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Lunch n’ Learn webinars are short, concise, high-level “power sessions” on specific CACFP-related topics. Most of the topics are based on sponsor suggestions and we will be presenting a different one each month from February through September!
Register Here
Date: Tuesday, February 23
Time: 2:30 – 3pm PT
During this webinar we will discuss:
- Requirements to follow when creating menus
- Menu planning resources
- Exploration of creative and culturally-diverse recipes
- Incorporating local, indigenous foods
- Time at the end for a Q&As
The 2020-21 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report is now available.
This report may be used to establish area eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Area eligibility may be assigned if school data indicates that the proposed meal site is located in an attendance area of a public school where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
The Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs Reference Sheet provides more details on area eligibility.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
OSPI is in the process of transitioning from iGrants to the Education Grant Management System (EGMS). EGMS will replace iGrants and the grants claiming system in May 2021.
EGMS Training: Release 1
This is the first of three trainings on the EGMS. This training is for external users (i.e. districts, charter schools, Tribal Schools, community-based organization, etc.). If you currently have access to iGrants, whether you complete, review, or approve those form packages, this training is highly recommended for you.
REI Systems staff will introduce the EGMS, including the features in release 1. This includes accessing the system and obtaining an account, searching for grant opportunities, applying to those grant opportunities, applying for federal SAS, accessing the personal dashboard, running some reports, and more.
Register for the online training.
For More information about EGMS, including updates and training, visit the EGMS webpage or email EGMS.Support@k12.wa.us.
OSPI Child Nutrition submitted a Monitoring Waiver request to USDA to allow flexibilities for sponsoring organizations participating in CACFP in the state of Washington.
Meal Distribution Plans submitted with renewal this past Fall only allow sponsors to conduct monitoring visits off-site and do not include any other flexibilities. If you intend to use any of the monitoring flexibilities described below please submit a Meal Distribution Plan or Meal Distribution Plan Update Survey.
The following monitoring requirements have been waived:
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7 CFR 226.16(d)(4)(iii) Sponsoring Organizations must review each CACFP facility three times a year.
- Waiver allows for 2 reviews to be conducted instead of 3
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7 CFR 226.16 (d)(4)(iii)(A) Two of the three reviews must be unannounced.
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Waiver allows for all visits to be announced
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7 CFR 226.16(d)(4)(iii)(B) that at least one unannounced review must include observation of a meal service.
- Waiver allows for meal observation to be conducted at one of the announced visits
Action Required
The Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) provides the state agency information about which waivers you intend to use and how you will be distributing meals.
Submit Meal Distribution Plan if you did not complete an MDP with renewal this year and at least one of the following statements now applies:
- Intend to use the Monitoring Waiver
- Intend to use any of the Nationwide Waivers
- Organization has been closed but is now reopening. Meal distribution at one or more sites will be conducted differently than it is normally and/or Nationwide Waiver(s) will be utilized.
Submit Meal Distribution Plan Update Survey if you have already submitted an MDP AND at least one of the following statements now applies:
- Intend to use the Monitoring Waiver
- Changes have been made to the current meal distribution model
- Intend to use one of the Nationwide Waivers not previously selected on the MDP or MDP Update Survey
The Monitoring Waiver approved for CACFP in Washington state is in addition to Nationwide waivers granted from USDA. For a current list of Waivers for Washington State, please check the COVID-19 Nutrition and Meals webpage
Does Your Program Do Amazing Things?
We know you do! That's why we created the Food, Body, and Mind (FBM) awards!
OSPI wants to recognize the efforts made by schools, childcare institutions, and non-profit organizations participating in Child Nutrition Programs.
The award status lasts 3 years, and there are 7 award categories you may apply for:
- Farm to Program
- Local Wellness Policy
- Innovative Menus
- Smarter Mealtimes
- Nutrition Education
- USDA Foods Entitlement
- Environmental Sustainability
Please visit the Food, Body, and Mind Awards webpage for more information.
You can submit your nomination any time, why not today?
In 2019, we transitioned to weekly CNS Newsletters to keep the number of emails you receive to a minimum.
These program updates help keep you up-to-date on changes in your programs and share important mandatory information, as well as good to know information at the bottom of the update.
Please note: if there are urgent updates, those will still come as soon as possible in a separate email and will not wait until the following week to be sent out. Please keep your eye out!
To help you navigate the CNS Newsletter format, here are a few helpful tips:
1. Use the Table of Contents at the Beginning of the Newsletter
At the top of every newsletter there is a table of contents to give you an overview of what you MUST look at and what is "good to know" (see details below).
2. See "Update" at the Beginning?
Articles with the word Update at the beginning indicates that there is an important update in regards to State or USDA requirements. These are the articles you must review to stay in the loop about requirements.
3. If you see "Reminder" at the Beginning of the Article
Reminders are previous "updates" that are still important, but were shared in previous newsletters.
4. How about "FYI"?
If you see an article starting with FYI, this is a good-to-know. These include resources, outside trainings and opportunities, grant opportunities from partner agencies, or other good-to-know type of items.
5. Highlights
CNS Highlights are articles highlighting good practices, Food, Body, and Mind Awardees, and other items.
6. Important Dates to Remember
You will find these at the bottom of every newsletter. They will include things like claim due dates, upcoming training and webinars, and other important dates.
We hope this is helpful! If you have any questions or comments about the format, please reach out to Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
Washington WIC gives families access to nutritious food and provides health screening, risk assessment, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services. The program provides essential services for pregnant people, new and breastfeeding moms, infants, and children under five. Most pregnant people and young children on Medicaid or Basic Food (SNAP) qualify for WIC services.
To meet the needs of families during the pandemic there have been important changes to the program:
- WIC enrolls new applicants, provides nutrition education and breastfeeding support, and issues food benefits by phone or video chat.
- WIC expanded the choice of foods allowed for purchase using WIC benefits.
- Participants now shop for WIC foods using a WIC card, which makes shopping easier.
- The WICShopper app guides shoppers, and provides recipes and parenting tips!
Given layoffs and other economic consequences related to COVID-19, people may be seeking WIC services for the first time.
What Can You Do to Help?
Help the families you serve by sharing information about the benefits of WIC. The Department of Health has a great handout you can share (see image) that is available in 14 languages. You can order it from myPRINT.wa.gov in the DOH/WIC/Outreach section so you can offer them to families.
Find WIC Services in Your Area
Resource: WIC, Healthy Food and A Lot More!
Grains are an important part of meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Starting October 1, 2021, all program operators will be required to use ounce equivalents (oz. eq.) when menu planning. Now is a great time to start learning about what they are and how to use them!
More About Grains and Oz. Eq.
To make sure children and adults get enough grains at CACFP meals and snacks, minimum required amounts for grains are listed in the meal pattern as ounce equivalents (oz eq). Ounce equivalents tell you the amount of grain in a portion of food.
Resources
The USDA Team Nutrition CACFP Grains Ounce Equivalents Resources webpage has training tools, worksheets, webinars, and more to help you with this change! Some tools include:
- Grains Measuring Chart
- Crediting Single-Serving Packages of Grains
- Feeding Infants Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains
- Determining Ounce Equivalents of Grains in CACFP Recipes
- Calculating Ounce Equivalents for Grains
- Using Grains Measuring Charts,
- Using Nutrition Facts Labels, and;
- Additional Measuring Tools!
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Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
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March 1
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December Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your December Claims!
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March 15
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February Claims Due in WINS
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