C9_Generic Endorsement Letter

C9. Generic Endorsement Letter

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[ENDORSER LOGO] [ENDORSER LOGO] [ENDORSER LOGO]

[Date]

RE: Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings II (SNACS-II)

Dear Child Care Professional:

For millions of American children, child care is an essential part of their daily lives—it is where they receive much of the nutrition, care and socialization they need for proper growth and development. Recognizing this, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a second Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS-II).

The National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Forum, National Child Nutrition Association, and Child Care Food Program Roundtable are supporting this study and encouraging your participation. Mathematica and its research partner, Westat, are conducting SNACS-II for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. Both Mathematica and Westat have managed a number of child-care–focused studies for USDA and have worked with sponsors and child care providers to produce accurate, unbiased results while minimizing the burden on study participants.

SNACS-II will look at the nutrition and wellness policies and activities in child care centers, family child care homes and before and after school programs across the country. This important study will help us learn more about CACFP and get a better understanding of how it supports the healthy growth and development of the children it serves.

The study will include more than 1,300 child care centers, family child care homes and before and after school programs in 25 States that participate in CACFP. More than 3,000 infants, children and youth ages 10 to 18, along with their parents or guardians, will also be involved in the study. Data will be collected primarily between January and May 2023. The findings will be made available to child care providers and the public after the study is completed.

Thank you in advance for your help with this important study. The data collected and analyzed through SNACS-II will provide critical information to shape program policies that can truly support the child care community in serving meals that contribute to a healthy future for our children—a goal we all share.

Sincerely,

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[Name] [Name] [Name]

[Title] [Title] [Title]