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Sponsors that are eligible to receive funds through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Operational Costs (EOC) Reimbursement Program will be notified this week of their eligibility. An email is being sent to sponsor’s listed contact in WINS that submits claims.
Payments will be made at the end of August. Please review OSPI Bulletin 036-21 for additional information.
Questions? Please email Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor.
OSPI celebrates the use of locally produced food in SFSP and can’t wait to see the great efforts you’ve made to include local foods and nutrition or agricultural enrichment activities into your meal service. Use #WAFarmtoSummer to share your stories.
OSPI Farm to Summer Resources
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist or Kendra Vandree, OSPI's Farm to Summer contact.
Monthly claims are due by the 15th of each month following the claim period. All claims entered in WINS and in OK to Pay status will process for payment at the end of the month.
General Claiming Reminders
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FSMC & Vended Sponsors – Correct your SFSP Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Before Claiming
- Meals claimed in excess of the CAP count for a site will result in a claim error. SFSP sponsors must make Average Daily Attendance (ADA) revisions prior to submitting monthly claims. Specialists must approve revisions before claims can process for payment.
- Revised ADA's will not be approved for claims that go into error status due to meals claimed over the approved CAP.
- Compare the Average Number of Meals to the approved CAP. If the Average exceeds the CAP, increase the ADA in your site calendar and email your Program Specialist.
- Here is a quick equation to determine whether the ADA should be revised: Total Meals Served / Number of Operating Days = Average Number of Meals per day.
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Working with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) or Vendor? FSMCs and Vended Sponsors cannot be reimbursed for any meals above the 120% of the ADA. Update the ADA prior to submitting the claim for the excess meals to be reimbursed.
- Monthly claim data must be in "OK to Pay" status by 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- Didn't submit your claim by the 15th? That's okay! Submit your monthly claim by the 60-day deadline.
- Errors must be resolved for claims to be paid. WINS has multiple edit checks to help resolve issues before your claim is submitted.
- Pro-Tip: Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
For more detailed reminders and resources, please review the Claim Reminder in our February Update.
Have Questions? Please contact Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor, or Pam Fravel, Fiscal Analyst.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted OSPI Child Nutrition Services’ request to waive SY 20-21 Administrative Review Requirements.
OSPI must continue to conduct oversight and provide technical assistance to ensure program integrity, one of these activities includes off-site technical assistance (TA) visits.
Why TA Visits?
The purpose of the TA visit is to support sponsors with program operations and waiver implementation. TA visits will be conducted through a Zoom meeting and should not take more than two hours.
There will be no corrective action or fiscal action associated with these visits. Visits will result in specialist recommendations and the sharing of resources and best practices. However, claim revisions may be required if meal counting and claiming issues are identified.
In addition to the Zoom meeting, OSPI may also conduct unannounced site visits to ensure compliance with meal service requirements and program regulations.
A risk-based approach was used to identify sponsors for these TA visits. Risk factors include:
- Complexity of Meal Distribution Plan
- Significant findings or fiscal action from previous reviews
- New Sponsors
- Significant % Change in Meals Served
Not all sponsors will receive a TA visit. Program Specialists will contact the identified sponsors in the next few weeks to schedule your TA visit. We appreciate the dedication of each sponsor as they continue to provide the children of Washington State with nutritious meals during this unprecedented time.
Questions? Contact your Program Specialist.
Are your meals appetizing, appealing, and nutritious? The USDA wants to recognize you!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Turnip the Beet award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the country who work to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious.
Applications must be submitted to OSPI by August 4, 2021.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nominees must be a SFSP or SSO sponsor in good standing.
- Must operate between May 15 & September 15, 2021.
- Menus must feature appetizing, appealing, and nutritious meals that meet meal pattern requirements.
- Additional menu criteria include the following. Sponsors earn 2 points for each criteria met.
- Service of locally grown foods at least once a week per meal type
- Menu includes one hot food item per week per meal type
- Entrees repeat less than two times a month per meal type
- Minimum of different fruits vegetables offered each week per meal type
- Fresh produce primarily served
- Juice limited to two times per meal type per week
- At least 50% grains are whole grain-rich
- Sweet Grains limited to two times per meal type per week
- Only low-fat or non-fat milk is offered
- Availability of Water
- Bonus points may be earned if stricter criteria are met.
Application Information
Submit your nomination form & menu to summermeals@k12.wa.us.
Expansions to P-EBT!
Effective June 2021, USDA Food and Nutrition Service approved Washington state’s plans to expand P-EBT benefits through the summer and now include children under age 6.
Families may have questions about the differences between the P-EBT Summer Extension and benefits for children under 6. We recommend to direct families to the DSHS P-EBT webpage for details about the program and eligibility, including:
- General P-EBT information
- P-EBT information for children enrolled in school
- P-EBT information for children under 6
- Frequently Asked Questions
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NEW! P-EBT Cross Agency Desk Aid - this aid gives a quick-glance overview of who to contact with questions!
Stay Up To Date
To stay up to date about P-EBT, we recommend to follow the Washington State DSHS Facebook page for additional updates and answers to questions.
For additional information, please refer to the FAQ on dshs.wa.gov/PEBT or call the P-EBT Contact Center at 833-518-0282.
More than a year ago, you, along with the rest of the world, experienced an unprecedented change in just about every facet of your personal and professional life. Among the many adjustments to your home life, your schools shifted from in-person to remote learning and from cafeteria service to grab and go meals.
School staff, child care employees, and community organizations collaborated as the need for meals rose across the state. Your heroic efforts resulted in over 100 million meals served to kids since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are excited to honor your efforts to feed children and students in your community this summer and to celebrate Summer Meals Week (July 19–23) alongside you.
You've gone the extra mile over the past 16 months and have not only persisted against the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic but have continued to adjust to the needs of your community in remarkable ways.
As we celebrate Summer Meals Week, we celebrate you! We appreciate that you have championed summer meals in your communities and that you have dedicated yourself to working this summer to ensure that children continue to have access to free summer meals.
As part of your continued efforts we have nearly 50 new summer program sponsors this year, and over 200 more meals sites for children to access meals this summer.
Thank you for going above your call of duty and for creating an environment of food security. Thank you for communicating with your administrators, your program specialists, and school families beyond your normal working hours. Thank you for your empathy, leadership, and perseverance.
We see you and salute your selflessness. We can't thank you enough!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a Federal Register Notice, Identifying Barriers in USDA Programs and Services; Advancing Racial Justice and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities at USDA.
USDA seeks to identify opportunities in current USDA policies, regulations, and guidance to address systemic inequities. The 30-day Notice will be available for public input until July 15, 2021.
Submit your comments regarding:
- How USDA can advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities
- How people of color and underserved communities and individuals may face in obtaining information from USDA.
- This includes accessing, enrolling, and participating in USDA programs and services, and engaging with USDA staff.
- How to best engage external stakeholders and community members representing marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved communities in order to increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees and decision-making processes.
In the months ahead, USDA will establish a Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission will focus specifically on addressing systemic impediments to equity in USDA programs. USDA is asking for comments on any and all interactions with USDA programs. All comments will be aggregated, summarized, and shared with USDA Leadership and the Racial Equity Commission.
Questions? Please reach out to kelly.blondin@usda.gov.
OSPI Child Nutrition created short trainings to assist sponsors in training site staff on various Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) related topics. You can use these modules during annual training for staff or as a quick training for new employees or volunteers prior to their first shift
You can review these trainings on the SFSP Training Moodle, under the SFSP Short Trainings for Site Staff tile!
Short Trainings
- Training is focused on staff roles as they pertains to SFSP
- Guidance is provided for “traditional” summer operations and do not provide guidance on current waivers and flexibilities
- These short trainings vary in length, but most are roughly 5 minutes
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July 12–16
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Farm to Summer Week!
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July 15
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June Claim Due in WINS
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July 30
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May Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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