The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released several policy memos.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #26: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION 3
- This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program.
- This waives the requirements to serve meals that meet the meal pattern requirements.
- Washington State will participate in this waiver.
- Sponsors are approved on a case-by-case basis - Contact your program specialist.
- This waiver remains in effect until July 31, 2020.
- As a reminder, Federal procurement regulations at 2 CFR 200.320(f) allow procurement by noncompetitive proposals when there is a public emergency.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #29: Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs – Revised – EXTENSION through August 31, 2020
- This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- This waiver allows OSPI CNS to conduct Administrative Reviews as a desk audit and waives the requirement for on-site visits for reviews during the emergency.
- Washington state will participate in this waiver.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #31: Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Summer Food Service Program – EXTENSION through August 31, 2020
- This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- This waiver allows OSPI CNS to conduct Administrative Reviews as a desk audit and waives the requirement for on-site visits for reviews during the emergency.
- Washington state will participate in this waiver.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #32: Nationwide Waiver to Extend Area Eligibility Waivers through August 31, 2020
- This waiver allows SFSP and SSO sponsors in good standing to operate open sites in areas consistent with the State plan, but not located in “Areas in which poor economic conditions exist”.
- FNS reserves the right to withdraw this approval subject to availability of funding
- Washington state will participate in this waiver.
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SP 21-2020, CACFP12-2020, SFSP 12-2020: Q&A Related to Food Service Management Company Contracts and Allowable Costs during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- This memo reviews common questions and answers for sponsors working with a FSMC.
- Topics include: Contracts and Other Contracted Suppliers, Monitoring, and Allowable Costs.
- If you have questions, please email Jeff Booth.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #9: Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs - Revised - EXTENSION
- This revision allows state agencies to request a new review cycle waiver.
- This waiver is effective immediately and remains in effect until June 30, 2021.
Please review the linked policy memos for more details about these waivers.
Questions? Please reach out to your program specialist.
Thank you to all who participated in the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) and the Role of Schools Webinar.
If you were unable to make the live session, you can review the call using this link. NOTE: You will have to register to watch the recording.
School Districts play an important role in getting information to families. We are asking districts to:
- Distribute information to families.
- Continue to distribute, collect and process free and reduced-price meal applications.
- Update free and reduced-price meals eligibility data in CEDARS frequently.
What if a family contacts us?
Depending on what the family is asking, there are resources to help.
- If a family is interested in learning more about P-EBT, direct them to k12.wa.us/PEBT. This webpage is a direct link to the flyer detailing how to apply and receive benefits, as well as frequently asked questions.
- If a family is interested in applying for Pandemic EBT, ask them to review the P-EBT flyer, which will direct them to their next steps.
- If a family is asking about their P-EBT benefits, refer them to WashingtonConnection.org or 877-501-2233 to speak to a DSHS representative.
Translated materials are coming soon! Some documents had great feedback and needed updates. Please expect something in the next week or so regarding translated documents for families.
Please view OSPI’s Pandemic EBT Guidance for School Districts webpage regularly for updates.
If you have additional questions, please email Child.Nutrition@k12.wa.us.
Thank you for all you do to serve the children in our state!
Last month, we announced that Annual Training is going virtual. Now is the time to register before school is out!
Register Here Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Time: 1 - 3 pm PT
During this webinar, we will review the updates from this past year, things to expect for next year, Food Distribution updates, and more!
We look forward to 'seeing' you there!
In addition to this live session, we will also be providing recorded sessions - all of which will provide professional standards credits! We will release more information about these recorded sessions as we get closer to August. Keep an eye out for future CNS Updates.
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Reminder for the 2020-21 School Year - the first delivery period is August 2020.
The regular order period will be July 1 – 15.
These items will be delivered August 3 - 21, 2020. Please view the Order and Delivery Schedule for SY 2020-21 for additional information.
Questions? Please email Trisha Santee or call 360-725-6204.
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Washington's Coordinated Community Response Action Team wants to identify the challenges and best practices of community food distribution efforts.
Your input will help us identify areas where more support is needed from the state, as well as strategies that are working well to address hunger in communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any feedback you can provide is helpful.
Please complete this survey by June 19th regardless of whether or not your program is operating a meal service program this summer.
Complete the survey here
Questions? Please contact Bianca Smith.
USDA's Team Nutrition recently released new resources!
These 'Providing Multiple Meals at a Time for Children During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic' tip sheets provide information about using bulk foods and distributing multiple meals at a time.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released a new Team Nutrition resource, Seamless Summer Option: Providing Multiple Meals at a Time During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
This new publication provides Program operators with technical assistance on the amounts of foods needed for multiple days of meals, use of “bulk” foods, best practices, and parent communication.
Visit the Seamless Summer Option webpage for more information.
Additional Tools
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has released a COVID-19 grant opportunity from partners at the Albertsons Companies Foundation to increase participation in the summer meals programs. Intermediary organizations, Child Nutrition Program Sponsors, and schools can apply for funding.
Some examples of how funding may be used, includes:
- Transportation
- Food purchasing
- Connections/Marketing/Outreach
- Temporary Hires to make up for lack of volunteers
- Capacity
- Technical Assistance
- Equipment, PPE, and packaging
The grant application is located on the Albertsons Companies Foundation webpage.
Applications are due by June 22 at 11:59 pm PT.
Questions? Contact Christy.Duncan-Anderson@albertsons.com.
GENYOUth recently shared their latest Youth Insights report, “Life Disrupted: The Impact of COVID-19 on Teens". GenYOUTH surveyed teens 13-18 years old from across the US to understand the impact of COVID 19 on our youth from their perspective.
View the full report
View the executive summary
June 17
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Weekly School Meals and Summer Programs Sponsors Call - 2pm | Register Here
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June 15
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May Claims due in WINS
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June 30
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Make sure to use all your DoD Fresh Entitlement!
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August 4
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NSLP and FDP Annual Training Live Webinar - 1pm | Register Here
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August 31
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Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Applications Due in WINS
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