Community Nutrition Updates for the Week of 3/9/20

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 03/13/2020 04:03 PM PDT

Community Nutrition Updates for the Week of 3/9

Update: COVID-19 Coronavirus Information
FYI: ICN Webinar - Strategies to Enhance Flavor Using Cooking Techniques
Reminder: Celebrate National CACFP Week 2020 Next Week
Important Dates to Remember

Update: COVID-19 Coronavirus Information

Thank you to everyone as we continue to navigate a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We appreciate your questions and patience as we continue to communicate to USDA on a daily basis, to seek guidance, and check on status of waivers. Please refer to the OSPI COVID-19 webpage for updates.

Please evaluate and decide the best course of action for your organization. Meal reimbursement payments will continue uninterrupted for those organizations that continue to operate. Many school districts are operating or planning operation of programs to serve children during mandated school closures. Many of these programs offer meals to all children ages 0 to 18 years. If you are suspending operations, please assist families in identifying local meal sites.

Safety is the top priority for OSPI CNS at this time. As a result, we are evaluating whether to cancel or postpone upcoming trainings, conferences, and Administrative Reviews. We will release more information as it becomes available.

As you continue working with your centers, please make sure to work with your local health department, as well as consider customer and staff safety when making decisions about program operations.

For more resources and detailed guidance, please visit OSPI's COVID Nutrition and Meals Guidance webpage.

FYI: ICN Webinar - Strategies to Enhance Flavor Using Cooking Techniques

Join the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) for a webinar that will provide tips and strategies for enhancing flavors by using a variety of cooking techniques.

Register Here

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2020
Time: 12 - 1pm PT

Reminder: Celebrate National CACFP Week 2020 Next Week

CACFP Week is March 15-21! OSPI Child Nutrition encourages you to get the word out about your program!

What You Can Do

Use the Community Outreach Flyer.
Send the Certificate of Awesomeness to your staff.
Review the National CACFP Week webpage - there you will discover tools for your community, ways to spread awareness for your programs, and so much more!
Distribute the tools and resources at your organization over the next four months.
Send information out in your newsletters, posts to social media, and get the word out early.
Centers, providers, and afterschool teams? Share with your parents and children.

Discover more about National CACFP Week here!

Does Your Organization Celebrate National CACFP Week? Submit pictures of your event to samantha.brueske@k12.wa.us.

Important Dates to Remember

March 15	February Claims Due
March 15-21	National CACFP Week
March 18	CACFP Meal Pattern Training Grant Closes
June 16	CACFP Annual Training - Central Washington University
June 19	CACFP Annual Training - Puget Sound ESD
Spring/ Summer 2020	CACFP Meal Pattern Training Hosted Around the State - Register Here!

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.