Summer Food Service Program Applications Open in MAPS March 1 - April 29, 2022
The USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that children who depend on school meals have nutritious food when school is not in session. Meals are available to children 18 years old or younger during school closures, no questions asked. All kids need to do is show up and eat!
Sponsor participation and meal sites are needed to ensure Montana’s children in low-income areas have continued access to healthy meals and snacks. The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is accepting applications for the 2022 summer from public and private nonprofit schools, local government agencies, and private nonprofit organizations interested in sponsoring the SFSP.
Contact Christine Emerson at cemerson@mt.gov or 406-444-2502 with questions.
Nonprofit School Food Service Account Can Pay for Potable Water
With the recent and ongoing lead testing in schools, the OPI School Nutrition Programs would like districts to know you may use Nonprofit School Food Service Account funds toward the purchase of potable water or additional water testing costs if needed. This includes water for use in cooking and water sources for students.
Please contact your regional specialist for further information.
Applications now open for the Montana Farm to School Institute
The Montana Farm to School Institute is a year-long program intended to ignite, grow, and sustain farm to school action within Montana schools and communities by providing training and support, and facilitating team building and action planning. Three school districts will be selected from across the state to participate in this first year. The Institute will kick off with a three day in-person Summer Retreat in the Livingston area in summer 2022. Teams will develop and implement action plans that encompass goals, activities, and timelines for their farm to school programs. In addition to developing action plans, teams will be connected with the information, ideas, tools, resources, programs, and people to successfully implement their action plans, through the educational sessions and tours. Experts in F2S topics, as well as peer trainers, will equip teams with the inspiration and knowledge they need to succeed.
Each team, ranging from four to eight members of the school community, will be assigned a trained F2S Coach with expertise relevant to the team’s main goals. The F2S Coaches will help facilitate the process of developing an action plan during the Institute and will support their assigned team with implementation of the plan during the 2022-2023 school year.
The fee for participation in the Institute will be $400 per school team. The fee will include attendance at the three-day in-person Institute for all team members, Continuing Education Credits, meals during the Institute event, and support from a farm to school coach.
Applications are due March 25, 2022 at 11:59PM MST.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.montana.edu/mtfarmtoschool/institute.html [montana.edu]
USDA Policy Memos
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109
State Guidance on Coronavirus P-EBT
USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
03/21/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109
State Guidance on Coronavirus P-EBT in Schools
USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
03/07/2022
Resource | Policy Memos
Meal Requirements Under the NSLP & SBP: Q&A for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards Effective July 1, 2022
These questions and answers provide guidance for recently published transitional standards for milk, whole grains and sodium.
SP 05-2022
03/02/2022
Resource | Policy Memos
Question & Answer Guidance on the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards Effective July 1, 2022
These questions and answers provide guidance for recently published transitional standards for milk, whole grains and sodium.
SP04-2022, CACFP04-2022
03/02/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0121
Allocation of Supply Chain Assistance Funds to Alleviate Supply Chain Disruptions in the School Meal Programs
This guidance describes $1 billion being provided by FNS to enhance local school districts’ ability to purchase foods for school meals by offering resources needed to address supply chain challenges directly to schools and school districts.
SP 03-2022
12/17/2021
Nondiscrimination Statement
Spanish-language NDS
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, Relay Service: 711.
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