“Accountability in CACFP- you get a review, you get a review, everyone gets a review!”
Ever wonder why OSPI comes out to review your operations and how it fits in with the grand scheme of CACFP? Does OSPI ever get reviewed? What is “program integrity” anyway?
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) federal nutrition program. The CACFP aims to increase food security and reduce hunger among low-income families. Additionally, the CACFP supports the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults through reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible participants.
Program integrity is the term used for ensuring that this mission is upheld through all levels of operations.
The review process upholds program integrity by having a system of checks and balances at all levels of program operations. Sites, sponsors, OSPI, and even USDA all have requirements to uphold to administer the CACFP. All CACFP administrating organizations are reviewed to ensure they’re compliant with rules. Sponsors review their sites to ensure all requirements are met, OSPI reviews sponsors, and USDA reviews OSPI!
Serving healthy, nutritious meals is central to CACFP, but the rest of the program requirements are just as important to ensure that the business behind the meals is managing the program according to ethical practices (please see the 3/1 CACFP Hot Topic: Ethics in CACFP article for more details).
Next time you’re organizing records for OSPI, you can smile knowing the meaning behind the review.
On March 7, 2021, President Biden passed Executive Order (EO) 14019. This Executive Order encourages agencies to consider ways to expand citizens' opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process.
Through the Child Nutrition Programs, operators have the ability to reach Americans to provide them with information about voting.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) encourages all State agencies administering the Child Nutrition Programs to provide local program operators with promotional materials, including voter registration and non-partisan, non-campaign election information, to disseminate among voting-age program participants and their families.
Ideas include, but are not limited to, encouraging:
- School food authorities administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in high schools, and adult day care centers and emergency shelters participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to promote voter registration and election information among voting-age participants and use congregate feeding areas, such as cafeterias, or food distribution sites, as sites for the dissemination of information;
- Operators of the CACFP and the Summer Food Service Program to post flyers with voter registration and election information to reach parents and/or guardians of young participants; and
- All program operators to post information on their website and social media channels, and link to relevant resources, including vote.gov.
For a sample flyer please visit USAGov’s Quick Guide to Voting in 2020 as an example of information that may be used by program operators.
For State and local election websites please visit Find My State or Local Election Office Website.
The Child Nutrition Programs play an essential role in the health and development of our nation’s children, and can also play a role in enabling all Americans to participate in our democracy.
What You Need to Know About Ownership Changes
Operation of the Child and Adult Care Program (CACFP) is not transferable between businesses when ownership changes occur. Reimbursement to the previous owner will not be granted after the date of the ownership change.
The new owners must start the CACFP application process to become a CACFP Sponsor with the new:
- Business name
- Tax ID number
- Statewide Payee Number
The application process may take up to three months and in some cases longer. During this time claims may not be submitted for reimbursement by the new or previous program sponsor. New CACFP sponsors may begin claiming meals for reimbursement once the Child Nutrition Programs Unified Permanent Agreement has been signed by both OSPI and the CACFP Sponsor.
Funds Must be Returned to OSPI CNS if:
- Claims are submitted for reimbursement by the previous owner after an ownership transition occurs
- Emergency Operating Cost (EOC) funds were granted but not spent prior to the business transfer must be returned.
If your business is anticipating an ownership change please notify your specialist as soon as possible. Your CACFP specialist will assist you and the new business owner through this transition.
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
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Specialist
- Fiscal Analyst
Join the Farm to ECE Community of Practice call to learn how early learning programs can bring gardening into their programming.
Register for the April Farm to ECE Community of Practice Call
Date: Tuesday, April 26
Time: 3–4 pm PT
This call will include information on:
- Community gardens
- On-site gardens
- Classroom gardening activities
- Technical assistance organizations in your area to identify funding opportunities
- Questions/Answers
- Feedback request- What can we do to help you start a successful garden.
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April 15
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March Claims Due in WINS
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April 29
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February 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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