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Lunch n’ Learn webinars are short, concise, “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 through September!
Register Here
Date: Tuesday, March 30
Time: 1:30–2:00 pm PT
This webinar is intended for sponsoring organizations who are conducting monitoring visits remotely. The USDA granted Nationwide Waiver #39 to allow for monitoring visits to be conducted off-site. Washington state was granted an additional monitoring waiver for FY21 with further flexibilities.
During this webinar we will discuss:
- Flexibilities allowed in the monitoring waivers granted by USDA
- Planning for off-site monitoring visits (announced/unannounced)
- Conducting off-site monitoring visits
- Follow up and completing the off-site monitoring visit
- Questions & Answers
Who Must Attend Annual Training?
- All institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- All institutions planning to participate in the CACFP in FY 21–22.
- At a minimum, the person responsible for oversight of the CACFP must attend. This training is intended for directors and administrators.
What are the Training Requirements?
This year has three components, all CACFP sponsors must certify completion of all training requirements when submitting their Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) sponsor application. Training requirements include:
- The CACFP Annual Updates Webinar - Join us as we discuss the past year, renewal updates, and looking ahead to FY 2022.
- Webinar information regarding Child Care Centers, At-Risk programs, Adult Care Centers, and Family Day Care Home (FDCH) sponsors will be released at a later time.
- Webinars will be recorded and posted in the weeks following training.
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Annual Civil Rights Training - This session will review the basic requirements of Civil Rights requirements when operating the CACFP. This is a recorded session— more details to come.
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Ounce Equivalents Training - You may have read a previous update on what Ounce Equivalents are and how to start implementing them in your programs. Join us for a live training session— more details to come!
Will STARS Credits be Available for These Trainings?
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has specific requirements for which trainings can offer STARS credits. We are looking into which trainings meet these requirements. We will share more details in upcoming CACFP Newsletters.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
On March 25, 2021, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a notice inviting comments on a proposed reinstatement of the information collection request (ICR) for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
The previously approved ICR expired on February 29, 2020. FNS published an initial 60-day notice to renew this collection on December 26, 2019 (84 FR 70930). In response to the comments received, FNS revised the burden estimates associated with the collection.
Sponsoring organizations are encouraged to comment on the accuracy of these revised burden estimates under this reinstatement request.
Comments are invited on:
- Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency
- Whether the information collection shall have practical utility
- Accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information
- Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected
- Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information through technological collection techniques
Your comments provide important feedback to FNS and allow for the successful operation and improvement of the CACFP. Comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov and must be received on or before May 24, 2021.
For more information, including instructions on how to submit comments, please visit: Federal Register webpage.
We know CACFP Operators do amazing things!
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.
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 center per training. We will be offering sessions more than once so there will be more opportunities to attend later in the year.
Trainings
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Training Culturally Diverse Groups - This training is designed to help you develop your skills to effectively deliver trainings to culturally diverse groups.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Thursday, April 8
Time: 12–4 pm PT
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Infant Meal Pattern Requirements - This training reviews requirements for serving infants in the CACFP.
Sign-Up Here for the May 4 class
Sign-Up Here for the May 6 class
Time: 12–4 pm PT
Registration Information
Participants register for the training using the pdEnroller platform.
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Each participant must have their own 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.
- Make sure to edit your profile to include your STARS ID to make getting your STARS credits easier!
- Keep your confirmation email!
- This email is your portal to the training session and additional handouts for the training.
- Pro Tip: You can add events to your calendar via the event page, this way your Zoom access link is available from your calendar.
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Can't Attend?
- You can cancel your registration at any time using pdEnroller.
- Log into your account.
- Select your name in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on 'My Events'.
- Upcoming events appear at the top of your screen, you should see the class and a 'Cancel Registration' button.
- Waitlist Participants:
- PdEnroller notifies CNS of the number of interested participants and automatically creates a waitlist when the session is filled.
- If someone cancels their attendance, pdEnroller automatically notifies the next person on the waitlist and gives them an opportunity to register - keep an eye out in your emails.
IMPORTANT:
There is a limit of 25 participants for each session. Each participant must have their own pdEnroller account to register.
Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
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March 30
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Lunch n' Learn: How to Conduct Remote Monitoring Visits
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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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