OSPI CNS has two grant opportunities!
Both grants are open in the iGrants system. Schools may apply for these grants even though they are currently operating the Summer Meal Programs.
Meals for Kids Meal Access Grant - Only $300,000 of $500,000 requested so far!
This grant has a short turnaround and the due date cannot be extended so apply soon!
This grant is available to public school districts, tribal compact schools and charter schools.
Focus Areas for This Grant
This grant focuses on starting a new meal program, increasing participation in an existing program, improving program meal quality, and improving the equipment and facilities used in an existing program.
Interested in Applying?
Complete your application in iGrants (form package 383) before 4 pm PT on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Review the Meal Access Grant Interest Webinar for an overview of the application, important changes from previous year's applications, tips and tricks, and grant timelines.
|
USDA Equipment Assistance Grant- Form Package 472
If you are a public school district, private school, tribal school, charter school or residential childcare institution, you are eligible to apply. You are eligible even if you are operating the SFSP in the 20-21 school year.
Focus Areas for This Grant
Replacing aging equipment or updating equipment, adopting lunchroom changes that provide more convenience and appeal to students, and making meaningful impacts on student nutrition and quality of meals.
Note: Equipment must meet USDA definition of equipment with a per unit cost of $1,000 or more.
Interested in Applying?
Complete your application in iGrants (form package 472) before 4 pm PT on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Review the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Interest Webinar for an overview of the application, important changes from previous year's applications, tips and tricks, and grant timelines.
Questions? Please email Wendy Barkley, CNS Assistant Director.
|
As Local Education Agencies (LEAs) transition to in-person or hybrid learning models, we want to remind you of some options surrounding Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) operations.
-
Monitoring Requirements – SFSP sponsors are required to conduct a Site Review of all sites, including sites added mid-school year, within the first four weeks of operation.
-
Closed Enrolled Sites – Meals are provided only to enrolled children; service is not open to the public.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) may want to consider operating Closed Enrolled Sites at schools offering in-person learning.
-
Open Sites – Meal service is open to the community.
- All children (enrolled, virtual, and community) must be offered the same meals.
-
Meal Service Changes – Meal Distribution Plans and WINS must be updated to accurately reflect how, when, and where meals are served.
- If meal service is changing to align with new instructional models or for other reasons, submit a new Meal Distribution Plan to reflect the changes.
- Meals are only eligible for reimbursement when served during the State Agency approved dates and times per 7 CFR 225.16. Calendar revisions must be approved prior to meal service.
-
Adding or Removing Sites – Create a site application and calendar for new sites. For sites that will cease operations, revise the site calendar with the last meal service date.
- Site applications and calendars for new sites must be submitted prior to beginning meal service.
-
Meals for Children under 6 years – Sponsors have the option to follow CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements for children under age 6, which includes smaller portion sizes than the SFSP Meal Pattern.
- Flexibility must be approved in the WINS Site Application under Service Type.
- All CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements must be followed, including whole-grain rich requirements, limitations on sugar, and grain-based desserts.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Join Us For Our New Bi-Weekly Webinar Series!
During these webinars OSPI CNS will discuss hot topics, highlight important reminders, and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Register Here
Dates: Every other Wednesday through 6/30/2021
Time: 2 - 3pm PT
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the 20-21 school year are encouraged to join us for these webinars.
Reminders
-
Follow up emails will no longer be sent after the meeting. If you missed our last webinar, you can review the recording from our 1/13 meeting here.
- Save us on Your Calendar! When you register, there is an option to add us to your calendar at the bottom of the confirmation email.
- A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
|
The Washington State legislature appropriated 7.2 million in funds to support Child Nutrition Programs in WA during 2020-21. These funds continue to support breakfast assistance and the elimination of reduced-price co-pays for sponsors operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Districts operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) are not receiving these funds. To support meal access and distribution, OSPI CNS will distribute funds to these districts in January and May 2021.
January's payment is based on the number of SFSP/SSO lunches reported on the October 2020 claim for reimbursement. Payments will be approximately $0.55 per lunch meal served.
Reporting Codes
- Apportionment - revenue code 4198-05
- AFRS - State Summer Match Funds
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Direct Certification must be pulled monthly per state requirements. Please review the Direct Certification and Direct Certification - Medicaid Reference Sheets for more details.
Resources
The Verification Summary Report (VSR) is currently 'on hold' in WINS. Recently, OSPI CNS received information that USDA will soon be publish guidance that may impact our process.
Sponsors will not have access to the VSR module in WINS until we receive this additional guidance. Sponsors will be notified when the VSR reopens along with any additional instructions.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The USDA requires the following reports/ reviews to be completed by February 1.
If you haven’t done so already, please complete these requirements as soon as possible.
Instructions, forms, and tools are available on the Child Nutrition Services website. While completed forms are not required to be submitted, you must keep them on file for Administrative Reviews.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Child Nutrition Services (CNS) invited the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to conduct several FREE trainings over the coming year. These sessions can be attended by any food services staff, and they offer Professional Standards.
There is a limit of 2 participants from each district per training. We will be offering sessions more than once so there will be more opportunities to attend later in the year.
Steps to Take
- Participants must let OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) know they are interested in attending the training using the pdEnroller platform – Use the ‘Sign-Up Here’ links below.
- There is a limit of 25 participants for each session.
- PdEnroller notifies CNS of the number of interested participants and automatically creates a waitlist when the session is filled.
CNS will follow up by emailing a Zoom registration link to approved participants (those not on the waitlist).
- Participants must complete the registration to participate in training.
- Please expect this email at least 1 week before the training session begins.
IMPORTANT: Each participant must sign up separately and each person must have their own email address.
Trainings
-
Norovirus in Schools - This 2-hour session reviews why norovirus is a concern, symptoms, and prevention and control strategies.
Date: Thursday, February 11
Times:
Sign-Up Here for the 12-2pm session*
Sign-Up Here for the 2:30 - 4:30pm session*
-
Food Safety Basics - This session is designed to provide a basic understanding of food safety. Lessons include methods for training staff, how to prevent foodborne illness, and resources for monitoring.
Dates:
Sign-Up Here for the February 16 session*
Sign-Up Here for the March 18 session*
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
-
Food Allergies - This training includes information about food allergies, food intolerance, reading food labels, avoiding cross contact, accommodating students with food allergies, and educating the school community about food allergies. Participants will great a food allergy management plan.
Sign-Up Here*
Date: Thursday, February 25
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
-
Nutrition 101 - This 8-hour course provides a basic overview of nutrition with an emphasis on the importance of balance in daily food choices and the inclusion of physical activity.
Sign-Up Here*
Dates: Wednesday, March 3 & Thursday, March 4
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
*Note: You may have to register for a pdEnroller account to sign up for the training if you do not have one currently. You may use this link to create an account, if needed.
Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
What is the Pre-Order Survey?
The Pre-Order Survey is an annual requirement for all participating USDA Food Distribution sponsors. The survey is your commitment of what you plan to order during the upcoming 2021-22 school year. The survey also tells OSPI Food Distribution how much and what types of foods to order through USDA for the entire 2021 School Year.
Who must complete the survey?
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who plan to operate in SY 2021-22 must complete the Pre-Order Survey in anticipation of returning to 'traditional' operations next year.
Please complete this survey with what you forecast needing in the upcoming school year. We can cancel orders at a later date if LEAs do not need the foods, but cannot add LEAs if they do not complete the survey now.
What do you have to do?
Complete your pre-order survey as soon as possible! The survey opens on February 8 and closes on February 26.
Here's some helpful tools:
Product Information Sheets
Questions on completing your survey? Email Marlon Hopkins or call 360-725-6204.
|
|
January 27
|
Bi-Weekly Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Webinar - Register Here
|
|
January 29
|
November Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your November Claims!
|
|
February 1
|
Annual Requirements Must Be Complete - Food storage evaluation, on-site reviews
|
|
February 15
|
January Claims Due in WINS
|
|
