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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released two policy memos.
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SP25, CACFP14, SFSP14-2020: Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through December 2020.
- This memo reviews common questions for Child Nutrition Program operations in fall 2020.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #57 - Nationwide Waiver to Allow Reimbursement for Meals Served Prior to Notification of Approval and Provide Flexibility for Pre-Approval Visits in the Summer Food Service Program
- This waives the requirement that reimbursements shall not be paid for meals served at a site before the sponsor has received written notification that the site has been approved for participation in the program.
- This also waives the requirement that state agencies are required to conduct pre-approval visits of sponsors and sites to assess the applicant sponsor's or site's potential for successful program operations.
- This waiver is retroactive for approved SFSP sponsors for allowable meals served during the initial COVID-19 emergency response through Aug. 30, 2020, but that were served prior to their written approval to operate SFSP.
- Washington state will participate in this waiver.
Please review the full policy memos for more details.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Is Your District Planning to Operate SFSP This Fall?
With the option to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) through December 2020, there are a few things you will want to make sure to do.
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Register for the SY20-21 Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Weekly Webinar - During this webinar we will discuss important updates.
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Continuing your SFSP Operation from this summer? Revise your 19-20 WINS Calendar(s) and notify your program specialist.
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Want to start operating SFSP for the fall? Contact your program specialist for next steps.
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October 1, 2020, marks a new program year. Renewal information will be released soon. In the meantime, please ensure to do the following:
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Complete required training. Please view last week's newsletter for details on which trainings to complete.
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COMING SOON! We will be releasing SY20-21 renewal information including the SFSP/ SSO Meal Distribution Plan and application checklists.
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Sign up for Weekly SFSP Newsletters. SFSP-related information is shared in this newsletter.
- If you are listed as the SFSP contact in WINS, you will automatically receive updates.
- If you are not listed in WINS - that's okay! All you’ll have to do it input your email at this link, then scroll down to the Child Nutrition dropdown and expand the list. At that point you’ll want to select the programs you’d like updates for.
Have Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Many sponsors have been asking about training requirements to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the extension of SFSP through December 2020.
October 1, 2020, marks a new program year. Training is required for all sponsors who wish to operate SFSP this fall. Sponsor administrators must watch the recorded trainings and then train all sponsor staff.
We are utilizing trainings previously recorded. Some recordings listed below may reference a certification to get credit. Please note that OSPI CNS has updated this procedure so sponsors will now certify participation in trainings when submitting the Online Application Checklist. This checklist will be released in the coming weeks.
New SFSP Sponsors
Returning SFSP Sponsors
Due to some technical difficulties experienced last week by DSHS office staff, families may still apply for P-EBT benefits by phone.
Families that have not yet applied for the P-EBT benefits available for last spring’s school closure can call 877-501-2233 through Wednesday, September 16 at 3 pm to apply.
If a student was eligible for free or reduced-price meals sometime between last March and June and they were enrolled in a K-12 school where they had access to meals through the National School Lunch Program, they are eligible for P-EBT.
Please share this information with the families you serve.
With the new USDA waiver release, we are transitioning our webinars to focus on schools and community organizations that will start the year with the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Districts offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are encouraged to join as well.
Register Here
Date: Wednesdays through November 4, 2020
Time: 2 - 3 pm PT
Please hold a space on your calendar on Wednesdays from 2 - 3 pm PT. Reminder emails with your link to log into the session are sent 1 hour before the session starts.
Weekly follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend. We will not be posting recordings to the CNS webpages due to rapidly changing information .
Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox please check your SPAM box.
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The second section of the SFSP Records requested were due 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
Have questions regarding your SFSP review? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides healthy meals to all children ages 18 & under, and students 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 ICN’s September STAR webinar will be done in conjunction with the USDA Office of Food Safety in celebration of National Food Safety month. The webinar will highlight a bird’s eye view of your food safety plan from beginning to end, as we aim to mitigate risks throughout the flow of food from purchasing to serving to transporting and traceability.
Register Here
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2020
Time: 12 - 1 pm PT
Learning Objectives
- Identify foodborne pathogens commonly associated with retail foodservice operations
- Describe three critical food safety practices used throughout the flow of food to mitigate foodborne disease
- Identify safe transporting methods and documentation procedures
- Apply recommended traceability systems necessary to conduct a product recall
- And explain answers to frequently asked questions from previous USDA Office of Food Safety webinars.
Sharing your farm to school story is an important strategy for growing awareness and building support for the farm to school movement. Include farm to school messages in a variety of communications - social media, newsletter, website, blog, school meal menus, school mobile apps, etc. - so everyone in your community can learn about farm to school.
Resources
The Farm to School Month Webpage has tools to help you celebrate all month long! Check out the webpage for:
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#F2SMonth Celebration Toolkit
- Celebration ideas
- Social Media post examples
- Customizable newsletter article
- Media Pitches best practices
- Farm to School Month Fact Sheet
- Posters
- Logos to share on social media
- Postcards, stickers, coloring pages, and more!
Share With Us!
We look forward to seeing your celebrations! Use #OSPIChildNutrition and #F2SMonth or #farmtoschool on all your social media posts and join the conversation!
Want to be featured in a CNS Highlight? Send pictures and stories of your celebrations to Samantha Brueske!
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September 15
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August Claims Due in WINS
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September 16
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SY20-21 Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Weekly Webinar - Register Here
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September 17
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Food Safety from Beginning to End Webinar | Register Here! 12 - 1pm PT
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September 29
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Last day to submit your July claims! 60-Day Claim Deadline
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