November, 2020

November, 2020

The CACFP Team Nutrition monthly newsletter provides information on nutrition and physical activity for young children, trainings and funding opportunities, resources, and success stories from Iowa CACFP programs working to support healthy habits.

Stay Connected! Iowa Department of Education - Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services

Facebook: @IowaCACFP Email: patti.delger@iowa.gov

Feeding Infants in the CACFP

Training on feeding infants in CACFP is now available in the Iowa Learning Online Professional Development (ILOPD) site! Pick from 10 different modules on Feeding Infants in the CACFP that best meets the needs of you and your staff. Training topics include developmental readiness, handling and storing breastmilk and formula, creditable infant meals, and more! Each module contains a 15-20 minute webcast, practice questions, resources, and a 0.5 CACFP training hours certificate. Visit Iowa ILOPD to access these modules!

Centers that watch at least 4 lessons are eligible to apply for the CACFP $350 sub-grant (as funding is available), The award money can be used to implement lessons learned from the infant training. Get started right away as applications are due by November 30, 2020. Click on this link to access the application.

Contact Christine Crow at chirstine.crow@iowa.gov with questions related to the sub-grant.

Healthy Habits Start Early Toolkit

Healthy Habits Start Early Toolkit - New guide for implementing a garden-based nutrition program for child care centers and homes that supports and improves healthy eating practices.

Includes menu ideas, Iowa gardening tips, parent engagement tools, progress tracking tools, and advice for safely adapting meal service during the pandemic.

CACFP Halftime Thirty on Thursday

CACFP Halftime Thirty on Thursday Webinar Training on Nov. 19, 2020: Crediting Single-Serving Packages of Grains in the CACFP. Register Today!

This webinar will show CACFP operators how to credit single-serving packages of grains toward a reimbursable meal or snack.

English Webinar - Central Time: 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Spanish Webinar - Central Time: 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Certificates of participation will be provided for those who attend the entire webinar. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Commission on Dietetic Registration has also approved this webinar for 0.5 hours of Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs).

Topics and dates of upcoming webinars, as well as recordings of previous webinars are available on the CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webpage.

Hannah Stays Healthy

This Healthy Habit All-Star episode features 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! In this episode, Hannah has been spending too much time on her tablet. But the Healthy Habit All-Stars rush to the rescue! 5210 PreK-K lesson plans, coloring pages, and more!

Farm to School Grant 2021

If you've been looking for a grant to start an Edible Garden program at your CACFP site, the USDA might have the answer. They are awarding $10 million through the 2021 grant program. CACFP is eligible to apply.

CACFP Ambassador Stipend Funding Has Been Extended!

To increase CACFP participation, a child care center or home provider currently participating in the CACFP can apply to receive an Ambassador Stipend ($300 for centers or $150 for home providers) by mentoring a center or home provider who does not participate in CACFP and assisting them with applying for the food program. To learn more about Ambassador Stipends, visit the Iowa Department of Education page, look for the green section.

The application due date has been extended to June 30, 2021 (or as funding is available).

Ambassador Application for Centers
Ambassador Application for Home Providers
CACFP Peer to Peer Mentoring Flyer - information about what is expected of a CACFP Ambassador

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter ad- dressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the com- plaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442
Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement

It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone numbers 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.