FY 2017 Bureau Notes – May 19, 2017

 

Cheese and Peanut Butter Training Resource

Serving required but reasonable portions of cheese and peanut butter at lunch and supper meals has been an ongoing challenge for CACFP participants.  A new resource has been developed for training CACFP cooks, menu planners and staff involved with meal preparation.  The resource provides easy-to-understand guidance, pictures with a visual impact, and realistic menu ideas.   The resource is posted in IowaCNP Download Forms at the link below:

 

CACFP Center Application Renewal Schedule

It’s that time of year again!  No enhancements to IowaCNP are planned for this year, so the system will be opened July 5 for application renewal.  A webinar with instructions to renew your FY 2018 application is planned for July 11 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm.  A link with additional information will be emailed closer to the date.  No registration is required.  The person responsible for completing the FY 2018 CACFP application renewal process should attend.  Applications will be due August 18 to allow plenty of time to complete the renewal application before the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2017.

 

Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a USDA Child Nutrition Program administered by the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services.  School districts and community organization will begin operating the SFSP in areas of economic need in late and early June.  Some feeding sites will be open to all children and provide meals at no charge.  If an open site is available in your community, children from your center may be served meals at the SFSP site.  If this is the case, the same meal may not be claimed on the CACFP.  The center should keep separate meal records with the dates, meal participation records, and menus documenting what was served by the SFSP site to show children were served reimbursable meals.  The list of 2017 SFSP sponsors is not available yet.  To see the 2016 open SFSP sites in Iowa, click here.  The 2017 list is expected to be similar.  If you have questions regarding the SFSP, contact Stephanie Dross at Stephanie.dross@iowa.gov or 515-281-4760.

 

New Meal Pattern Updates

New CACFP Memo

Title: Transition Period for the Updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Meal Patterns and the Updated National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Infant and Preschool Meal Patterns

Memo Number: CACFP 13-2017

Issued: 5/11/2017

In recognition of the challenges associated with conforming to the updated new CACFP meal pattern requirements, this memo outlines a transition period to allow CACFP organizations and schools to adjust to the new requirements in the first year of implementation without having fiscal actions imposed or being found seriously deficient. 

USDA guidance memos are posted on the USDA CACFP policy website.

 

Updated State Agency Documents and Forms

All forms and documents related to the new meal pattern are posted on the IowaCNP website under Applications/Download Forms and begin with Form ID “CACFPMP.”  TIP: to find a particular document, hit “Control F,” then type a key word in the search box.

 

Early Implementation

If you haven’t already done so and wish to implement the new meal pattern prior to October 1, 2017,  complete form CACFPMP24, available at the link below, and submit to the State agency for approval.

All centers in Iowa are allowed to implement all provisions listed below under Option 1 without prior approval.

Option 1:  Allowed Early Implementation Provisions for Iowa

Child and Adult Care

Meat and meat alternates may be served in place of the entire breakfast grain component no more than 3 times per week.*

Tofu and soy yogurts may be served as meat alternates if desired.  2.2 oz. or ¼ c tofu, or ½ c soy yogurt = 1 oz. meat alternate

Infant Care Only

Reimburse infant meals when the mother breastfeeds on-site (document on infant menu).

Allow yogurt, whole eggs, and ready-to-eat cereals to be served to infants.

Adult Care Only

Yogurt may be used to fulfill the fluid milk requirement no more than once per day for adults. ¾ cup or 6 oz. = 1 serving of milk

*requires use of new menu forms.

 

CACFP Administrative Manual

The CACFP Administrative Manual has been revised to comply with the new meal pattern and will be posted in Download Forms.  A hard copy will be mailed to each participating organization when the manual has been printed (May or June).  If you need additional copies, request from Janelle.Loney@iowa.gov.

 

Additional New CACFP Meal Pattern Training Opportunities

New Meal Pattern Webinar

For those not able to attend a live new meal pattern training in May, a webinar will be offered on July 18.  A link will be emailed to CACFP participants closer to the date.  Schools will be invited to participate.  If you purchase vended meals, share the link with the vendor and encourage them to participate.  No registration is required.

Iowa CACFP Steps to Success

This online training includes 18 modules and is designed to teach center staff how to administer the CACFP in a center-based setting.  The text for the training is the CACFP Administrative Manual.  The enrollment key is centers.  The modules are gradually being updated to comply with the new meal pattern requirements.  Module 2 on Menu Planning is in progress with several lessons in the module already posted (labeled “new”).  Staff may complete the updated module to receive training on new meal pattern requirements.

School Nutrition Association – Iowa (SNAI)

Many schools serve pre-K children as part of a school-sponsored daycare, preschool, or vending agreement.  A breakout session will be provided to schools on the new CACFP meal pattern at the SNAI conference in June. Click here for more information.

 

New Meal Pattern Posters (Child and Infant only)

New CACFP meal pattern posters were distributed to at the May regional trainings.  If you were not present or need additional copies, posters may be ordered from: Institute of Child Nutrition, The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, 97 Jeanette Phillips Drive, University, MS  38677.

Telephone: (662)915-7658 or toll free at (800)321-3054  Fax: (800)321-3061

Email: helpdesk@theicn.org

 

New Meal Pattern Best Practices

By implementing CACFP Meal Pattern Best Practices, child care providers can strengthen the nutritional quality of the meals they serve and provide the high-quality child care environment that all children deserve.  The Iowa State agency strongly encourages providers to adopt all recommended best practices as part of new meal pattern implementation.

CACFP Best Practices Checklist

This tool lists the best practices and helps organizations identify areas for improvement in their operation.

CACFP Wellness Module: CACFP Meal Pattern Best Practices 

This online training developed by Team Nutrition explains each best practice, the reason behind it, and tips for implementation.  The enrollment key is pineapple.  Completion of the training can be used for CACFP training hours.

 

New Meal Pattern Sample Menus

CACFP New Meal Pattern Menu with Best Practices  is a four week cycle menu for CACFP that complies with the new CACFP meal pattern and includes best practices. 

 

If you have questions, contact Robin.Holz@iowa.gov (515)281-3484.

 

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Robin Holz, MS, RDN
CACFP Lead Consultant, Centers
Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services
400 E 14th St
Des Moines 50319
Phone: 515-281-3484
Fax: 515-242-5988
Iowa Department of Education Website