Join OSPI Child Nutrition Services for a Webinar!
During this time, we will discuss the Emergency Operating Costs or what we call - "55% Funds", Pandemic EBT, and what you need to know to prepare for Fiscal Year 22 (FY22)!
Register Here
Date: Thursday, June 3
Time: 10–11 am PT
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released CACFP 11-2021, SFSP 07-2021: Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data by Visual Observation and Identification in the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) – Policy Rescission.
This memo rescinds policy guidance in FNS Instruction 113-1, Appendix B section F regarding Visual Observation and Identification in CACFP and SFSP.
Visual observation and identification can no longer be used to collect race and ethnicity data. Self-identification and self-reporting remain the preferred method of data collection. Sponsors should continue to encourage participants to self-identify and self-report. However, sponsors may utilize data from other sources in which participants have self-identified race or ethnicity, such as school databases.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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: Wednesday, May 26
Time: 1:30–2:00 pm PT
During this webinar we will discuss:
- Compliance Requirements for Annual Staff Training
- How to make the most out of conducting staff training through planning and execution
- Best practices for both independent centers and sponsoring organizations
- Staff Training Resources
- Questions and Answers
CACFP Annual Training
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:
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Ounce Equivalents 101- 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. Discover what “Ounce Equivalents” are and how to implement them.
- The CACFP Annual Updates Webinar - Join us as we discuss the past year, renewal updates, and looking ahead to FY 2022.
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Child Care, At-Risk Community, and Family Day Care Home Sponsors
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Adult Care Center Sponsors
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At-Risk School District Sponsors
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Annual Civil Rights Training - This session will review the basic requirements of Civil Rights requirements when operating the CACFP. This recorded session will be posted to Moodle by July 15.
Unable to Attend a Live Session? No Worries!
If you are unable to attend any of the live sessions, you will be able to watch the recorded trainings to meet your training requirements. We anticipate recordings will be posted to the CACFP Annual Training Moodle course by July 15, 2021.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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CACFP specialists are hosting office hours in the coming months. These meetings may be conducted as facilitated discussions highlighting several topic areas, or as a platform for Questions & Answers and open dialogue.
Office hours are meant to be a safe space to learn more about CACFP operations from discussion topics or from the questions other sponsors bring forward. You are welcome to bring your questions or just plan to listen in.
Register to attend an upcoming session!
- Terri Adolfson – Infant Meals
May 24, 2:00–3:30 pm
- Jessica Condron – Open Q and A
May 24, 10–11 am
- Molly Gleason – Open Q and A
May 27, 12:30–1:30 pm
- Nicki Christoferson – Open Q and A
May 27, 2:30–3:30 pm
- Tina Bischoff – Open Q and A
June 8, 2:30–4:30 pm
- Kendra Vandree – Open Q and A
June 8, 2–3 pm
- Jeannette Green – Open Q and A
June 15, 1–2 pm
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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Basic Culinary Math - This training allows participants to review and practice basic culinary math skills and focus on key skills such as measuring and converting measurements, scaling recipes, and calculating food costs.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Tuesday, May 25
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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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.
Sign-Up Here
Date: Thursday, May 27
Time: 12 - 4pm 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?
- 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.
- You can cancel your registration at any time using pdEnroller.
- 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:
- The ICN requires a minimum of 15 registrants per session to conduct the training. If there are not a minimum of 15 registrants, the training will be canceled.
- There is a limit of 25 participants for each session.
Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
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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.
Given layoffs and other economic consequences related to COVID-19, people may be seeking WIC services for the first time.
To meet the needs of families during the pandemic there have been important changes to the program:
- From June through September, the American Relief Plan Act more than doubles WIC’s cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables, to $35.00 per participant.
- 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!
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!
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The Washington State Farm to School & Scratch Cooking Institutes will be a professional development opportunity for child nutrition program food service staff. We encourage ECE administrators, educators, and other partners to develop your farm to apply! The focus of this training will be to use more local, Washington grown foods in scratch-made meals.
Whether starting or expanding your farm to school efforts, the Institutes’ two-day intensive will provide training from expert trainers and guest speakers to assist in the development of Farm to School Action Plans. Regular cohort support check-in calls will also be conducted through fall 2021.
Read more & apply here! Applications are due June 11, 2021
Locations
- August 19-20 – Tribal & Traditional School Foods Institute
- August 23-24 – Central & Eastern Washington Institute
- August 26-27 – Western Washington Institute
Cost
Attending the institute is free for school district or ECE staff and partners within Washington State, thanks to the support of a USDA Farm to School Grant.
Questions? Please email Chris Iberle, WSDA Farm to School Lead at or call 206-714-2757
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June 1
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March Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim!
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June 3
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CACFP Updates: Let's Talk About Administrative Funds and Pandemic EBT - Register Here!
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June 8
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Required Oz. Eq. 101 Training - Register Here!
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June 10
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Required Oz. Eq. 101 Training - Register Here!
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June 23
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FY21-22 CACFP Annual Updates Webinar for Child Care, At-Risk (Community), and Family Day Care Home Sponsors - Register Here!
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July 15
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FY22 CACFP annual required training posted in the CACFP Annual Training Moodle Course
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July 1
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FY22 Renewal opens in WINS.
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September 1
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FY22 Renewal applications due in WINS - Make sure your training requirements are complete!
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