Child Care Centers in 11 North Georgia Counties Eligible for Special Grants

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Grants Will Help Influence Dietary Habits of Young Children and Foster Healthy Lifestyles through Good Nutrition and Experiential Learning

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is offering Farm to Georgia Preschool grants to child-care learning centers in Barrow, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Jackson, Newton, Rockdale, and Walton counties that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and have not previously participated in Caregivers Promoting Healthy Habits.

The program, made possible from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, will include activities and training on local food procurement, field trips to area farms and farmer’s markets, edible gardens, cooking with kids, taste tests, and nutrition education. Grants include up to $2,000 to support Farm to Georgia Preschool activities, in addition to technical assistance, training, and other resources.

“We are honored and excited to receive this funding to continue our efforts to promote better nutrition in child-care programs across Georgia,” said DECAL Interim Commissioner Amy Jacobs. “Children spend a significant amount of time in child-care settings and teaching them to try to enjoy fresh, healthy foods can set them up for a lifetime of healthy behaviors.”

Jennifer Popadiuk, Nutrition Project manager, said the grants allow DECAL to expand its innovative campaign to introduce fresh, local fruits and vegetables to children during their most formative years.

“We would like to see more fresh and local produce served in early child-care settings, because this enables us to teach children to enjoy fruits and vegetables while their dietary preferences are still forming,” said Popadiuk.

Grant applications are available at decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/NutritionServicesMain.aspx.

Interested child-care centers may attend one of two Farm to Preschool workshops on

Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at the City of Winder Community Center. Registration is required. For more information call 404-463-4093 or email jennifer.popadiuk@decal.ga.gov.

This project is made possible through a Team Nutrition Training Grant from the USDA/Food and Nutrition Service. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form online or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202-690-7442, or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, or at 800-845-6136 (in Spanish).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Contact:
Reg Griffin
DECAL Communications Director
404-656-0239
reg.griffin@decal.ga.gov

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-527-7394 (x114)
william@gafcp.org

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