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U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines have been announced for FNS child nutrition programs.
These guidelines are to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.
Download a copy of the July 2022–June 2023 Income Guidelines
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.
We want to recognize you and all that you do!
Excellence Award Event
Excellence award recipients will be acknowledged by State Agency staff during a virtual recognition event and presented with a certificate of excellence.
Register for the CACFP Excellence Award Recognition Event
Date: March 16, 2022
Time: 2pm PT
It’s not too late make a nomination or make a CACFP Week submission!
- Nominate your organization, yourself, or a staff member for the CACFP Excellence Award
- Submit your favorite CACFP meal pattern compliant recipe
- Submit 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 food service staff
- Uses creative, appealing, and nutritious CACFP compliant menus
- Conducts ongoing efforts to make mealtime fun
- Offers nutrition education
Grains are a required component at breakfast, lunch, and supper meals, and are an optional component at snack. Cereal may be served as the grain component.
Grain ounce equivalence requirements for CACFP went into effect on October 1, 2021, this is a good time to verity the grains and cereals you are serving are meeting this requirement. Keep in mind the following CACFP meal pattern requirements pertaining to cereal.
Cereal Requirements
- Cereals must be whole grain, enriched, or fortified to be creditable.
- Breakfast cereals served may contain up to 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce, and include ready-to eat cereals, instant cereals, and hot cereals.
- Ounce Equivalents (oz. eq.) must be used as the unit of measure for all grains.
Please note: not all cereal is created equal, use this chart to help categorizes ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals and assist in serving the correct portion.
Grain Resources:
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
The 2021–22 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report is now available.
This report may be used to establish area eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk After School Meals Program sites and for Family Day Care Home Providers. In addition this data may be used to establish area eligibility for the 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 program specialist.
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
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Specialist
- Fiscal Analyst
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium - Final Rule for the School Meal Programs and Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
This final rule establishes transitional standards to support the continued provision of nutritious school meals as schools respond to and recover from the pandemic and while USDA engages in notice-and-comment rulemaking to update the meal pattern standards to more comprehensively reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. The standards are effective July 1, 2022.
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.
Share Your Thoughts
USDA is inviting comments on this final rule to provide insight as we work towards developing permanent, science-based meal standards for the long-term.
The Final Rule is available for public comment until March 24, 2022. Submit your comments here.
Additional resources are also available on USDA’s Building Back Better with School Meals webpage.
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