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2020-21 School Year Applications are Open through August 31
School Nutrition applications are open. Please go to the 2020-21 school year in MAPS to make your updates and submit to OPI School Nutrition Programs.
Schools electing to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision must complete the application process by August 31. Be sure to make direct certification matches for CEP eligibility by June 30.
Look for the instructions for completing the application, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program application (for the schools that are invited to participate only), and Financial Report (for private non-profit sponsors only) in Download Forms in MAPS.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response # 19
Nationwide Waiver of Food Service Management Contract Duration in the NLSP and SFSP
FNS waives food service management company contracts duration requirements for all state agencies, school food authorities, and Summer Food Service Program sponsors. Contracts that may expire by or around June 30, 2020 may be extended through school year 2020-2021.
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #24 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility - Extension 2
FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). This extension of Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs, issued March 25, 2020, applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program (the child nutrition programs). This waiver remains in effect until June 30, 2020.
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #23 CN COVID-19 Meal Times Nationwide Waiver Extension
Due to the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, USDA established a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program (the child nutrition programs). This waiver remains in effect through August 31, 2020.
COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response #22 Nationwide Non-Congregate Feeding Waiver- Extension
In response to the COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response Act, and based on the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, USDA established a nationwide waiver of congregate feeding requirements to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program (the child nutrition programs). This waiver remains in effect until August 31, 2020.
SP17-2020 Fiscal Year 2020 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities
The purpose of this memorandum is to distribute $30 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, (Public Law 116-94), to state agencies to competitively award Equipment Assistance Grants to eligible School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program. This memorandum and attachments provide guidance on the specific terms and conditions, funding goals, period of performance, and timelines for these grants.
School Nutrition Chat on Thursday, June 4
Do you or your staff have questions or want to brainstorm ideas about meal service during COVID-19?
Staff from Montana OPI School Nutrition Programs and MSU Team Nutrition Program will be available each Thursday from 1:00-200 p.m. to answer any of your questions, brainstorm solutions to challenges, or share ideas you may have in serving meals. Experienced Montana School Food Service Directors will be available to provide ideas too.
Topic: School Nutrition Program Update Thursday CHAT
Time: 1:00-2:00 pm MST
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86193144475?pwd=ZmtKbkU3Z2VGSDdyTjZJSEVNa05xQT09
Meeting ID: 861 9314 4475
Password: 9YrSxW
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 861 9314 4475
Password: 700221
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kjFssy1nx
Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Health Behavior to Build a Public Health System Responsive to Crises
We received an amazing response to the COVID-19 Food Security and Health Behaviors Survey and have important preliminary results for informing next steps in planning a public health system responsive to crises.
New Resource from Team Nutrition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with State Child Nutrition agencies to provide safe and flexible meal service to children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Under nationwide non-congregate feeding and meal times waivers, State agencies may allow Program operators to provide more than 1 day’s worth of meals to eligible children via a single meal pick-up (by the child or the child’s parent or guardian) or delivery.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released a new Team Nutrition resource, “Seamless Summer Option: Providing Multiple Meals at a Time During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic,” in support of these efforts. This new publication provides Program operators with technical assistance on the amounts of foods needed for multiple days of meals, use of “bulk” foods, best practices, and parent communication. It is available through the FNS website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/seamless-summer-option-providing-multiple-meals-time-during-coronavirus-pandemic [fns.usda.gov]. Additional versions of this publication for the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program will be released at a future date.
Additional Team Nutrition COVID-19 publications include:
How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool
Provided by: Team Nutrition
Thursday, June 11, 2:00 PM ET
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.
Register at https://usda-fns.webex.com/usda-fns/onstage/g.php?MTID=ef948cf093b7ee321f0f4e5f27301e2ad [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
Certified Food Protection Manager Online Resources
Montana requires that school food service managers complete a certification process for safe food handling.
A list of approved Certified Food Protection Manager training programs can be found at Montana Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Consumer Safety Division, Certified Food Protection Manager Training
For questions contact:
Molly Stenberg, Montana Team Nutrition, 406-994-7217, stenberg@montana.edu
Brianna Routh, MSU Extension Food and Nutrition, 406-994-5696, brianna.routh@montana.edu
Institute of Child Nutrition Professional Development Opportunities
Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings from the Institute of Child Nutrition
The Institute of Child Nutrition 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 & Staff (4 hours)
• Food Safety Basics (4 hours)
• Norovirus for Schools (2 hours)
• Norovirus for Child Care (2 hours)
• Food Safety in Child Care (4 hours)
These training sessions are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis with limited slots available. Certificates of participation will be provided. Please note that these food safety trainings are also available as online courses and are available via ICN’s eLearning portal at https://theicn.docebosaas.com/learn [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com].
Register at ICN’s website: https://theicn.org/vilt/ [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
The Institute of Child Nutrition also provides an eLearning Portal with 65 online courses and 12 recorded webinars for Child Nutrition Professionals. Access them at: https://theicn.docebosaas.com/learn [lnks.gd].
Cartewheel Menu Planner
OPI and Colyar Technology Solutions have partnered to offer you Cartewheel Menu Planner!
Cartewheel simplifies the process of creating healthy, delicious menus, and communicating them to your site staff.
As funding is available, the OPI will cover the cost for districts to use the software. Participating districts will likely pay a reasonable annual rate in the future.
Get More Information Here
Watch the Demo
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, TTY 406-444-0235.
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