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Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the extension of several nationwide waivers that allow all children to continue to receive nutritious meals this summer.
Waivers extended through September 30, 2021:
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #73 – Child Nutrition Waiver Update
- This announces extensions of flexibilities for summer 2021 operations for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #74 – Nationwide Waiver to allow Meal Pattern Flexibilities for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 9
- This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
- This waiver does not include SFSP, effective July 1, 2021, the regular SFSP meal pattern requirements will be in place.
- Sponsors are approved on a case-by-case basis. If your organization is unable to locate a particular item, contact your program specialist.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #75 – Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Feeding for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 6
- This waiver allows meals to be served in a non-congregate meal setting.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #76 – Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 6
- This waiver allows parents and guardians to pick up meals for their children.
- Program operators must maintain program integrity and ensure duplicate meals are not distributed.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #77 – Nationwide Waiver to Extend Area Eligibility Waivers for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 4
- This waiver applies to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- 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”.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #78 – Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 3
- This waives the required minimum time between meal services and allow sponsors to serve more than one meal at a time.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #79 – Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibilities in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 3
- This waiver allows Offer vs Serve in SFSP operations.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #80 – Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 3
- This waives the requirement for closed enrolled sites operating under the SFSP or SSO to collect income eligibility applications.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #81 – Nationwide Waiver to Waive First Week Site Visits in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2021 Operations – EXTENSION 3
- This waives the requirement to visit each SFSP site during the first week of operation.
Washington State will participate in all waivers listed above.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The 2020-21 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report was recently removed from the website for update. The report has been reposted. Changes were made to school sites operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
About This Report
This report may be used to establish area eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Area eligibility may be assigned if school data indicates that the proposed meal site is located in an attendance area of a public school where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
The Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs Reference Sheet provides more details on area eligibility.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
You may have noticed inaccurate information in the sponsor staff section of the Sponsor Profile in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS). Currently, deactivated staff appear and other staff names are duplicated with multiple different titles. This is a defect.
The WINS team has made changes to the sponsor contacts in preparation for the 2021–22 program renewal season. These changes will make it easier to update program contacts so that we may use WINS contacts for Child Nutrition Services communications in the future.
Until the sponsor application is renewed for the 21–22 program year, the sponsor contacts section will continue to look the same. This is a known defect and we ask that you please disregard for the time being.
Information About This Update
- Later this spring, the edit feature will be removed from the sponsor home screen.
- WINS will not allow you to update or make changes to the existing sponsor staff contact information for the remainder of program year 20–21.
- You may add new staff contact information through revisions to the sponsor application as needed.
- You may choose to wait and make all staff contact updates in your 21–22 application.
- Child Nutrition Services will provide instructions prior to 21–22 program year renewal.
Join Us For Our A Webinar Exploring the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)!
Register Here
Dates: Wednesday, March 17
Time: 2–3pm PT
Superintendents, school board members, business officials, Title 1 staff, nutrition staff, local leaders, and anybody else involved in CEP planning is encouraged to attend! We recommend attending as a cohort from your district to maximize planning time.
- We’ll discuss an overview of CEP, review how OSPI is implementing the Hunger-Free Schools Act (HB 2660, 2020), and explore how to apply for the program!
- If you’re unfamiliar with CEP you can explore our CEP webpage and read our CEP Reference Sheet.
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Unsure if your schools are eligible for CEP? While the data for 2021-22 isn’t out until April, you can look at the 2020-21 CEP-Eligible LEA & School Report to get an idea if your schools will be eligible.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has posted a notice in the Federal Register inviting the general public and other public agencies to comment on Agency Information Collection Activities: Team Nutrition Database.
This is a revision of a currently approved collection of information used to facilitate a communication network among organizations participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
This communication network is implemented under the Team Nutrition initiative of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) FNS, Child Nutrition Programs.
Comments are invited on:
- Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency
- Whether the information has practical utility
- Accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information
- Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected
- Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond
Comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov and must be received on or before May 3, 2021.
The Western Regional Office (WRO) of USDA has announced a 10-week AmeriCorps VISTA associates program taking place this summer for outreach and site work for Summer Meals Programs, as well as other appropriate summer anti-hunger and anti-poverty activities. Nonprofit groups, tribal governments, state child nutrition agencies, and school districts are eligible to host VISTAs over the summer.
If you are interested in applying to host one or more VISTAs this year, please complete this brief application.
AmeriCorps VISTA associates will focus primarily on strengthening the capacity of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) by enhancing awareness and educating families. Associates will also focus on the following tasks:
- Summer Meals outreach (street canvassing)
- Directly serving summer meals
- Researching ways to promote summer meals
- Provide education for and increase access to security resources, including SNAP, WIC, and other local resources
- Recruiting volunteers
- Improve access to nutritious food options by building the capacity and sustainability of farmers markets, community gardens, and/or nutrition education programs.
- COVID-19 response, which will include helping staff hunger hotlines, help collect data on food availability for hunger hotlines and web listings, help struggling families access food benefits via phone and by computer and/or smart phone.
Given the current COVID-19 crisis and the uncertainty of how long it will continue, VISTA positions may need to be altered to meet stay-at-home and social distancing orders. If necessary, AmeriCorps VISTA associates may need to conduct their service remotely.
Monthly claims are due by the 15th of each month following the claim period. All claims entered in WINS and in OK to Pay status will process for payment at the end of the month. Here are some important reminders about claiming in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS):
General Claiming Reminders
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FSMC & Vended Sponsors – Correct your SFSP Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Before Claiming
- Meals claimed in excess of the CAP count for a site will result in a claim error. SFSP sponsors must make Average Daily Attendance (ADA) revisions prior to submitting monthly claims. Specialists must approve revisions before claims can process for payment.
- Revised ADA's will not be approved for claims that go into error status due to meals claimed over the approved CAP.
- Compare the Average Number of Meals to the approved CAP. If the Average exceeds the CAP, increase the ADA in your site calendar and email your Program Specialist.
- Here is a quick equation to determine whether the ADA should be revised: Total Meals Served / Number of Operating Days = Average Number of Meals per day.
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Working with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) or Vendor? FSMCs and Vended Sponsors cannot be reimbursed for any meals above the 120% of the ADA. Update the ADA prior to submitting the claim for the excess meals to be reimbursed.
- Monthly claim data must be in "OK to Pay" status by 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- WINS will automatically log all users out of the system on the 15th of each month at exactly 5pm PT.
- Give yourself enough time to input all claiming data, preview errors, correct errors. Completing these steps will help you ensure the claim is in “OK to Pay” status.
- At 5 pm, the claim function is closed. This means that the system does not allow access to claims for until after the monthly reconciliation process is complete. This can take up to two business days.
- Didn't submit your claim by the 15th? That's okay! Submit your monthly claim by the 60-day deadline.
- Example: The February 60-day claim deadline is April 29, 2021.
- Claim reimbursements that are not entered into WINS or not in OK to pay status will NOT process for payment by the end of the month.
- The 20-21 Claim Processing Dates Information Sheet takes weekends and holidays into consideration for the 60-day deadlines. You may want to print or bookmark this information.
- Refer to the Claims Reference Sheet for details on what to do if you don't submit your claims by the 60-day claim deadline.
- Errors must be resolved for claims to be paid. WINS has multiple edit checks to help resolve issues before your claim is submitted.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- Review the Claiming Error Messages in WINS Information Sheet for more details on possible errors.
- Pro-Tip: Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
Claiming Resources
Have Questions? Please contact Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor, or Pam Fravel, Fiscal Analyst.
During these webinars OSPI CNS will discuss hot topics, highlight important reminders, and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Register Here
Dates: Every other Wednesday through 6/30/2021
Time: 2–3pm PT
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the 20-21 school year are encouraged to join us for these webinars.
Reminders
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Follow up emails will no longer be sent after the meeting. If you missed our last webinar, you can review the recording from our 3/10 meeting here.
- Save us on Your Calendar! When you register, there is an option to add us to your calendar at the bottom of the confirmation email.
- A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
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We are excited to announce that Washington’s own Coupeville School District has been featured by USDA’s Team Nutrition! Coupeville School District is highlighted on the Team Nutrition website for their innovative efforts to provide scratch-cooked and local food in their pandemic meal service. The full story can be found on Team Nutrition’s website, here.
Thank You!
Thank you to Coupeville SD for all your hard work to ensure that children in your district receive appealing and nutritious meals, and congratulations on your well-deserved recognition!
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Join farmers, local food suppliers, school and childcare staff, and partners at virtual meetings for these regions:
Are you interested in buying more food and ingredients from local farms for your meals? Come connect directly via Zoom with local farmers, food suppliers, and other nutrition staff in your region to help get more farm fresh foods to local students!
Hear from local farmers and food suppliers about products they’ll have available for schools, and how you can bring in their products for your meals. Share updates about your meal programs with farmers and community partners, how you’ve adapted meal and food distribution during COVID-19, and your current and future food and product needs.
If there isn’t a meeting happening for your region, please reach out to ciberle@agr.wa.gov to connect with farms or find out more about buying local foods, or visit the Washington Washington State Farm to School Network Regional Hubs to find out more about programs near you.
Questions? Email Chris Iberle, WSDA Farm to School Lead.
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Child Nutrition Services (CNS) invited the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to conduct several FREE trainings over the coming year. These sessions can be attended by any food services staff, and they offer Professional Standards.
There is a limit of 2 participants from each district per training. We will be offering sessions more than once so there will be more opportunities to attend later in the year.
Trainings
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Food Safety Basics - This session is designed to provide a basic understanding of food safety. Lessons include methods for training staff, how to prevent foodborne illness, and resources for monitoring.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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Foundations for Training Excellence: Basics - This training focuses on how to design and deliver effective training.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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Training Culturally Diverse Groups - This training is designed to help you develop your skills to effectively deliver trainings to culturally diverse groups.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Thursday, April 8
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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Basic Culinary Math - This training allows participants to review and practice basic culinary math skills and focus on key skills such as measuring and converting measurements, scaling recipes, and calculating food costs.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Tuesday, April 13
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
Registration Information
Participants register for the training using the pdEnroller platform.
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Each participant must have their own pdEnroller account to sign up for the training if you do not have one currently. You may use this link to create an account, if needed.
- Keep your confirmation email!
- This email is your portal to the training session and additional handouts for the training.
- Pro Tip: You can add events to your calendar via the event page, this way your Zoom access link is available from your calendar.
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Can't Attend?
- You can cancel your registration at any time using pdEnroller.
- Log into your account.
- Select your name in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on 'My Events'.
- Upcoming events appear at the top of your screen, you should see the class and a 'Cancel Registration' button.
- Waitlist Participants:
- PdEnroller notifies CNS of the number of interested participants and automatically creates a waitlist when the session is filled.
- If someone cancels their attendance, pdEnroller automatically notifies the next person on the waitlist and gives them an opportunity to register - keep an eye out in your emails.
IMPORTANT:
There is a limit of 25 participants for each session. Each participant must have their own pdEnroller account to register.
Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
Don't forget!
If there's a different delivery contact during Spring Break or in the Summer months, we need to know!
To update or change your delivery contact person, please complete the Delivery Updates Form.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Office or call 360-725-6204.
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March 1-31
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National Nutrition Month!
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March 15
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February Claims Due in WINS
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March 17
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Gearing up for CEP in 2021-22 Webinar - Register Here
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March 24
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Bi-Weekly Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Webinar - Register Here
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April 1
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January Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your January Claims!
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