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USDA Policy Memos, from USDA, are located at the bottom:
Partnerweb Webinar
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Civil Rights Division (CRD), is pleased to announce our upcoming language access webinar on “How to Bridge Language and Cultural Barriers with FNS support.” This webinar will be on September 4, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time and on September 11, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. We continue our journey towards bridging language and cultural barriers with our Language Access Plan (LAP), accessible here.
Whether you are managing, administering, or supporting a Federally Assisted Program, everyone has a role in engaging with all eligible individuals regardless of the language they speak. Overcoming language barriers is essential for effective communication and for ensuring equitable access and equal opportunity in program delivery.
Please join us for a conversation featuring panelists Ricardo Martinez, FNS Language Access Coordinator, and Marisol Wood, FNS Language Access Specialist. They will explore strategies for bridging language barriers using the Food and Nutrition Service’s language access framework and discuss practical tips to help you navigate common challenges in multilingual environments.
Registration: To attend the September 4, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time webinar course, you must register here. The link is open and available for registration. The link to join the webinar will be provided upon registration.
To attend the September 11, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time webinar course, you must register here. The link is open and available for registration. The link to join the webinar will be provided upon registration.
This event will be recorded.
Closed Captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) will be available on the platform.
If you require an alternative format or any accessibility tool to participate in this event, please contact FNS.HRD.ReasonableAccomodations@usda.gov for assistance TODAY.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Partnerships with Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations
USDA and eight other Federal agencies recently published a final rule entitled, Partnerships with Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at 89 FR 15671 (final rule). The final rule amended USDA regulations at 7 CFR part 16 related to equal opportunity for faith-based organizations that operate USDA programs and religious protections for USDA program beneficiaries. Because the Child Nutrition Programs provide direct Federal assistance, these regulations apply to all local operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Special Milk Program (SMP) (collectively the Child Nutrition Programs). The final rule is effective on July 2, 2024, and requires that providers of direct Federal assistance, which includes Child Nutrition Programs local operators:
- must provide written notice to beneficiaries of their right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion;
- must provide written notice to beneficiaries of how to report violations of these regulatory protections; and,
- may provide written notice to beneficiaries on how to obtain information about other federally funded service providers available in their area.
To support implementation, the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights recently released a model written notice to beneficiaries, which should be used by Child Nutrition Program State agencies and local operators to provide the required notice. The model notice is available HERE
Child Nutrition Program local operators must provide written notice to beneficiaries by using one or more of the methods below:
- post a written notice at the service location (e.g., schools, childcare centers, community organization sites); or,
- post a written notice on the local program operator website; or,
- provide flyers or handouts at food distribution sites (e.g., congregate meal sites, non-congregate meal pick up locations, etc.); or,
- add the written notification to the program application.
Updates & Reminders:
Claims - Submit claim data online through the CNP Web Database.
- June Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, August 29, 2024
- July Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, September 29, 2024
- The final claim will not be accepted if it is not in the Pending Approval status by the 60-Day claim deadline (see below). Upward amended claims may be submitted throughout the 60-day period but no later than the 60-Day deadline. Be aware, claims in Error status cannot be paid and if help is needed from Child Nutrition the sponsor must contact Child Nutrition well in advance of the 60-Day Deadline.
Roundtable - NSLP Roundtable Discussion August 14, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.
NSLP & School Breakfast Program (SBP) Updates:
2024-2025 Reimbursement Rates for Alaska School Meals (Published 7/10/24):
NSLP, SMP, SBP - National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
CNP Web School Nutrition Program Applications:
If you need assistance with completing your program application for school year 2024-2025 in CNP Web, please contact the School Nutrition team at email address: eed.cnp.schoolmeals@alaska.gov.
Interim final rule period of public comment:
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending the public comment period on the interim final rule, “Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs,’’ which published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023. This action extends the public comment period From April 29, 2024, to August 27, 2024, to give the public additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Send comments to Community Meals Policy Division, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure. The Food and Nutrition Service will make the comments publicly available on the internet via https://www.regulations.gov.
Child Nutrition Programs Meal Patterns final rule:
Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
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