Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of June 1, 2020
Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section you're interested in by clicking the link.
Question and Answer (Q&A) Memos on Summer Meals Transition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recently released Q&As related to the Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 (SP 20-2020, CACFP 11-2020, SFSP 11-2020). This memo is intended to provide clarification for the transition from distance learning operations to traditional Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) operations.
Q&A from USDA on the Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 (SP 20-2020, CACFP 11-2020, SFSP 11-2020)
Q&A from MDE on the Transition from COVID-19 Distance Learning Period to Summer Food Program 2020
Free Meals for Kids Mobile App
The Free Meals for Kids app helps families and kids locate free healthy meals across Minnesota during the pandemic. The app is powered by GPS and shows locations of meal sites that are providing meals and meal packs, with days and hours for distribution. The app is updated daily. Download the app at Apple App or Google Play stores. Visit Hunger Impact Partners for more information, a Q&A and downloadable outreach materials in multiple translations. This app replaces the Summer Eats MN app promoted last summer.
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June 1-5, 2020 is Parent Engagement Week
In recognition of Parent Engagement Week, our division is hosting a Summer Food Service Program webinar on June 4, 2020, at 10 a.m. The webinar will feature experienced program sponsors, the Free Meals for Kids app and more!
Register for the Summer Food Service Program webinar.
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Child and Adult Care Food Program Webinars
Navigating SharePoint and CACFP Management Plans
July 8, 2020, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Register for the Navigating SharePoint and Management Plans webinar
Target audience: This course is for multi-site sponsor’s executive directors and business management staff and the individuals who are responsible for ensuring the CACFP management plan is complete, updated and accurate.
Objectives:
- Navigate SharePoint by modifying template documents and uploading supporting documents.
- Complete a new electronic management plan by modifying template documents.
- Maintain documents correctly in either SharePoint or in CLiCS as required.
- Understand content requirements of all sections of the management plan.
CACFP Budgeting for Multi-Site Sponsors
July 14, 2020, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Register for the Budgeting for Multi-Site Sponsors webinar
Target audience: This financial management training is for CACFP Multi-Site Sponsors. Individuals who manage the financial aspects of CACFP are encouraged to attend.
Objectives:
- Provide a solid explanation of a general budget.
- Explain the purpose of a CACFP budget.
- Identify how your CACFP budget aligns with Performance Standards.
- List the key steps for creating a CACFP budget.
- Explain the term “GIGO.”
- Share best practices associated with CACFP budgets.
Planning Your CACFP Budget for Independent Sponsors
July 16, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
Register for the Planning Your Budget for Independent Sponsors webinar
Target audience: This financial management training is for CACFP Sponsors of Independent Centers. Individuals who manage the financial aspects of CACFP are encouraged to attend.
Objectives:
- Provide a solid explanation of a general budget.
- Explain the purpose of a CACFP budget.
- Identify how your CACFP budget aligns with Performance Standards.
- List the key steps for creating a CACFP budget.
- Explain the term “GIGO.”
- Share best practices associated with CACFP budgets.
CACFP Basic Training Webinars Part 1 and Part 2
CACFP Basic Training resumes this July and October as a two-part, interactive webinar series for child care centers, adult care centers, emergency shelters and outside school hours care centers. This webinar series targets new staff, such as center directors, food production staff and staff with CACFP responsibilities.
Each session requires 30 minutes of prework that is emailed two weeks prior to the webinar. If you are new to your position or want a refresher of CACFP requirements, please register now.
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2020-21 Renewal Applications
The following renewal applications are available online in the Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS) and must be submitted on or before June 23, 2020.
- School Nutrition Program (SNP)
- Federal Special Milk Program (SMP)
- Minnesota Kindergarten Milk Program (MKMP)
Access CLiCS to renew your applications.
Refer to the Application Renewal Instructions for School Nutrition Programs 2020-21 and Milk Programs Application Renewal Instructions 2020-21 on the MDE FNS website.
Required: Sponsors must ensure that the email address and contact information on the sponsor and site application(s) are current and accurate.
When an application renewal is approved for the 2020-21 program year, a CLiCS system-generated email confirming approval will be sent to the email address for the contact person listed on the sponsor application.
Contact the FNS applications team with any questions at 651-582-8526, 1-800-366-8922 (Minnesota toll-free) or email mde.fns@state.mn.us. To facilitate our response, include your CLiCS sponsor ID number in all correspondence.
USDA Foods Received Report
The 2019-20 USDA Foods Received Report for the Auditor is available on the MDE website. This report contains all USDA commodities ordered by School Food Authorities (SFAs) and received at Newport Cold Storage (dba Americold), the state warehouse. As a result of schools’ distance learning caused by COVID-19, there were unclaimed cases at the warehouse which went past 60 days and were redistributed. MDE will not be taking SFA claims or making restitution for undelivered product that arrived at the warehouse. For assistance with questions, contact us at fns.fdp@state.mn.us or mde.fns@state.mn.us.
Choosing Your USDA Foods Distributor – Due June 15, 2020
To ensure timely and accurate delivery of your USDA Foods, please select your 2020-21 USDA Foods distributor by June 15, 2020. SFAs currently out for bid should complete that process and choose your distributor as soon as possible. Please update the contact information in FDP2 to verify we have the correct personnel for your school’s foodservice operations.
View instructions for Selecting your 2020-21 USDA Foods Distributor on the MDE Food Distribution Program website.
Clarification of Claiming and Distribution of Funding under Executive Order 20-41
Per Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-41, item 23, state funds not used for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program claims from March through June 2020 will be divided among eligible SFAs after June 30, 2020. SFAs who serve Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meals from March 16 to the end of the school year or June 30 are eligible for the additional state funds.
Due to the extension of the USDA waiver, which allows the operation of SFSP during the distance learning period to continue to June 30, MDE will determine the number of meals served once June claims are submitted. The deadline for June claims is August 30, 2020; however, schools are encouraged to submit their June claims as soon as possible for quick distribution of the funds. MDE will not hold any funding back for schools that miss the claiming deadline for future adjustments. SFAs do not need to take any additional steps beyond submitting claims for reimbursement in a timely manner to receive the additional state funds.
As an additional reminder regarding claims for reimbursement under the waiver, SFAs must submit claims in the following way:
- SFAs that chose to end meal service at the end of their school year must claim any meals served through June 10 on their May claim.
- SFAs that chose to use the extension of the waiver and serve until June 30 must claim May meals with the May claim and June meals with the June claim.
Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Webinars for 2020-21 School Year
The schedule for the weekly school nutrition Tuesday @ 2 webinar series is now posted on the School Nutrition Training and Professional Standards webpage. As you may know, our annual School Nutrition Program (SNP) Back to School Workshops, usually held in August at regional sites, have been cancelled. Therefore, the Tuesday @ 2 webinars will begin in August and will cover essential compliance areas for the Free and Reduced-Price process, Meal Pattern Basics and Nutrition Quality. For webinar descriptions and registration links, view the Tuesdays @ 2 School Nutrition Webinar Schedule 2020-21.
School Nutrition COVID-19 Webinar
Weekly webinars will be held on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. to update school nutrition program staff on issues related to COVID-19. Select the links below to register for the webinars.
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Virtual Training Opportunities
The following virtual trainings for Child Nutrition Program operators are available through the USDA Team Nutrition initiative and the Institute of Child Nutrition.
How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool
Provided by: Team Nutrition
Thursday, June 11, at 1 p.m.
Register for How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool webinar
This follow-up to last year's Exhibit A Grains Tool webinar will highlight existing tools and new enhancements on both the Web-based Tool and Mobile App. A live demonstration of the Exhibit A Grains Tool on the mobile app will showcase the capabilities to use the tool to determine grains contribution, amount to serve, and amount to serve by age group/grade group for different Child Nutrition Programs.
CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursday Webinar Series
Provided by: Team Nutrition
Mealtimes with Toddlers
Thursday, June 18
Register for the CACFP Halftime webinar (ENG) 1-1:30 p.m.
Register for the CACFP Halftime webinar (SPAN) 2-2:30 p.m.
This webinar will include practical tips for how CACFP operators can meet meal pattern requirements for children ages 1-2 years while addressing their developmental needs. Topics include helping children learn how to feed themselves, encouraging children to try new foods, serving the right type of milk in the CACFP to different age groups and more. Webinars will be recorded and posted on the Team Nutrition website. For more information, please visit the CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webpage.
Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is offering a series of free, live, virtual instructor-led food safety trainings to provide child nutrition professionals with essential training on food safety topics for employee health, hygiene, and sanitation.
Topics include:
- Food Allergies for School Nutrition Managers and Staff (four hours)
- Food Safety Basics (four hours)
- Norovirus for Schools (two hours)
- Norovirus for Child Care (two hours)
- Food Safety in Child Care (four hours)
Register for ICN’s Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings (VILTs).
These training sessions are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis with limited slots available. Please note that these food safety trainings are also available as online courses and are available via ICN's eLearning portal.
CDC Resources for Child Care, Schools and Youth Programs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 pandemic guidance now includes health considerations and tools for making reopening decisions and operating child care programs, schools, youth programs and day camps. Information is also available in CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again.
This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of COVID-19 and is updated as needed and as additional information becomes available.
You can also find resources on these topics:
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