We will be separating our newsletters by program!
We want to ensure that important information is shared to appropriate groups and that you are able to easily identify which program the newsletter is geared toward. Here are the three options:
- School Meals and Food Distribution Updates
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Updates
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Updates
Next Steps
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If you are on our mandatory list to receive SFSP Updates, you should receive a separate newsletter that includes articles specific to SFSP.
- If you operate the CACFP, you should already be receiving a separate weekly newsletter.
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If you do not receive the SFSP Newsletter by the end of the week:
Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
Thank you for your work in uploading data for the first issuance of P-EBT.
Important Information
- We anticipate cards will start being sent to families this week. It will take several days for all cards to be printed and mailed.
- We are still cleaning up a few files and clarifying enrollment of students that were included in multiple uploads. Accenture Upload Portal staff will reach out to you directly.
- Additional P-EBT updates and information will be shared in this week’s Bi-Weekly Webinar, including instructions on how to make address changes and dates for the next data upload.
Thank you for all you do to support the children in our state.
The Washington State legislature has provided $250,000 for the Summer Meals For Kids grant.
These funds may be used to:
- Start a new Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- Expand the number of meal sites or number of meals offered to children.
- Begin or expand promotion and outreach for a SFSP, such as marketing for Farm-to-Summer Week (July 12–16, 2021).
- Provide training to volunteers or other staff.
- Improve the quality, safety, sanitation, and/or efficiency of meals served in a SFSP.
- Purchase or improve equipment or small wares used in the SFSP.
Here are some ideas from previous applications:
- Marketing materials such as vehicle wraps, billboard space, sandwich boards, or printing of marketing materials (i.e. stickers, door hangers, etc.);
- Meal delivery vans/busses/food trucks;
- Portable plug-in coolers;
- Portable hand-washing stations;
- Gardening equipment and supplies for meal site gardens that are used to provide food to program and/or support nutrition education activities.
These grants are available to all sponsors. If you do not have an EDS or iGrants account, you must create one - get started early!
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Use this link to create an account with EDS.
- If you are not a certified teacher, you do not need to complete the second box.
- Fill in all required sections, you will receive a confirmation email. Make sure to complete the verification process.
- After creating your EDS account, you must get iGrants access. Email CustomerSupport@k12.wa.us with the following information:
• Your first and last name
• Your email address
• Legal name of your organization
• Street address of your organization
• City
• State
• Zip
• Business phone (with area code)
NOTE: It may take up to 48 hours for Customer Support to respond to your request. Please plan accordingly.
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske.
Summer 2021 is quickly approaching! Applications to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for Summer 2021 will be opening at the beginning of April.
Please wait to revise or edit WINS applications and calendars until applications materials are released.
Application materials will include:
- Bulletins for New & Returning Sponsors
- Application Checklist
- New Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) Survey
Required Annual Training - Register Now!
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New SFSP Sponsor Training for Summer 2021- For organizations and administrators that did not operate SFSP in summer 2020 AND did not operate SFSP during SY 20–21.
Register Here
Date: Thursday, April 22
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm PT
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Returning SFSP Sponsors Updates for Summer 2021 - For organizations that operated SFSP in Summer 2020 but did not operate SFSP during SY 20–21
Register Here
Date: Tuesday, May 4
Time: 9–10 am PT
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Sponsors Continuing SFSP Operation through Summer 2021 Updates - For organizations that operated SFSP in SY 20–21.
Register Here for our regular Bi-Weekly Webinar
Date: Wednesday, May 5
Time: 2–3 pm PT
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist or email summermeals@k12.wa.us.
The Verification Summary Report (VSR) is currently 'on hold' in WINS. Recently, OSPI CNS received information that USDA will soon 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.
Reminders
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All Sponsors operating SFSP/SSO or NSLP in SY2020-21, verification must have been completed by February 28.
- Sponsors operating NSLP in SY 20-21
- Completion of the VSR is tied to submission of the January claim for reimbursement filed in February. Please reach out to your program specialist if unable to submit your January claim due the VSR edit check.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The 2020-21 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report was recently removed from the website for update. The report has been reposted. Changes were made to school sites operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
About This Report
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 OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
You may have noticed inaccurate information in the sponsor staff section of the Sponsor Profile in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS). Currently, deactivated staff appear and other staff names are duplicated with multiple different titles. This is a defect.
The WINS team has made changes to the sponsor contacts in preparation for the 2021–22 program renewal season. These changes will make it easier to update program contacts so that we may use WINS contacts for Child Nutrition Services communications in the future.
Until the sponsor application is renewed for the 21–22 program year, the sponsor contacts section will continue to look the same. This is a known defect and we ask that you please disregard for the time being.
Information About This Update
- Later this spring, the edit feature will be removed from the sponsor home screen.
- WINS will not allow you to update or make changes to the existing sponsor staff contact information for the remainder of program year 20–21.
- You may add new staff contact information through revisions to the sponsor application as needed.
- You may choose to wait and make all staff contact updates in your 21–22 application.
- The Updating Sponsor Contacts Information Sheet will be available in WINS after April 1. Once logged into WINS, the information sheet is located under the Info tab > WINS Documentation and Job Aids.
The Western Regional Office (WRO) of USDA has announced a 10-week AmeriCorps VISTA associates program taking place this summer for outreach and site work for Summer Meals Programs, as well as other appropriate summer anti-hunger and anti-poverty activities. Nonprofit groups, tribal governments, state child nutrition agencies, and school districts are eligible to host VISTAs over the summer.
If you are interested in applying to host one or more VISTAs this year, please complete this brief application.
AmeriCorps VISTA associates will focus primarily on strengthening the capacity of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) by enhancing awareness and educating families. Associates will also focus on the following tasks:
- Summer Meals outreach (street canvassing)
- Directly serving summer meals
- Researching ways to promote summer meals
- Provide education for and increase access to security resources, including SNAP, WIC, and other local resources
- Recruiting volunteers
- Improve access to nutritious food options by building the capacity and sustainability of farmers markets, community gardens, and/or nutrition education programs.
- COVID-19 response, which will include helping staff hunger hotlines, help collect data on food availability for hunger hotlines and web listings, help struggling families access food benefits via phone and by computer and/or smart phone.
Given the current COVID-19 crisis and the uncertainty of how long it will continue, VISTA positions may need to be altered to meet stay-at-home and social distancing orders. If necessary, AmeriCorps VISTA associates may need to conduct their service remotely.
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: 2–3 pm 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
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Follow up emails will no longer be sent after the meeting. If you missed our last webinar, you can review the recording from our 3/10 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.
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The School Nutrition STAR webinar series will feature school districts that have implemented creative strategies and best practices for common school nutrition topics as well as allied organizations who develop and offer free resources to support school nutrition programs. These webinars also offer continuing education credits after completion!
This month's webinar - Best Practices for Using Alternative Meal Service Models focuses on alternative meal service models to feed students who are receiving in-person, virtual, or hybrid learning.
Register Here
Date: Thursday, March 25
Time: 12–1 pm PT
If you are unable to attend the LIVE webinar, there will be a recording of the webinar available on the ICN STAR webpage 24-48 hours after the live webinar.
Join farmers, local food suppliers, school and childcare staff, and partners at virtual meetings for these regions:
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King/Pierce/Thurston Co: Tuesday, March 23 at 8:30 am PT - Register Here
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Northeast WA: March date TBD – contact ciberle@agr.wa.gov to hear when registration opens
Are you interested in buying more food and ingredients from local farms for your meals? Come connect directly via Zoom with local farmers, food suppliers, and other nutrition staff in your region to help get more farm fresh foods to local students!
Hear from local farmers and food suppliers about products they’ll have available for schools, and how you can bring in their products for your meals. Share updates about your meal programs with farmers and community partners, how you’ve adapted meal and food distribution during COVID-19, and your current and future food and product needs.
If there isn’t a meeting happening for your region, please reach out to ciberle@agr.wa.gov to connect with farms or find out more about buying local foods, or visit the Washington Washington State Farm to School Network Regional Hubs to find out more about programs near you.
Questions? Email Chris Iberle, WSDA Farm to School Lead.
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Don't forget!
If there's a different delivery contact during Spring Break or in the Summer months, we need to know!
To update or change your delivery contact person, please complete the Delivery Updates Form.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Office or call 360-725-6204.
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March 1-31
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National Nutrition Month!
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March 24
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Bi-Weekly Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Webinar - Register Here
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April 1
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January Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your January Claims!
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April 15
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March Claims Due in WINS
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