Community Nutrition - CACFP Updates for the Week of 12/21

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 12/21/2020 03:43 PM PST

Community Nutrition - CACFP Updates for the Week of 12/21

Update: WA Plastic Bag Ban - What You Need to Know
Update: Claiming At-Risk Meals During Holiday Breaks
Reminder: Start Your Year With New Menu Planning Ideas and Best Practices - Optional Training Opportunity
FYI: Optional Training - Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP
Important Dates to Remember

Update: WA Plastic Bag Ban - What You Need to Know

You may have heard about the plastic bag ban that will go into effect on January 1, 2021. This is a ban of the use of single-use plastic carryout bags in all retail and grocery stores and require a charge for paper bags provided to customers.

This ban does not apply to food assistance programs including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). However, if you are providing “grab n go” style meals we encourage you to take actions to reduce the use of single-use plastic carryout bags.

Questions? Please contact your program specialist.

Update: Claiming At-Risk Meals During Holiday Breaks

At-Risk meals may be claimed after the school day has ended or on non-school days, such as holiday breaks.

If children in your attendance are on holiday break from school and:

Your organization operates after school care only you may claim one At-Risk meal and one At-Risk snack.

Your organization operates all day childcare and afterschool care you may claim one At-Risk meal and one At-Risk snack and one Childcare snack or meal.

Please note, duplicate meals cannot be claimed on different programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Questions? Please contact your program specialist.

Reminder: Start Your Year With New Menu Planning Ideas and Best Practices - Optional Training Opportunity

Training participants will explore the updates to the child and adult meal patterns, as well as tips and strategies for implementation. Each session is 7-hours long, and will be spread out over 2 days for maximum effectiveness. Review this training overview for more details.

This training is a supplemental training session that is not required. It is intended to expand your knowledge about the CACFP.

IMPORTANT: Each participant must have a separate email to register and may only sign up for 1 training session. 

Two Sessions Added

We added two more sessions for those who were not able to attend earlier this year.

January 14 & 15, 2021 | 12 - 4pm PT – Session Full
February 4 & 5, 2021 | 12 - 4pm PT – Register Here*.

*Note: You may have to register for an EDS account if you do not have one currently. Please review our article in the 11/30 CACFP Newsletter for more details.

After you register, OSPI will approve your request to join the training. Please expect a follow up email with the Zoom registration link after your registration is approved.

There is a limit of 25 participants for the session. If we have reached the maximum number of participants, you will automatically be added to the waitlist.

Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.

FYI: Optional Training - Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP

Join USDA's Team Nutrition free CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar!

This webinar will show Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators how to use the Nutrition Facts label to identify items that may be served at reimbursable meals and snacks. Attendees will have a chance to submit questions to the presenters.

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021
Times: English Webinar - 11:00 - 11:30am PT
Spanish Webinar - 12:00 - 12:30pm PT

Certificates of participation will be provided for those who attend the entire webinar. This training may be eligible for STARS Credits. Please follow DCYF instructions on submitting training certificates for in-service hours.

Learn more about upcoming webinars, as well as recordings of previous webinars on the CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webpage.

Important Dates to Remember

December 30	October Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your October Claims!
January 15	December Claims Due in WINS

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

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