Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

08/29/2018

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides news for schools concerning the Child Nutrition Programs from USDA and the state. If you are the food service contact for your school or corporation, it is your responsibility to relay important information provided to you about the Child Nutrition Programs to other staff members.


Reimbursable School Meals + Special Dietary Needs Trainings

  • The Indiana Department of Education will be hosting Reimbursable School Meals + Special Dietary Needs Trainings. Attendees will be able to attend both trainings or can select to attend only one training.
  • The Reimbursable School Meals session provides general information in meal pattern planning and Offer versus Serve (OVS).
  • For more information on the Reimbursable School Meals session, click here.  All materials will be provided.
  • The Special Dietary Needs session covers topics such as dietary needs within the meal pattern, dietary needs outside of the meal pattern, milk accommodations, religious and lifestyle accommodations, school implementation, and resources.
  • Attendees will receive credit toward their annual professional standards requirements.
  • All trainings are from 8:00am – 5:00pm local time.
  • Register here.

Disclosure Reminders

  • Don't forget - sponsors are required to maintain strict confidentiality with applications and eligibility information.
  • Sponsors must ensure that data systems, records, and other means of accessing a student's eligibility status are limited to officials directly connected with administration of the NSLP. 
    • Teachers, principals, counselors, and any other individuals not directly connected to processing f/r applications, conducting verification, and/or administering appeals, do not have the right to access eligibility information.
    • Only the household member that signed the application can have access to that application or notification of eligibility. 
  • Sponsors are permitted to share eligibility information with other schools/organizations that operate a Child Nutrition Program, like the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and After School Snack Program. 
  • Sponsors must take every step to prevent overt identification. Think about: 
    • Registration - Do you have a special room or table where people line up to submit their free/reduced application? Is the application processed in front of the household (and potentially others waiting in line)? If so, you will need to adjust this process to ensure households can discreetly submit an application and confidentially receive notification of eligibility. 
    • School Software/POS - Make sure the software does not publicly label student eligibility to teachers, staff, or other students. 
    • Testing - Schools are allowed to share f/r eligibility for National or State testing (like I-STEP) however only those who are "need to know" should have access to this information. The f/r eligibility should not be posted visibly for anyone who is not considered "need to know." 
  • To determine what kind of disclosure process you must follow, consult USDA's Disclosure Chart on page 86 in the Eligibility Guidance Manual on page and Indiana's Disclosure Chart
  • Additional steps for disclosing information include:
    • Entering into an agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with all involved parties. 
    • Sending households information about disclosure (if no permission is required) or a request for disclosure (if permission is required).
    • To find templates of agreements and parent letters, click here
  • Check out the Disclosure Process Fact Sheet for more information. 
  • Visit inTEAM to view our webinar on disclosure requirements.
  • Questions about disclosure? Contact Sarah Kenworthy at skenworthy@doe.in.gov

Farm to School

  • Back to school is the perfect time to tend to your farm to school program.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Planning Guide can help you identify team members, map strategies, and set targets for the year ahead.
  • Wondering how school gardens grow? Check out the USDA's School Garden Fact Sheet.  
  • Want more information about Farm to School? Check out the Indiana Department of Education's new Farm to School web page!
  • Questions? Contact Maggie Schabel at mschabel@doe.in.gov.

Food Distribution Program Re-Certification

  • In addition to updating the purple puzzle piece in CNPweb, schools that receive USDA Foods must make sure their green puzzle piece has been updated and approved.
  • Questions? Email Cheryl Moore at cmoore@doe.in.gov.  

ISNA Fall Regional Workshops

  • The Indiana School Nutrition Association (ISNA) will host a training on the "39 Customer Service Tips All School Nutrition Programs Should Know."
    • This training will count towards your USDA Professional Standards requirements for the school year.
  • Click here for the course overview, dates, locations, and registration. 
  • Questions? Contact Sheri Shipp at sheri@indianasna.org.

National School Lunch Week

  • Mark your calendars! National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is October 15-19.
  • The #NSLW18 theme is "School Lunch: Lots 2 Love."
  • Visit here to find resources to help you get started planning today.
  • Curious as to what other schools have done with themes in the past? Click here
  • Planning an event? Share what your school is doing with Sarah Kenworthy at skenworthy@doe.in.gov

Missed a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!

Please do not reply directly to this email. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this email, please contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544 or contact Sarah Kenworthy at skenworthy@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0857, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20857.