The Soho Center is offering your non-profit the use of our three, highly produced 0:30 second television and radio commercials to publicize the CACFP and recruit low-income and/or rural providers to your program.  CACFP Sponsors are constantly dealing with turnover in the child care field and need to "keep their numbers up" - and Sponsors are faced with the challenge of growing their programs with limited administrative budgets for outreach activities. 

If you want to build up your program by recruiting new child care providers, here's an important way to do just that - without using your regular administrative budget. The USDA can provide you with the needed funds to recruit more providers to your program - with costs completely covered by a USDA Rural/Low Income Expansion Grant. (Click Here to see the actual USDA regulations, including information on CACFP Rural/Low-Income Expansion Grants.)

The Soho Center can help you write the Grant request.  We can provide you with our high-quality TV and radio campaign - including public relations advice and recruitment and intake assistance.  Your local TV and radio stations can run these commercials for free as PSAs.  You can also use a portion of the grant to buy radio and TV time and/or to cover your staff costs for following up names and signing up new providers in your area! 

These Commercials Really Work

In addition to our successful, large-scale outreach trials in Virginia, the commercials have been used by USDA Food Program Sponsors in Utah, Maine, Virginia, Oregon/Washington, South Dakota, Alabama, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Mississipi.

Your Program Should Be Next

The commercials are first-rate.  The three spots were written and produced by a multi-award-winning media team.  The commercials feature Linda Ronstadt singing Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and include lots of engaging footage of kids and providers; the up-beat narrative explains the USDA Food Program in a very  positive, non-threatening manner - exactly what's needed.  And child care providers (and parents whose children are in family child care) are encouraged to call for more information about the Food Program.

What Others Are Saying About This Television & Radio Campaign

"I think your campaign is wonderful."
       David S. Liederman, Former Executive Director
       Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)

"I have seen your commercials.  They are beautiful."
       Ruth Anne Foote, Manager, Early Childhood Forum
       National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

"The commercials give a meaningful message about the family child care profession. We congratulate you
for your efforts to reach unregulated providers and bring them into the system which will provide professional recognition, regulation/licensing, peer support, training, and education. We look forward to a successful REACH Initiative in every state!"
       Deborah Eaton, Former President 
       National Association For Family Child Care

The Soho Center knows the CACFP

Prior to getting an $804,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for our REACH Initiative, the Soho Center was the fastest-growing USDA Food Program Sponsor in Virginia - utilizing an innovative combination of television spots and other outreach strategies to surface and recruit child care providers. 

When we began our REACH Initiative, we stopped being a CACFP Sponsor to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest and focussed our efforts on developing strategies and materials to help CACFP Sponsors nationwide. 

The commercials, related print materials, and outreach techniques make use of what we've  learned about using media to identify and surface child care providers, educate them about the Food Program, and persuade them to join the CACFP. 

And It Won't Cost You A Penny

Taking advantage of this offer is easy.  Here's how -

• We can send you a dub of the three commercials for your review.  All three commercials urge providers and parents to call an easy-to-remember toll-free number (1-800-A1-KIDS-1) to find out about a wonderful program - the CACFP. 
 
• After you have seen the commercials, give us a call to discuss how you can use them at no cost to your program.  When you call, we'll talk about the availability of USDA Expansion Grants and how these funds can cover the cost of using these three commercials on TV and radio, our public relations and intake assistance, and your staff's salaries to follow up on the names the campaign surfaces.
 
• If you decide to go ahead, we'll sign a simple agreement and work cooperatively with you to complete your Expansion Grant Application.  We'll suggest ways to help you get the spots placed in your market as no-cost PSAs (Public Service Announcements).  We'll send your TV and/or radio stations broadcast-quality for-air dubs as needed.
  
 
• Once the commercials start running in your area, we'll collect names, phone numbers, and other basic information from the providers and parents who respond.  We will then fax this valuable information to you on a regular basis for your staff to follow up.
  
  

All this can be paid for by a USDA Expansion Grant - in effect making your use of the commercials (and even the staff time to follow up) free to your agency! 

For more information on using these television and radio commercials and our intake services to help recruit providers and publicize your CACFP, please call Jeanna Beker, Director, the Soho Center at 540-923-5012 or e-mail us at soho@child2000.org

NOTE:  While the USDA is prohibited from recommending or endorsing specific products, if you want feedback or  references on the Soho Center, you may contact  Mr. Tom Leverich, USDA Regional Office, New Jersey  at 609-259-5139 or e-mail him at Thomas.Leverich@fns.usda.gov

CLICK HERE for Frequently Asked Questions about this campaign
NOTE:  The FAQs will open in a new tab or window.


If you have additional questions, please call Jeanna Beker, Director, at 540-923-5012