|
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. Here are some important reminders about claiming in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS):
Best Practices for Submitting Claims
- Submit your claim by the 10th of the month. This will ensure your claim is in “OK to Pay” status prior to 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
- Review the Claiming Error Messages in WINS Information Sheet for more details on possible errors.
-
Common Errors
- Total Attendance is entered with the claim and is the sum of children in attendance each day during the month. Meals claimed in excess of Total Attendance will result in a claim error.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- When you are experiencing issues with submitting your claim or when your claim is in error status, please contact your CACFP Specialist to assist you. Your Specialist will help to troubleshoot what the issue(s) may be. Do not reach out to CNS’s Fiscal Department or the WINS team directly.
General Claim Reminders
- Monthly claim data must be in "OK to Pay" status by 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- WINS will automatically log all users out of the system on the 15th of each month at 5pm PT.
- Ensure to give yourself enough time to input all claiming data so the claim is in “OK to Pay” status.
- Once WINS closes down the claiming option users are not allowed to input claim data until after the monthly claim reconciliation process is complete. This can take up to two business days.
- Didn't submit your claim by the 15th? That's okay! File your monthly claim by the 60-day deadline.
- Example: The October 60-day claim deadline is December 30, 2021.
- Claim reimbursements that are not entered into WINS or not in OK to pay status will NOT process for payment by the end of the month.
- The 21–22 Claim Processing Dates Information Sheet takes weekends and holidays into consideration for the 60-day deadlines. You may want to print or bookmark this information.
- Refer to the Claims Reference Sheet for details on what to do if you don't submit your claims by the 60-day claim deadline.
-
Administrative Expenses
Sponsors may elect to use CACFP reimbursement to cover administrative expenses in their Food Service Budgets this fiscal year. Please review our 11/8 Entering Administrative Expenses article.
- Errors must be resolved for claims to be paid. WINS has multiple edit checks to help resolve issues before your claim is submitted.
- Common Errors
- Total Attendance is entered with the claim and is the sum of children in attendance each day during the month. Meals claimed in excess of Total Attendance will result in a claim error.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- Pro-Tip: Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
Claiming Resources
Have Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
National CACFP Week is coming!
OSPI Child Nutrition Services is joining the National CACFP Sponsors Association for National CACFP Week. This annual campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger and bring healthy foods to the table for participants of child care centers, adult day services and day care homes across the country.
You can get involved in this celebration by:
- Nominating your organization, yourself, or a staff member for the CACFP Excellence Award
- Submitting your favorite CACFP meal pattern compliant recipe
- Submitting a brief statement, artwork, photos, or quotes about what CACFP means to you, your staff and the families you serve
Make your CACFP Excellence Award nomination or submit your recipes and CACFP statement(s) by March 7, 2022!
Who is eligible to receive the CACFP Excellence Award?
Any individual or organization participating in the CACFP (centers, homes, schools, emergency shelters, food banks, etc.) or CACFP Sponsoring Organization receive this award.
Examples of nominations for CACFP Excellence may include, but are not limited to:
- Continued to provide CACFP meals/snacks during the pandemic:
- Ex. Meal delivery, expansion of services, collaborated with local organization, etc.
- Committed foodservice staff
- Uses creative, appealing, and nutritious CACFP compliant menus
- Conducts ongoing efforts to make mealtime fun
- Offers nutrition education
CACFP Excellence Award recipients, recipe submissions, and CACFP statement submissions will be highlighted in our March 13 Weekly Newsletter. CACFP Excellence Award recipients will also be acknowledged by State Agency staff during a virtual recognition event and presented with a certificate of excellence on March 16, 2022.
Effective July 1, 2022
FNS announced transitional nutrition standards for school meal programs and CACFP that were published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2022: Federal Register: Public Inspection: Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium.
Child Nutrition Program meal patterns are based on the goals of the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Therefore, USDA sets nutrition standards to ensure children are offered the right balance of fruits, vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk, whole grains, and protein foods. This final rule is providing Child Nutrition Program Sponsors with the certainty they need for the upcoming school years, while FNS works collaboratively on permanent standards that will build on the progress that has been made over the past decade. The transitional standards established for milk, whole grains, and sodium are practical standards that continue to promote nutrition while reflecting the current realities and challenges Sponsors are facing.
What does this mean for CACFP?
Schools and child care providers may offer flavored, low-fat milk (1%) in addition to unflavored, low-fat milk and flavored or unflavored nonfat milk for those ages 6 and up.
For more information about this change visit USDA's Building Back Better with School Meals webpage.
Do you believe in the power of good nutrition? Are you interested in assisting school districts and other institutions in providing children with healthy and nutritious meals? CNS is seeking skilled candidates for several positions. Does this sound like you? Apply to join the CNS team today!
Current Recruitments
Upcoming Recruitments
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Special Programs Supervisor
- Administrative Program Specialist – multiple programs
- Administrative Assistant 3- Community Nutrition
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Specialist
- Fiscal Analyst
Each year, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors are required to complete annual training requirements.
This summer, we are hoping to host several in-person training events in addition to the required training. These optional trainings would be approximately 5 hours long and would offer STARS credits to those who attend the session.
Please fill out the FY23 CACFP Annual Training Interest Survey so we may better plan for these trainings.
CORE is a USDA FNS funded initiative designed to provide practical CACFP training to Sponsoring Organizations. Training resources are accessible online, in-person and via mobile device. The mobile app contains interactive child nutrition related micro lessons which include the following topics:
- Components of Corrective Action
- Elements of a finding
- Edit check best practices
- The five-day meal count reconciliation
- The 10 allowability cost factors
- Calculating non-profit food service
- Calculating the administrative fee
- Red Flags
The app is available on Google Play or the Apple Store. To learn more about available courses and the mobile app, visit the CORE website.
Throughout the pandemic, everyone has had to learn to adapt and change in a time of uncertainty in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Honoring You
The National CACFP Association (NCA) wants to recognize those who overcame the challenges and went above and beyond expectations to provide for those they serve. The CACFP Inspire awards will celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations who have reimagined and executed the CACFP during the pandemic.
Nominations may includes state agencies, sponsoring organizations, and all program operators!
Submit your nomination by February 15, 2021.
|
February 15
|
January Claims Due in WINS
|
|
March 1
|
December 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
|
|
