:
Less than 5
5 - 7
8 or more
Mean hours/day in care
Median
N=13
09?
\4%
86 %
8.5
9.0
N=0 N = 7 N = 7
Children ages 1-2
Hours/day in care:
Less than 5
5 - 7
8 or more
Mean hours day in care
Median
N = 78
179?
81%
8.5
9.0
N=() N = 53 N = 53
33 39,'
179; 179;
80S 809;
8 1 8 1
8 0 8 0
Children ages 3-5
Hours da\ in care
Less than 5
5 - 7
8 or more
Mean hours da\ in care
Median
N-108 N - 386 N = 227 N«6I3
14'7 439J 103 233
17'7 4351 169 27^7
69 7, 139; 749? sir;
7.8 5.3 7.9 h 4
8.0 5.0 8 0 8 0
Children ages 6-12
Hours day in care
Less than 5
5 - 7
8 or more-
Mean hours/day in care
Median
N = 37
889?
99;
39?
3.2
3.0
N = 4 N = 30