Planning Solutions

Answers to common questions…

 

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Table of Contents


1. Will our kitchen be DHEC-approved?

2. How can we get Free/Reduced Lunch information for schools?

3. Where can we find volunteers?

4. Where can we get extra money?

5. How can we recruit the kids that need Kids Cafe most?

6. How can we solve transportation problems?

7. How do I create registration materials for my Kids Cafe?

8. Are there materials I can use for nutrition lessons?

9. How can we provide more than meals and tutoring?

 

 

Criteria for a DHEC Approved Kitchen

 

Process for becoming DHEC approved:

Call your county’s DHEC and schedule an appointment for inspection. Go to the DHEC website (http://www.scdhec.net/health/index.htm#locate) and click on the name of your county to get the phone number. The following are general criteria for approval. However, specific requirements vary according to county and what types of food you will prepare. Alternate arrangements for food preparation and transportation may be possible even if your kitchen does not meet all of these standards. The best solution is to call your local DHEC office and arrange for a site visit.

 

Criteria for the kitchen where food is kept and prepared:

¨     3 Compartment sink (Wash, Rinse, Sanitize)

¨     Hand and mop sink

¨     Drain boards on each side of sink

¨     Painted bottoms of inside of cabinets

¨     Smooth and cleanable surface on wall and ceiling

¨     Refrigerator on wheels

¨     Separate thermometers for refrigerator and freezer

¨     Self-closure on door on refrigerator (so that it shuts by itself)

 

  • Space, facilities, and equipment:
    • Is adequate dry storage for food items available?
    • Is dining space adequate for the number of children attending?
    • Is there working equipment for heating food? If cooking meat, must have a vented hood over stove.
    • Is there a refrigerator/freezer? Does sink have hot and cold water?
  • Storage of perishable food items:
    • Are refrigeration facilities adequate for cold and frozen foods?
    • Temperatures for Refrigerator (40◦ F or below)? Freezer (0◦ F or below)?
    • Are units clean? defrosted? Are frozen foods thawed under refrigeration?
  • Storage of non-perishable items:
    • Are food bank food/products stored in secure location? Off of the floor?
    • Are insecticides, cleaning supplies, etc.  stored separately from food and in an area that is not accessible to children?
  • Sanitation:
    • Are sanitary procedures followed in all aspects of food service?
    • Is the kitchen kept clean at all times?
    • Are the dishes sanitized after washing and rinsing?

·         Garbage Disposal:

    • Adequate number of trash containers with lids? Is garbage area clean?

·         Pest Control:

    • Is there any evidence of insect or rodent infestation?

 

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Finding free/reduced lunch information for schools

 

Your Kids Cafe must serve students from at least one school that has 50% or more of their students on free or reduced lunch. Here is how to find out about the schools near your Kids Cafe.

 

  1. Go to www.myscschools.com.

 

  1. Click on the “SDE Offices” tab along the top.

 

  1. Under Programs, Click on “Technology.”

 

  1. Under Links, Click on “Erate Information.”

 

  1. Click on “Free and Reduced Lunch Data.”

 

  1. Click on your school district and find the schools in your area.

 

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Finding Volunteers

 

Your Kids Cafe needs reliable, caring volunteers.

 

Ideas for how to find them…

 

  1. Contact volunteer and service organizations at local high schools or colleges.

 

  1. Ask retired community members to volunteer. You can contact them through senior citizens centers, churches, and civic groups…or just ask around for names of retired teachers (perfect volunteers for homework help!). 

 

  1. Invite parents of children in your Kids Cafe to come help out.

 

  1. Find a Partner Organization that has willing volunteers. For example, ask a nearby church or civic group to help you run your Kids Cafe.

 

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Finding Financial Support

 

Food will be provided by Harvest Hope at no cost, but if you want to do anything extra (ex: hire staff, get a new stove, buy a bus), you may need Extra Money. Ideas…

 

  1. Submit a budget to your county council. Each year county councils allocate funds to various organizations.

 

  1. Contact local corporations or service groups. Ask if their organization will be your financial sponsor. Or ask if they will donate or sponsor fundraisers for you (ex: golf tournaments).

 

  1. Organize Fundraisers to benefit your program.

 

  1. Contact local businesses that can supply your specific needs. For example, ask electronics stores for computers. If businesses offer large donations, offer them good publicity…hold a ceremony, and call the local paper and TV stations.

 

  1. Apply for grants from foundations and corporations. If you find ways to measure outcomes of your Kids Cafe (e.g. track improvements in kids’ grades, behavior, etc.) Search the internet and talk to community leaders to find out about available grants. Check your email for updates on funding opportunities!

 

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Recruiting Kids Who Need Kids Cafe Most

 

1. Go to the Schools

Visit schools and tell them about your Kids Cafe. Ask if you can talk to teachers at faculty or PTA meetings. Ask teachers or guidance counselors to suggest children who would benefit most from Kids Cafe (For example, children who may not always have enough food at home). You can ask them to give registration forms to these families. If you are organized and excited, they will be excited that you want to help children in their classes!

 

2. Spread the Word in Your Community

      Tell community and neighborhood organizations about your program. Give a talk at their meetings, or call them on the phone. Pass out flyers or advertise in your local newspaper or school and church newsletters. Call the paper and ask if a reporter will come and write a story about your wonderful Kids Cafe!

 

3. Go Door to Door

Some Kids Cafe planning teams knock on doors in the community to tell families about Kids Cafe and ask them if they would like to register. This is great if you want to help kids in certain neighborhoods.

 

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Transportation

 

1. School Buses

School busses can drop children off at your Kids Cafe. This will probably require having the children get a formed signed by their parents giving them permission to ride the bus to Kids Cafe instead of home. Contact the schools your children attend and ask for the details of this process.

 

2. Your Organization’s Bus or Van

If your organization has a bus or a van, you may be allowed to pick children up from school and bring them to your Kids Cafe. You could also take the kids home.

 

3. Another Organization’s Bus or Van

If you don’t have a bus or van, ask to borrow one from a nearby church or community center.

 

4. Buy or Rent Transportation

     Raise money or apply for a grant to buy or rent a bus or van. Used school

     busses, while still not cheap, can be economical and safe choices.

 

5. Volunteers’ Cars

Some of your volunteers may be able to get permission from the school to pick kids up and bring them to Kids Cafe. Also, volunteers could take the kids home. You will need insurance and liability releases for each child.

 

6. Parents

Many Kids Cafes ask parents to come pick up their children after Kids Cafe. This is the easiest option, but try to think of solutions for parents who cannot pick up their children. For instance, some parents could carpool.

 

7. Walking

Some Kids Cafes are in walking distance of schools and the children’s homes. Volunteers can walk with the children.

 

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Sample Planning Materials and Nutrition Education

 

We have posted materials that other Kids Cafe sites use, including samples of child registration forms, activity schedules, lists of rules, etc. You may find these helpful as you create materials specific to your Kids Cafe. For nutrition education tools, visit the following websites for fun, cute activities: www.Dole5aday.com, www.kidchef.com, www.foodplay.com, and www.nutritionexplorations.org.

 

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Providing More than Meals…

 

Here are ideas for providing programs in addition to meals and tutoring.

 

Example #1: Improve Child Health

 

  1. Ask local doctors and nurses to provide free health screenings for your children (and even their parents!).
  2. Incorporate Health Education. Teach children about hygiene, exercise, smoking, drug use, and ways to prevent disease.

 

Example #2: Teach Parenting Skills

 

Find out about local parenting programs. Invite parenting experts to volunteer their time to teach parents of children at your Kids Cafe.

 

Some great parenting programs to look for are:

 

  1. Triple P: Positive Parenting Program: This program can be done in 2 hour parenting seminars or1 time consultation with parents about particular child behavior problems. This program offers training for leaders  as well as materials like books, workbooks, and videos for parents. You can find out more about this program at www.triplep-america.com

 

2.        Incredible Years: This program can be done with group presentations to parents and also offers training for leaders of groups as well as materials like books, workbooks, and videos for parents. You can find out more about this program at www.incredibleyears.com.

 

  1. Guiding Good Choices: This program involves group presentations to parents and aims to decrease child risk for alcohol and drug use. You can find out more about this program and others on the  Strengthening Families website, www.strengtheningfamilies.org.

 

Example #3: Promote Positive Behavior

 

Offer programs that offer social support and character education to your children. Some examples are: 

  1. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: This program provides one-on-one mentoring relationships.

 

  1. Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS): This program can be done in 20-30 minutes per day. It teaches children about the right way to deal with emotions, how to form positive relationships, and how to problem-solve.

 

You can find out more about all of these programs and others at this website: www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/ 

 

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