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At Home & Family Pages
In an effort to support you and your child care business and provide nutrition information to young children and their families, Providers Choice has developed the At Home and Family Pages.
These pages offer information and activities on a variety of food and nutrition topics.
B.Smart Cyber Club
Have you discovered the treasures the B.Smart Cyber Club has to offer?
Enjoy the B.Smart Curriculum where you will find circle time and craft ideas.
Did you know that B.Smart has recorded children's songs?
Gather the kids to sing along with B.Smart.
You can participate in the monthly B.Smart Challenge and even print membership cards and personalize them for the kids.
Check it out today!
B.Smart Curriculum
Looking for a theme-based curriculum to enhance your child care business? Our B.Smart Curriculum features two themes each month.
Themes include book suggestions and a variety of activities such as songs, finger plays, games, crafts and snacks.
Bulletin Boards & Chat Rooms
Think of this as your online water cooler — a place to congregate, share stories, swap information, sell some
extra play equipment, and support each other. The nice thing about bulletin boards is that you can visit when it's convenient. Everyone doesn't have to be online at the
same time . If you want to have real-time conversations, check out our chat rooms.
Food Program Forms/Handbook/Resources
Need a Food Program form? Print one here.
Here you can also print a copy of your current Food Program Application. Have a Food Program related question? Utilize our online Provider Handbook.
Print our Providers Choice SOS Shopping Lists and Select-A-Week Shopping Lists.
You can even Update information on your Food Program Application.
Check on Claim
Check on the status of your Food Program claim online at your convenience 24 hours a day. You can find out how much you're getting reimbursed
and when your check was mailed. You can also view or print your year-to-date Food Program claim reimbursement statement.
Create Your Own Newsletter
With just a few easy steps you can create your own parent newsletter. You may choose from
several newsletter designs and a variety of articles as well as include personal information about your day care.
Enroll Kids
Enroll your children online via our web site any day, any time! You'll immediately receive a 2-digit child number to enter on your Food
Program records. You'll also be able to view a list of all your enrolled children and their child numbers.
Lending Library
Our extensive Lending Library includes books, video and audio tapes, and additional materials geared to child care providers.
Submit your order online and we'll mail your requested material to you. It's that easy!
Providers Voice Newsletters
Why wait for the mail to read your latest issue of Providers Voice? You can read it online, and if you want, you can even print a copy.
Your Web Page
Reach prospective parents with your own FREE web page. Your page will be designed especially for your child care business.
Check it out!
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B. Smart Line™
Another special service you'll receive with Providers Choice is our automated phone line — it lets you contact us
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can use our B.Smart Line to check on your account to see if we've received your Food Program
claim, the amount you're receiving and if your check has been mailed.
Direct Deposit
When you choose to use this perk, Providers Choice will deposit your monthly
reimbursement directly into your checking or savings account. You'll have
access to your funds within one to two days from when we receive the
money from our state agency! No more waiting for the mail!
Educational and Marketing Material
Providers Choice providers regularly receive information from us about good nutrition and other child care issues that can be shared with their
families — helping them give parents peace of mind by reinforcing all the good things they do for their children every day.
Family Daycare Insurance
Liability and Accident Insurance is a must in any business. Providers Choice is proud to partner with insurance agencies that provide Day Care Insurance packages that features a Comprehensive General Liability policy,
including accident medical and disability coverage.
Friendly, Professional Field Staff
It's been said that unless you've been a child care provider you can't possibly understand the day-to-day issues. Providers Choice Area
Coordinators not only understand, they've been child care providers themselves. That makes it a lot easier to talk to them when they come
to visit. Our providers are working with people who know what they're going through. They tell us this makes a big difference to them.
C-K Kids Software— It's absolutely FREE to Providers Choice providers.
C-K Kids is the most complete business software management tool designed specifically for family child care providers. C-K Kids is our new and improved KIDS2000 software,
which you access via the internet. With C-K Kids you can do all of your Food Program recordkeeping and submit your claim online, thus eliminating paperwork and postage costs.
In addition, Tom Copeland, Director of Redleaf National Institute has designed many new record-keeping and tax features into the program which includes all the information found in the Calendar-Keeper.
View Online Demo
Menus, Recipes and Shopping Lists
We know each provider wants menu planning to be as easy and flexible as possible. That's why Provider's Choice offers so many different menu options.
You can create and record your own menus or choose menus that are already pre-planned and recorded for you by Providers Choice. Extra tools to help you with menu
planning include recipes and detailed shopping lists when you use one of our many pre-planned menus. You choose the option that works best for you.
Nutrition Education
Our materials
have become the gold standard for Food Program sponsors throughout the
country. From the exclusive B.Smart Bear puppet, our Lovable Ambassador
of Good Nutrition, to the series of children's books and interactive learning
games, you'll find that your kids will love learning about nutrition because
we make it fun.
Food Program Trainings, Conferences and ongoing Training
We offer a variety of ways for you to earn training hours for your day care license requirements. In addition, we hold over 225 free Food Program Training
workshops throughout Minnesota, making it easy and convenient for you to attend.
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Here's What Providers Are Saying About Us
Providers tell us that we make their day a little easier. You'll notice it the first time you call our office. The staff can answer your questions about the Food Program,
Food Program Training workshops and other training opportunities. And, if you just want to talk to an adult who understands your business, we're just a phone call away. We also provide a host of services to our providers to
help providers run their business more efficiently and economically. Here's what providers are saying:
- "Providers Choice is truly a quality sponsor. On the home visits, the children enjoy receiving the stickers, coloring sheets and books that help teach them more
about good nutrition. I have been with PCI for nine years and I appreciate all the benefits this sponsor offers."
- "The nutrition workshop that PCI gives every year is fabulous. The Saturday conferences are great. I always have fun and take home lots of new information.
They kind of pamper you for the day. I like that!"
- "The people at Providers Choice are friendly and easy to work with. I always feel at ease when I have any questions. I never feel like I'm bothering anyone with my
questions."
- "I frequently use the craft ideas and recipes in the Providers Voice newsletter. My kids like the cute, easy ideas."
- "I feel so professional doing my menus (using C-K Kids software) and I love the Calendar Keeper accounting program too!"
- "It only takes a couple of minutes per day! Not only am I saving on forms and postage, but gaining ability by working more on the computer."
- "I love the child care receipts and notes portion of the (C-K Kids software) program."
- "I love this program (C-K Kids Software). This cuts my time to almost nothing!"
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