Bright from the Start Responsibilities

Bright from the Start fulfills the following responsibilities for the CACFP:

Program outreach - Bright from the Start is responsible for promoting the CACFP in Georgia. The department targets organizations that serve children or adults in a non-residential program (except in the case of emergency shelters). This responsibility requires working with individual organizations, communities, and umbrella organizations to encourage participation in the CACFP .

Annual training of current and new sponsors - Bright from the Start is responsible for developing and delivering required training for providers and administrative sponsors new to the CACFP and for providers and sponsors currently in the program. Most of the training has been made convenient and cost effective by delivering the training via DVDs and the internet.

Approval of applications - Bright from the Start receives and processes applications of organizations wishing to participate in the CACFP . The new application process includes two days of training, submitting a complete application, a pre-operational visit, and Bright from the Start determining the organization's eligibility for participation in the program. The process to renew an application includes training and submitting an online application. Upon completing the approval process, an approval package, including pertinent program documents, is sent to the participant.

Payment of claims - Bright from the Start is responsible for paying providers/sponsors for serving meals to eligible participants. Claims are submitted by CACFP providers to Bright from the Start following the month in which the meals were served. In addition to reimbursing for meals served, Bright from the Start also issues advance payments to family child care learning home sponsors when necessary. These advances are subsequently deducted from claim payments.

Reviews and audits - Bright from the Start is responsible for reviewing sponsors, sites, and independent organizations to ensure compliance with program rules and regulations. CACFP regulations determine the frequency of the reviews conducted by Bright from the Start staff.

- Applicants to the CACFP receive a pre-operational visit before the organization is approved to participate in the program. This visit provides a special opportunity for an organization to ensure it understands the CACFP before beginning the program.

- All program providers receive their first review within 90 days of beginning the program. The purpose of this review is to ensure that the participant is operating the program properly and to provide technical assistance as needed. A corrective action plan will be developed to address program violations discovered during this review.

- The next review is conducted one year after the 90-day review. This review analyzes the provider's compliance with program rules and regulations. A corrective action plan will be developed to address program violations discovered during the review.

- The next review will occur no later than three years after the one-year review.

- In addition to scheduled reviews, Bright from the Start staff may visit a program participant to provide technical assistance, follow-up on violations discovered in a previous review, or conduct an investigation due to a complaint of the program. Bright from the Start also conducts targeted, agreed upon procedure reviews on selected organizations throughout each year.

Federal reporting of information related to the CACFP - Bright from the Start is required to report information to USDA regarding CACFP operations. The department completes monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for USDA detailing funds spent, meals served, and other financial information. Bright from the Start is also required to provide periodic information related to the number of sponsors, sites, and non-profit organizations enrolled in the program as well as the number of reviews conducted.

As the administering agency for CACFP in Georgia, Bright from the Start is responsible for developing policies and procedures relating to the program. USDA regulations provide the guidelines by which Bright from the Start must administer the program and grants authority for Bright from the Start to implement policies necessary to clarify program rules or improve program operations within Georgia. State policies, however, cannot conflict with USDA rules and regulations.