Last year we transitioned to weekly CNS Newsletters to keep the number of emails to a minimum.
These program updates help keep you up-to-date on changes in your programs and share important mandatory information, as well as good to know information at the bottom of the update.
Please note: if there are urgent updates, those will still come as soon as possible in a separate email and will not wait until the following week to be sent out. Please keep your eye out!
To help you navigate the CNS Newsletter format, here are a few helpful tips:
1. Use the Table of Contents at the Beginning of the Newsletter
At the top of every newsletter there is a table of contents to give you an overview of what you MUST look at and what is "good to know" (see details below).
2. See "Update" at the Beginning?
Articles with the word Update at the beginning indicates that there is an important update in regards to State or USDA requirements. These are the articles you must review to stay in the loop about requirements.
3. If you see "Reminder" at the Beginning of the Article
Reminders are previous "updates" that are still important, but were shared in previous newsletters.
4. How about "FYI"?
If you see an article starting with FYI, this is a good-to-know. These include resources, outside trainings and opportunities, grant opportunities from partner agencies, or other good-to-know type of items.
5. Highlights
CNS Highlights are articles highlighting good practices, Food, Body, and Mind Awardees, and other items.
6. Important Dates to Remember
You will find these at the bottom of every newsletter. They will include things like claim due dates, upcoming training and webinars, and other important dates.
We hope this is helpful! If you have any questions or comments about the format, please reach out to Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released nationwide waivers.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
The start of the school year is quickly approaching, which means the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will be concluding. As a reminder, the SFSP may be operated when schools close for the summer, May through September, or during emergency school closures, October through April.
The last day SFSP meals can be claimed is the day prior to the first day of school. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will need to resume providing meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Approved CACFP sponsors should transition back to At-Risk Afterschool Meal operations.
Sponsors may continue their SFSP schedule into September until the local school district will resume operations. All SFSP waivers may continue to be implemented until the NSLP/SBP begins in your community.
Questions? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us or call 360-725-6200.
OSPI CNS would like to thank all of our 2020 SFSP sponsors. Because of you, the children across the state have had access to healthy meals throughout the unanticipated school closure and summer months. This year looked a little (or very) different from previous years and we want to hear from you!
Join us for the SFSP Wrap-up Webinar on Monday, August 24, 2019, from 1:30-2:30pm. During the webinar we will provide final details regarding the operation of SFSP in the future and invite sponsors to share their experiences with the Summer Food Service Program this year. Help us learn how we can better serve you in the future.
Register for the Webinar Here
Questions? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us or call 360-725-6200.
The second section of the SFSP Records requested were due last Friday, August 7. If you have not sent them in, please make sure to do so.
Under Child Nutrition Response #31, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Administrative Reviews will be conducted as a Desk Audit. This new process allows us to conduct your review while maintaining public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to help sponsors transition to the desk audit process, we recorded a webinar detailing the what you need to prepare for the desk review, required documentation, the timeline of the review process, and how to submit your review documents.
View the Recorded Training here | Print a copy of the slides
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Please notify the summer meals inbox once all documents have been uploaded into WINS. Originally we asked you to send your notification to a different inbox, please ensure to send this notification to the summer meals inbox. Thank you for all of your work to complete the reviews off-site.
Have questions regarding your SFSP review? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us.
You must communicate updates to your meal distribution plan and waivers if details of your service change.
- Submit your Meal Distribution Plan & Waiver Updates survey here.
- Update your WINS Calendars.
OSPI makes the information provided from your WINS application and the electronic application checklist available to the community.
Possible WINS changes may include:
- Meal service times
- Dates of service changes
- Changes to Average Daily Attendance (ADA)
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Sponsors with vended meals must make ADA revisions prior to submitting monthly claims. Revised ADAs will not be approved for claims that go into error status due to meals claimed over the approved CAP.
- Adding sites (contact your specialist)
Possible Meals Distribution Plan and Waiver updates may include:
- Use of available waivers
- Changing days of meal distribution
- Providing more than one meal at a time
- Providing multiple days' worth of meals
Questions? Unsure if you need to make adjustments? Please contact your program specialist.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides healthy meals to all children ages 18 & under, and adults ages 21 and under enrolled in a Washington school district.
SFSP sponsors must promote meal access to all children. This includes providing accommodations for children with disabilities who have special dietary needs.
Often times accommodations can be made within the meal pattern requirements. If this is the case, a medical statement is not required. Examples of this may include modifying the texture of meals (pureed, chopped, etc.) and substituting food items from the same component.
Potential Substitutions
Gluten Free Grains
- Corn Products, such as tortillas, tortilla chips, popcorn, corn-based cereals
- Rice Products, such as rice crackers, enriched white or brown rice, rice cereals
- Oat Products, such as gluten-free oatmeal or oat-based granola bars
Milk Alternatives*
- Lactose-free milk
- Lactose-reduced milk
*Please note that approved milk substitutes are not creditable in SFSP without a note signed by a state-recognized medical authority.
Meat Alternates
- Yogurt, flavored or unflavored and nonfat, low-fat, or whole
- Cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, American, or Swiss
- Beans or Peas, such as black beans, refried beans, chickpeas, or hummus
- Nuts/Seeds*, such as almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds
- Nut/Seed Butters, such as almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower butter
- Eggs
*Please note that Nuts/Seeds may only comprise 50% of the M/MA component at lunch/supper.
Substitutions Outside the Meal Pattern
If an accommodation cannot be made within the meal pattern requirements, a statement signed by a state-recognized medical authority would need to be submitted. The statement must detail:
- Food(s) to be avoided
- How the food impacts the participant
- Food(s) to be substituted
OSPI has developed the Special Dietary Accommodations Form, available in both English & Spanish, as a resource. When supported by a signature from a state-recognized medical authority, meal modifications that do not meet meal pattern requirements can be claimed for reimbursement.
Resources on Special Dietary Accommodations
Questions? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us.
The National CACFP Sponsors Association is hosting a Virtual Summit in August!
Registration is $149 and includes access to 20 training sessions.
Register Here
Some sessions included in your registration:
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Summer Meals: Leveraging Mobile Solutions in Rural Communities
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Child-Friendly Menu Planning Using Seasonal Foods
- Grant Writing 101
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Applying a Racial Equity Lens to Recommendations for CACFP and SFSP
- Summit Welcome & Policy Update
Discover more sessions and speaker information in the Virtual Summit Flyer.
School’s Out Washington’s annual Bridge Conference is a multi-day regional convening focused on exploring, celebrating, and influencing our collective field(s) through the act of solidarity and unified learning.
Register and Learn More Here!
The 2020 Bridge Conference will take place from Tuesday, October 27 – Friday, October 30 with the following components offered throughout the 4-day experience.
- Dynamic keynote speakers
- Interactive and engaging workshops
- Story telling hour
- Intentional community building sessions
- NEW THIS YEAR! Regional Bridge after-parties in-person or virtually, to be determined closer to the date
- Access to recorded sessions for a limited time after Bridge concludes for continued learning
August 15
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July Claims Due in WINS
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