Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Child and Adult Care Food  Program (CACFP)

 04- 2022

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811

USDA Policy, Information, and Implementation Memos

Sponsoring organizations and institutions are required by regulation to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply immediately the appropriate instruction to agency programs. Call Child Nutrition Programs if you need further clarification.

USDA Policy Memo 10-2022 Q&A Regarding the 2022 Infant Formula Shortage in the CACFP

The ongoing infant formula shortage due to supply chain issues, which worsened due to a major formula recall in February 2022, has left many Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators concerned about access to formula and their options for safely feeding infants in their care.  FNS has developed the following Questions and Answers to support CACFP operators and the families they serve during this unprecedented and evolving situation.

USDA Policy Memo 09-2022 Q&A Related to CACFP 11-2021 Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data by Visual Observation and Identification in the CACFP and SFSP- Policy Rescission

This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the collection of race or ethnicity data now that visual identification of race and ethnicity is no longer an allowable practice in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). FNS is providing a grace period through December 31, 2022 for operators to develop methods to gather data when participants do not self-identify.  The most common way to gather this is through the Alaska Enrollment forms.  If enrollment forms are not required the institution must have other way(s) to gather this data and there are suggestions within the Q&A.  This data must be collected annually

USDA Memo CRD 01-2022 updating FNS's complaint processing policy related to program complaints 

This memorandum clarifies prohibitions against discrimination based on sex in all FNS programs found in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program (7 USC § 2011 et seq.); and related implementing regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.
USDA/FNS issues this memorandum regarding processing discrimination complaints.

USDA Memo CRD 02-2022 Q&A Related to CRD 01-2022 Application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Progrma Discrimination Complaint Processing - Policy Update

This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the prohibitions against discrimination based on sex in all FNS programs found in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (7 USC § 2011 et seq.); and related implementing regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

USDA Updated the Nondiscrimination Statement revised to include gender identity and sexual orientation.    

The updated FNS Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) is available in English at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cr/fns-nondiscrimination-statement. The link is currently being updated to include the NDS in multiple languages.  Agencies must update their webpages, handbooks, and anything else that includes the statement.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

     1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
        Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
        1400 Independence Avenue, SW
        Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

3. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
4. email: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA Policy Memo -7-2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum provides notice to Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators regarding Sections 740, 751, and 752 of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103) (the Appropriations Act), enacted on March 15, 2022. In regards to CACFP: Low fat flavored milk may continue to be served as outlined in the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for School Year 2021-2022 | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov). Beginning July 1, 2022, the transitional meal pattern standards go into effect, allowing low-fat flavored milk to be offered in both the NSLP and SBP, as well as in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Special Milk Program for children 6 and older.

USDA Policy Memo 06-2022 Promoting Access to Voting through the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum encourages State agencies administering the CNP to provide local program operators with promotional materials that can be disseminated to Program participants to expand access to, and provide education about, voter registration and election information.  Be on the lookout for more information in upcoming bulletins.

Additional Topics

CACFP Annual Training

This year administrators will be required to attend the Virtual Training as well as take eLearning training modules that are currently being updated.  Your training certificates for eLearning will be a required upload during renewal.  Stay tuned for class requirements when updates are completed!

Distance Delivery (only option this year due to COVID-19)

(Training Materials and Zoom link will be e-mailed prior to training date)

  Part 1 – Recordkeeping / Financial/ Renewal/ Monitoring

  Part 2 – Operations/ Meal Pattern /Health & Safe

CACFP ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING

(REQUIRED attendance both days by agency CACFP administrator)

Webinar (distance delivery) – July 28th Thursday 1:30pm-4:30pm    Part 1

                                                   July 29th  Friday     8:30am-12:00pm  Part 2                            

HEAD START CACFP ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING

(REQUIRED attendance both days by agency CACFP administrator)

Webinar (distance delivery) – August 9^th    Tuesday 1:30pm-4:30pm   Part 1

                                                   August 10^th  Wednesday 8:30am-12:00pm   Part 2

SCHOOL DISTRICT AT-RISK TRAINING:

REQUIRED attendance for School District food program administrator)

Webinar (distance delivery) – July 26th   Tuesday 2:45pm-3:45pm

If you have questions regarding which workshop to attend, registration, or if you experience a disability and need assistance in order to participate in this training, please contact Jennifer Cherian at Jennifer.cherian@alaska.gov.

Registration due by June 30, 2022.

COVID-19 Consolidated Waiver July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023

Alaska Child Nutrition Programs has been authorized to provide the following waivers for SFSP, SSO and NSLP/SBP/FFVP sponsors in good standing approved to operate July 1, 2022 – May 30, 2023; and CACFP sponsors approved to operate July 1, 2022 thru September 30, 2023.[1]

In order to be eligible for the waiver, a program site will have to be in the “high” category using the CDC’s Community Level Databank, and checking for your community using the COVID-19 County Check search feature. A waiver would only be approved while a community is in the high category or if enrolled programs face building closures or limited

FNS and DEED expect that operational flexibilities under these waivers will only be implemented by Program operators when congregation is limited by the COVID-19 pandemic. FNS expects that monitoring flexibilities will only be implemented when pandemic conditions interfere with the ability of State agencies and sponsoring organizations to conduct reviews onsite. CDC Community Level Databank

• Waiver 20: Non-Congregate Meal Service [42 S.C 1753(b)(1)(A) and 7 CFR 226.19(b)(6)(iii)] (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023)
• Waiver 21: Parent/Guardian Meal Pick-Up [7 CFR 2] (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023)
• Waiver 22: Meal Service Times [7 CFR 20(k)] (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023)
• Waiver 23: State Agency Onsite Monitoring Visits [7 CFR 6(b)(1) and 226.6(m)(6)]

                (End of PHE** – June 30, 2023)

• Waiver 24: Sponsoring Organization Onsite Monitoring Visits [7 CFR 16(d)(4)(iii)]

                (End of PHE** – June 30, 2023)

** Current nationwide waivers of onsite monitoring for NSLP, SBP, and CACFP remain in effect until 30 days after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The end of the PHE will be declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Waiver Request Form will be included in Annual Paperwork.  For those programs who wish to use the waiver prior to start of FY2023 fill out waiver request form and submit to Jennifer Cherian at Jennifer.cherian@alaska.gov. 

CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays Webinar on Breakfast Basics

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative will present a CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar on “Breakfast Basics.” Registration for this free webinar is now available, using the following registration links:

• 2-2:30 p.m. ET English Webinar [Register Now]
• 3-3:30 p.m. ET Spanish Webinar: [Register Now]

Registration links are also available from https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/halftime-cacfp-thirty-thursdays-training-webinar-series. Both webinars will be recorded and made available at a later date. All who register for the webinar will receive an email once the recording is available.

This upcoming webinar show program operators how to plan nutritious and appealing breakfasts that meet Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern requirements.

Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions to the presenters and to check their knowledge through interactive polling questions.

Team Nutrition will provide certificates of participation to individuals who attend the entire thirty-minute webinar. The National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) is also offering webinar participants the opportunity to submit and track continuing education credits. Additional information on this opportunity is available from NCA at: https://www.cacfp.org/learning-center/. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Commission on Dietetic Registration has also approved this webinar for 0.5 hours of Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs), Activity Number 169292.

Procuring Local Foods for CNP Guide

On June 21, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) Farm to School Program released the revised Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs Guide, which provides an overview of federal procurement principles and covers topics related to sourcing and purchasing local foods, for State agencies and child nutrition program operators. This guide highlights a variety of mechanisms schools can use to purchase local products while staying in accordance with federal procurement regulations. Featured are examples of how to target local foods when conducting both formal and informal procurements, use the Geographic Preference option, and use the USDA Foods and DoD Fresh Programs to enhance local purchasing. Please feel free to share the guide across your networks.

Resources

Resources

Food Buying Guide

Team Nutrition is excited to announce that training videos on navigating the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Mobile App are now available. These short videos are broken into four chapters to provide users with step-by-step instructions on using the Mobile App and its different components. These training videos, along with existing FBG Web Tool training videos, are accessible within the FBG Web Tool under the ‘Help’ tab from the top navigation menu. Additional trainings are available on Team Nutrition’s FBG training resources web page: https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-training-resources.   

Team Nutrition Resources

• CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools
  • CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets
    • Serving Snacks in the CACFP training worksheet [English] [Spanish]
    • Serving Milk in the CACFP training worksheet [English] [Spanish]
    • Choose Yogurts That Are Lower in Sugar training worksheet [English] [Spanish]
    • Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Sugar training worksheet [English] [Spanish]
    • Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP training worksheet [English] [Spanish]
  • CACFP Grains Oz Eq Resources
• Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
• CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays Training Webinar Series
• Team Nutrition Homepage    

Listserv- Did You Know? Alaska Child Nutrition Programs has a listserv. The purpose of the listserv is to provide information and updates on the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

To receive all of the hottest news and updates from Alaska Child Nutrition Programs, Subscribe to ak_child_nutrition_programs by filling out the form found here: Alaska Child Nutrition Programs ListServ.

You will receive a confirmation link via email which you should click to complete your subscription.

Contact Us

• Program Manager
  • Jo Dawson: (907) 465-8708

• Program Coordinator (USDA Foods, TEFAP, FFVP)
  • Sue Lampert: (907) 465-8710

• Program Coordinator (NSLP)
  
  • Beth Seitz: (907) 465-8709

• Program Coordinator (CACFP)
  • Ann-Marie Martin: (907) 465-8711

• Grants Administrator
  • Carole Baker: (907) 465-2860

• Program Specialist (SFSP)
  • Val Cummins: (907) 465-4788

• Program Specialist (School Wellness)
  • Cyde Coil: (907) 465-8719

• Education Program Associate II (Special Milk Program)
  • Debbie Soto: (907) 465-8712

• Education Program Assistant (USDA Foods, TEFAP)
  
  • Tony Warren: (907) 465-3629

• Education Program Assistant (CACFP & SFSP)
  
  • Jennifer Cherian: (907) 465-4969
• Pandemic EBT Specialist
  • Tonia Parfitt: (907) 465-1080