The federal government passed continuing resolution H.R. 8337 into law, avoiding a federal government shutdown.
There are several pieces of the resolution that impact Child Nutrition Programs. We are waiting on guidance from USDA regarding implementation details.
This continuing resolution:
- Extends and expands Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for the 2021 federal fiscal year.
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Details on who will be eligible for benefits and how to implement the updated P-EBT program have not yet been released.
- OSPI CNS will release information as we receive it.
- Extends USDA's authority to issue waivers through the 2021 federal fiscal year.
- USDA has not issued waivers to continue summer programs at this time.
- OSPI CNS will release information as we receive it.
- Extends SNAP Flexibilities in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Please review the full text of the legislation for more information.
Join Washington state Farm to ECE leaders for a training on how to incorporate Farm to ECE strategies into your care setting.
Register Here Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020 Time: 9 am - 1 pm PT
Participants will learn:
- How to find and buy local foods for their child care meal program
- Strategies for incorporating nutrition education and garden education in early learning settings
- How to start a preschool garden
- How to engage families with Farm to Early Learning
Receive Free Materials!
Each participant will also receive a free copy of the Harvest for Healthy Kids picture cards and activities. These materials will be mailed to each participant of this training at no cost.
Fiscal Year 21 Applications should be completed at least 30 days before your organization intends to operate the CACFP. This allows your program specialist to review your application in time for you to file your claim.
Please review last week's Renewal Update for important reminders about submitting your application and training requirements.
Reminder
- If your organization's meal service is different than your regular operation or if your organization is taking advantage of any waivers you must complete a Meal Distribution Plan for your renewal application to be considered complete.
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; 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
STARS Credits
Those who watched the recorded Annual Training and input their STARS ID by 9/30/2020 were 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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Last week, we shared details regarding the flexibilities of U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #58.
Please review last week's At-Risk Waiver Update for details about this waiver and renewal reminders.
Important 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.
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.
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.
You can review the 9/24 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 this Thursday!
Register Here Date: Thursday, 10/8 and Thursday 10/22 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.
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.
Let’s make a noise that can be heard across the state to celebrate Washington agriculture!
October 7, 2020 - High Noon
Apples are a big deal in Washington – we grow more apples than any other state! More than half of all apples in the US for fresh eating come from orchards in Washington State.
You can celebrate by:
- Hosting a "crunch" at your center.
- Hosting a virtual crunch.
- Share pictures of your crunch on social media (make sure to get permission from families to share!)
- Use #WAfarmtoschool, #WAapplecrunch, and #OSPIChildNutrition, and join the conversation with other providers.
- Email pictures of your "crunch" to Samantha Brueske!
COVID-19 relief funds are now available to support youth development organizations in Washington state—The deadline to apply is October 6.
The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with School’s Out Washington to implement the Washington Youth Development Nonprofit Relief Fund. This one-time investment will provide $9.3 million to youth development programs/organizations that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and which support young people who are furthest from educational justice.
Awardees will be notified in November and the payments will be issued in December 2020.
Who should apply?
- 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit organizations or fiscally organizations sponsored by a 501 (c)(3).
- Programs and organizations who provided youth development services to children and youth ages 5-24 prior to COVID-19.
- Organizations who had planned services provided to youth through in-person, virtual, or direct-needs support between March and December 2020.
- Organizations who had a negative fiscal impact on the program/organization as a result of COVID-19.
Please review the full RFP before beginning the application process.
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Children under the age of four are at a high risk of choking while eating. Created for parents and caregivers of young children, this colorful four-page resource includes tips on:
- Preparing foods to make them easier to chew
- Choking hazards to avoid
- Ways to model and teach good eating habits
- And more!
Download this resource in English or Spanish at on the CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets webpage.
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October 8
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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 22
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CACFP Operations During COVID Webinar - Register Here
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October 30
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Last day to submit your August claims! 60-Day Claim Deadline
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October 31
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Due Date for SY20-21 SFSP/ SSO Applications
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