New document: 

How to Submit a Summer Food Service Application in CLiCS on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Applications webpage. 

Nationwide Waiver Summer Extensions 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently released a Child Nutrition Waiver Update, which included the following waiver extensions for use from July 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibilities for Summer 2021 Operations waives the meal pattern requirements, including milk variety, for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO).  Please note that this meal pattern waiver extension does not include the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Therefore, normal SFSP meal pattern requirements will resume after June 30, when the current meal pattern waiver expires. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Feeding for Summer 2021 Operations allows SFSP and SSO meals to be consumed offsite.  

The Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for Summer 2021 Operations allows SFSP and SSO non-congregate meals to be picked up by parents or guardians without children present. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Extend Area Eligibility Waivers for Summer 2021 Operations allows operation of open SFSP and SSO sites to operate in areas which have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19. Data previously used to qualify sites under this waiver is outdated so sponsors will need to apply for and receive approval from MDE to use this waiver after June 30. Additional information about this process will be provided in future communications. 

The Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions for Summer 2021 Operations allows SFSP and SSO meals and snacks to be served outside of required times. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve (OVS) Flexibilities in the SFSP for Summer 2021 Operations allows non-school food authority SFSP sponsors in good standing to use OVS meal service parameters. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites for Summer 2021 Operations allows SFSP or SSO closed enrolled sites to determine site eligibility through area eligibility without collecting income eligibility applications. 

The Nationwide Waiver to Waive First Week Site Visits in the SFSP for Summer 2021 Operations waives the requirement that SFSP sponsors visit each of their sites at least once during the first week of operation. 

COVID-19 Waiver Reporting Survey Reminder 

A COVID-19 waiver reporting survey was sent via email to the contact person listed on the Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS) sponsor application for all Minnesota child nutrition program sponsors. The survey asks you to report the number of sites that used each COVID-19 waiver for the end of the 2019–20 school year, summer 2020, and the 2020–21 school year.    

Please complete this critical survey by March 31 at 11:59 p.m. to help the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) meet USDA reporting requirements. We would like to see only one response per sponsor, so please disregard if you have already responded. If you are unsure of who received the survey link, please check with the person in your organization listed in the sponsor contact field in CLiCS. 

Child Nutrition Emergency Operating Costs Program Updates 

USDA-FNS recently released a guidance memo around the school programs and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) COVID-19 emergency operating costs.  This memo includes questions and answers regarding state implementation plans, payment calculations, program operator eligibility and financial management.   

MDE has already applied to participate in these programs and will be submitting a full implementation plan to USDA by the extended deadline of May 10, 2021. Minnesota sponsors can expect to start seeing these funds in fall 2021. For more information, please review the Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: State Agency Implementation Plan Template and Q&A Guidance with related questions and answers.  

Community Organizations: Success with SFSP Applications Webinar  

Join us on Wednesday, April 7, at 2 p.m., for an overview of how to complete the Summer Food Service Program application. This session will focus on community-based nutrition program participants (non-schools) and cover the Program Year 2022 Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition (CLiCS) application process and allow time for questions. Register for the webinar Community Organizations: Success with SFSP Applications.