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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #58 - Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the CACFP At Risk Afterschool Care Component. This waiver:
- Allows schools and afterschool care centers, regardless of their location to serve at-risk afterschool meals and snacks to students after the regular school day.
- Is effective immediately through December 31, 2020.
- Washington will participate in this waiver.
- Reminder: At-Risk sponsors must provide organized regularly scheduled education or enrichment activities.
Things to Consider
- Staff must be trained on At-Risk program requirements.
- Pre-approval visits must be conducted at new sites.
- A monitoring visit must be done within the 1st four weeks of operation.
- Site would need a fire or health inspection if not located in a school building or licensed daycare center.
- Serving Meals
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Sponsoring organizations that operate the CACFP At-Risk program must serve meals after the end of the instructional day if students are physically in care.
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If students are not in care physically (i.e. remote/virtual)
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At-Risk sponsors may continue to distribute meals for multiple days at a time, however, meals must be marked/labeled to indicate that they are an afterschool snack or supper.
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This type of meal distribution may occur at any time in the day.
Renewal Reminders
Sponsors interested in operating At-Risk Afterschool Meals have important steps to take for this fall. Last week, we sent out important reminders regarding the operation of this program.
- Interested sponsors must complete the At-Risk Pre-Qualification Survey. This survey will help interested organizations determine if they are eligible to participate in the CACFP At-Risk program in the upcoming year.
- You must indicate use of this waiver in the site application and site calendar in WINS. Please follow these instructions when completing your application.
- Annual Training for Community At-Risk Sponsors: At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program Sponsors must attend Annual Training specific to this program.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The federal government outlines when and how purchasing by noncompetitive proposals is allowable. These requirements apply to Child Nutrition Programs receiving federal funds.
Per 2 CFR 200.320(f), organizations may purchase from a single source and not go out to bid if one or more of the following applies:
- The item is available only from a single source;
- There's a public emergency and sponsors do not have time to complete a full bid process;
- This must be for a limited time until a full bid process can be completed.
- The Federal awarding agency (OSPI) authorizes noncompetitive proposals after written request is submitted; or
- Not enough competition after soliciting from multiple sources.
Please review 2 CFR 200.320(f) for more details.
How to Ensure Procurement Compliance
- Document all actions and decisions regarding any non-competitive procurement.
- Retain all supporting documents. Documentation must be available for auditors or reviewers. This includes:
- Phone calls
- Emails
- Sole source justification, etc.
Have Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Procurement Specialists, Barbara Krogstad or Stacie Boyd.
Which Child Nutrition Program should you operate this fall?
Under COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #56, eligible sponsors have the option to operate the Summer Food Service Program through December 31, 2020. As Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors, you have program options available:
- At-Risk Sponsors- After school care only
- Operate CACFP to provide At Risk meals/snacks after the school day has ended.
- Operate SFSP to provide meals and snacks.
- To sponsor the At-Risk program, you must complete the At-Risk-Prequalification-Survey-FY21 to assess your eligibility for the program.
- At-Risk Sponsors- All-day care
- Operate CACFP At-Risk meals/snacks after the school day has ended & Operate SFSP to provide meals/snacks during the day.
- Operate CACFP At-Risk meals/snacks after the school day has ended & Coordinate with the local school district to provide SFSP meals/snacks during the school day.
- Operate CACFP to provide 2 meals & a snack (must complete a study month).
- To sponsor the At-Risk program, you must complete the At-Risk-Prequalification-Survey-FY21 to assess your eligibility for the program.
- Traditional Childcare
- Operate CACFP to provide 2 meals & a snack (must complete a study month).
- Coordinate with the local school district to become a delivery stop for SFSP meals (these meals would be claimed by the School Food Authority).
- Refer families to the OSPI Organizations Providing Meals Map.
- ECEAP/Head Start
- Operate CACFP to provide meals/snacks.
- Coordinate with the local school district to provide meals/snacks through SFSP.
- Operate CACFP to provide meals/snacks & Coordinate with the local school district to provide meals/snacks through SFSP.
IMPORTANT: Children may not receive more than the number of reimbursable meals allowed in each program for which they are eligible.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Common Questions and Answers
You asked - we've put together the answers! Please review the Operating CACFP During COVID-19: Fall 2020 FAQ for more information.
Reminders
- You must submit your WINS application AND if you are doing a meal service that is different than your regular operation or taking advantage of any waivers you must also complete a Meal Distribution Plan for your renewal application to be considered complete.
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Sponsor Profile
- USDA requires CACFP sponsors to report names and birthdates for Responsible Principals. This information must be submitted in WINS and is used to check the National Disqualified List to ensure that they are still eligible to operate a federally funded Child Nutrition Program.
- The responsible principal is the responsible individual(s) for the program.
- The responsible “principal” is any individual who holds a management position within, or is an officer of, an institution or a sponsored center. [7 CFR 226.2]
- At a minimum, this would be the CEO/President/Owner, the CACFP Contact, and the CACFP Claim Contact.
- The responsible principal's birthdate will only be seen by CNS staff and personnel that have edit access to the WINS application.
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Training Requirements
Annual Training is required for continued participation in the CACFP. Please review the Training Update for more details.
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Management Plans
The management plan is only needed for sponsors of multiple sites. If you do not see this populate, verify that you have selected “Are you participating as a Sponsoring Organization" under Sponsor Type in the Sponsor Application.
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IRS Documentation Upload
Nonprofit, tax exempt sponsors will need to upload proof of their 501(c)3 status into the Sponsor Application during renewal this year.
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Sponsors Who Contract Meals
- New for FY21 - You must complete the Contract Fact Sheet Module in WINS. The purpose of the fact sheet is to gather information about food service contracts including food service management companies, vendors, proper procurement, contract start and signature approval dates. Sponsors with inter-district/interagency agreements are not required to complete this action.
- Instructions are available in WINS.
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Log into WINS.
- Go to the 'Info' tab.
- Select 'WINS Documentation and Job Aides'.
- Select the 'Completing Contract Fact Sheets in WINS' guide for step-by-step instructions.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Renewal Requirement
Annual Training is required for continued participation in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). At a minimum, the person responsible for oversight of the CACFP must participate in annual training. This training is intended for directors and administrators, and monitors are encouraged to participate.
This training is mandatory; the FY2021 renewal agreement will not be approved until the appropriate person has attended training
Recorded Training
Complete this by 9/30 and Receive STARS Credits
Those who watch the recorded Annual Training and input their STARS ID by 9/30/2020 are eligible for STARS credits. OSPI CNS will input your credits by October 31, 2020. Please check for your credit after this date.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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CNS met with the CACFP Operations During COVID Workgroup to gather best practices, discuss resources, and discover what tools OSPI CNS could share with CACFP sponsors to help during this time.
Miss last week? You can review last week's recording at this link.
Weekly Calls
Thanks to your feedback, we will be switching our calls to be held every other week. Please join us every other Thursday through the end of October! We adjusted this meeting and everyone who has registered should have received an email via Zoom.
See you next Thursday, 10/8!
Register Here
Date: Every Other Thursday through October 22, 2020
Time: 10 am - 11 am PT
Please hold a space on your calendar for these calls. A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
Weekly follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend. We will not be posting recordings to the CNS webpages due to rapidly changing information .
Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox please check your SPAM box.
Join Washington state Farm to ECE leaders for a training on how to incorporate Farm to ECE strategies into your care setting. This training will share strategies for buying local foods, incorporating nutrition education and garden education into your program, and starting a preschool garden.
Register Here
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm PT
The USDA has released several waivers that extend through the summer, as well as some extending through September 2021.
Please visit the OSPI Nutrition & Meals Guidance webpage, under the Important Updates header, to review any of these waivers.
The USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative released the CACFP Trainer’s Tool: Serving Milk is available in English and Spanish online on TN's Serving Milk Bingo webpage. Team Nutrition will announce the availability of printed copies at a later date.
The CACFP Trainer’s Tool: Serving Milk is meant for educational and training purposes only. No prize, award, or gambling may accompany the use of this training tool.
Please share this information with CACFP institutions in your State, and encourage them to share this with program operators.
For questions or more information, please contact TeamNutrition@usda.gov.
Earn up to 7 hours of Continuing Education Credits!
The National CACFP Sponsors Association is hosting the Child Nutrition Saturday Summit on October 3, 2020!
Registration is $49 - Register Today!
This summit will review several key topics:
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Planning Menus & Recipes During COVID Shortages
Menus require planning and forecasting as well as recipe and menu development. Create safe menus while facing pandemic shortages by seeing how popular foods can be versatile and support your program.
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Prep to Plate: CACFP Portion Sizes
CACFP portioning can be confusing on paper, and in practice many more questions come up. See correct portion sizes illustrated and get answers to common real-world portioning and service questions. Get tips for the kitchen and find out what tools help compliance and reduce food waste.CN Labels & Product.
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Formulation Statements: Hands-on Practice
When should you request a CN Label or PFS? Is the crediting documentation for your product acceptable? Get clarity on common issues related to inaccurate or misleading product documentation. USDA will provide guidance on accepting documentation for meal pattern requirements and share sample Product Formulation Statements and CN Labels. Learn how to assess crediting documentation using sample CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements.
- And More!
Team Nutrition has just released some of your favorite Standardized Recipes with new yields. The new recipes provide crediting information to make preparing and serving delicious meals for young children in home childcare and adults in centers easier in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
What’s been added?
- Over 40, 25 and 50 Adult-serving CACFP recipes!
- Over 40, 6-serving CACFP recipes for home childcare!
New recipes include: Rice Vegetable Casserole, Local Harvest Bake, and Pizza Green Beans!
For questions or more information, please contact TeamNutrition@usda.gov.
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September 30
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Renewal Due - Make sure to complete your Application, MDP, and Training Requirements!
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September 30
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Due Date for SY19-20 SFSP/ SSO Calendar Revisions
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October 1
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SFSP/ SSO Meal Distribution Plan Due
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October 8
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Weekly CACFP Operations During COVID Webinar - Register Here
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October 15
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September claims due in WINS
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October 31
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NSLP/SBP Public/ Private Schools Renewal Applications Due! Make sure to complete all the required steps!
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