CACFP Childcare Centers and Afterschool/Summer Program Specialist I

Cleveland Office - Cleveland, OH 44110

FLSA Status: Full time; 40 hours/week; non-exempt

Reports to: Director, Child Care Centers & Director, Afterschool and Summer Meal Service

Location: Hybrid, Cleveland Office

Pay Range: $20.00 - $24.04

Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger by collaborating with organizations across Ohio to provide nutritious meals to children who need them most. CHA partners with in-home childcare providers, childcare centers, afterschool, and summer programs to ensure children have access to balanced, nutritious meals while in their care. The organization also supports nutrition education in these settings, helping children develop healthy habits that enable them to learn, grow, and thrive. In addition, CHA works with schools to increase breakfast participation and provide weekend meals to students to reduce food insecurity.

Job Purpose:

In this role, you’ll build meaningful relationships with licensed childcare centers, afterschool, and summer programs and help them succeed in providing nutritious meals to the children in their care. As a trusted partner and primary point of contact for your assigned centers and sites, you’ll recruit, train, monitor, and support them as they participate in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

You’ll use your communication, organization, and problem-solving skills to help centers and sites understand program requirements, navigate challenges, and remain in compliance—while making it easier for them to focus on what matters most: caring for children. Through responsive customer service and ongoing support, you’ll build lasting relationships with centers and sites, strengthen their participation in the program, and help expand access to healthy meals for more children across Ohio.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide staff training on program regulations, agency procedures, and software use.
2. Coordinate the annual site application process and food order launch for afterschool and summer partners each year.
3. Conduct monitoring reviews of childcare centers, afterschool and summer programs.
4. Provide technical assistance/customer service to ensure centers and sites are claiming and meeting program requirements.
5. Provide support and guidance to out-of-compliance sites, including technical assistance, re-training, corrective action, and closure of review.
6. Monitor and process center disallowances on monthly claims.
7. Review and adjust afterschool and summer food orders based on daily student participation.
8. Conduct and report outreach activities for new program partners, including developing and maintaining community contacts and relationships to increase program awareness.
9. Conduct and report resource distribution and special site visits.
10. Maintain an organized electronic file for each center and site, including all required documents.
11. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of CACFP and SFSP regulations of ODE, USDA, CHA, etc.
12. Distribute educational materials to centers; provide ongoing check-ins and implementation support; and gather feedback on resource utilization, implementation progress, and barriers to successful outcomes.
13. Participate in regional, state, and team meetings and required staff training.
14. Follow Ohio law regarding reporting of cases of suspected child abuse/neglect.
15. All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Job Qualifications:

• Associate's Degree in Nutrition, Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Youth Development, Social Work or 2 years relevant experience deemed appropriate; experience with structured childcare programs and training preferred
• Valid State of Ohio Driver's License and reliable vehicle for transportation

Knowledge of:

• USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program regulations
• Child nutrition and child development
• Early childhood education
• Program implementation and evaluation

Skills:

• Ability to understand and adhere to specific federal, state and agency regulations and procedures
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Ability to speak in front of large group settings.
• Planning, organizing, prioritizing and time management skills; able to manage multiple tasks
• Ability to work with diverse individuals and groups
• Customer service skills including attentiveness, problem-solving, flexibility, active listening, and anticipating program needs and challenges.
• Ability to use computer, including email, the Internet, and various software programs including Microsoft Office and specifically Excel
• Ability to use technology and innovative strategies to train adults
• Positive, professional, resilient and unflappable

Job Working Condition:

Frequent travel within specified region

It is the policy of the Children’s Hunger Alliance to ensure equal employment opportunity in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code 125.11 and all applicable federal regulations and guidelines. Employment discrimination against employees and applicants due to race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, disability, age (40 years old or more), military status, or veteran status is illegal.