OSPI Child Nutrition Services is pleased to announce that the 2022 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) online application and bulletins are now available for new sponsors and returning sponsors.
B019-22: Summer Food Service Program New Sponsor Application
B020-22: Summer Food Service Program Returning Sponsor Application
Please visit OSPI's Bulletin webpage to read the bulletins and corresponding attachments in detail.
Seamless Summer Option
Sponsors intending to operate the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or extend the National School Lunch/ Breakfast Program must contact their program specialist for application information.
Determining Area Eligibility
As you start completing your SFSP applications, we want to share a reminder of two primary sources of data that may be used to determine whether an Open or Closed Enrolled site is area eligible.
School Data
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. Please use OSPI’s 2021–22 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report to obtain the school data of the qualifying school.
Census Data
Census data must indicate the proposed meal site is located in a Census Block Group or Census Tract in which at least 50 percent or more of children are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Use the No Kid Hungry Averaged Eligibility Map to determine whether a site is eligible. If a meal site is located in an orange or blue Census Block Group on this map, it is area eligible. A site located in a grey Census Block Group is not area eligible.
You only need to use one of these sources of data to determine area eligibility of your proposed site(s). If a site is not eligible using one source, try the other!
Once area eligibility is determined for Open sites, it is valid for five (5) consecutive participation years.
The Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs Reference Sheet provides more details on area eligibility.
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals Team.
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Recorded Annual Trainings Now Available in Moodle!
Who Must Complete Annual Training Requirements?
Training is required for all sponsors who wish to operate the SFSP. Sponsor administrators must attend training and then train all sponsor staff.
Accessing Recorded Trainings
Recorded trainings are part of the requirements for Summer 2022 SFSP Sponsors. Sponsors must view the applicable recorded trainings and certify completion before receiving a certificate for their records.
Use the SFSP Training Requirements Checklist to help complete your training requirements! This checklist is a guide to completing your training requirements – you do not need to return this checklist to OSPI.
Training Requirements
Sponsors must complete the following training to operate the SFSP in summer 2022:
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Program Training
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New Sponsors are required to attend an in-person SFSP Annual Training. If you did not attend one of the in-person trainings, please email the Summer Meals Team.
New SFSP sponsors must be assessed for VCA prior to submitting a SFSP application (LEAs are exempt). It can take approximately three (3) months to assess VCA. Program VCA must be approved no later than the federal deadline of June 15 in order to apply as a SFSP sponsor this summer. If your organization has not yet been assessed for VCA and is interested in participating in the SFSP this year, we encourage you to email the Summer Meals Team to discuss options. Please review our 2/21 New Sponsors Article for more details about the VCA and sponsoring the SFSP.
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Returning Sponsors must complete one of the following training options:
- Attended an in-person training during March 2022;
- Participated in the live 2022 SFSP Returning Sponsors Training on April 5, 2022; OR,
- View the recorded SFSP Returning Sponsors Training.
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Recorded Trainings
Recorded trainings are now available in Moodle. Trainings must be viewed and certified completion to meet your training requirements. Use the SFSP Training Requirements Checklist to help complete your training requirements!
- Civil Rights* recorded training
- Procurement* recorded training
- Budget** recorded training
- Financial Viability, Capability, and Accountability (VCA)** recorded training
*NOTE: Civil Rights & Procurement trainings can be waived if training was completed earlier in the year with another CNS program. Please keep documentation regarding training completed.
**NOTE: The Budget and Financial Viability, Capability, and Accountability (VCA) training is not required for SFSP's sponsored by Local Education Agencies.
Please review the Intro to SFSP recorded training for details on program operations.
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist or email the Summer Meals Team.
Apply for the Summer Meals for Kids Grant (Form Package 412) by Thursday, April 21 at 4 pm PT.
The Washington State legislature has provided $247,500 for the Summer Meals For Kids grant. This is a competitive grant for Summer Food Service Program sponsors.
These funds may be used to:
- Start new summer meal programs.
- Expand the number of sites participating in the summer meal programs and/or the reach of a site through a meal delivery program.
- Increase the number of meals served in existing programs and sites.
- Begin or expand promotion and outreach for a SFSP – including Washington's Farm-to-Summer Week (July 11–15, 2022).
- Provide training to staff and volunteers for operation of new equipment, outreach activities, etc.
- Improve meal quality, equipment, or small supplies used in the program.
Special emphasis for summer 2022 is:
- Starting a new SFSP;
- Expanding an existing program;
- Programs operating in a rural area (as defined by USDA); and/or
- Programs that never received a grant from OSPI CNS in the past.
Here are some ideas from previous applications:
- Printing marketing materials (i.e. stickers, door hangers, etc.) - use the Statewide marketing materials for images provided at no cost to you!
- Marketing materials such as vehicle wraps, billboard space, or sandwich boards
- Meal delivery vans/busses/food trucks;
- Portable plug-in coolers;
- Portable hand-washing stations;
- Gardening equipment and supplies for meal site gardens that are used to provide food to program and/or support nutrition education activities.
If you do not have an EDS or iGrants account, you must create one - get started early! Please review our 4/4 Newsletter Article for more details on creating an account.
NOTE: It may take up to 48 hours for Customer Support to respond to your request. Please plan accordingly.
Questions? Please email the CNS Grants team.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released SP 08-2022, CACFP 07-2022, SFSP 03-2022: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs.
This memo provides guidance to Child Nutrition Program operators regarding Sections 740, 751, and 752 of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 which:
- Allows the substitution of vegetables, including starchy vegetables, for fruits without including vegetables from other subgroups in weekly menus under the School Breakfast Program (SBP) in SY 2021-22 and SY 2022-23
- Prohibits funds from being used to procure raw or processed poultry products from the People’s Republic of China in Child Nutrition Programs through September 30, 2022
- Provides guidance related to pricing of paid lunches for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), during school year SY 2022-23
The Appropriations Act of 2022 did not extend the flexibility to offer low-fat (1%), flavored milk in the NSLP and SBP. To continue serving low-fat, flavored milk for the remainder of SY 2021-22, the Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver must be requested. Please update the SY 21-22 Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) with additional waiver requests.
Beginning July 1, 2022, low-fat, flavored milk may be offered under the transitional meal pattern standards in NSLP and SBP, as well as the Child & Adult Care Food Program and the Special Milk Program to children over age 6.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS 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
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Analyst
During this webinar, presenters will share how to mitigate the impacts of the loss of the summer nutrition waivers and how to increase participation in summer meals this year. Hear from a school district, a state agency, and an advocate on their plans for the upcoming summer.
Summer Meals: Mitigating the Impact of the Loss of the Summer Nutrition Waivers
Date: Thursday, April 28
Time: 12–1 pm PT
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.
Register for a Webinar
This S.T.A.R. webinar will highlight food safety considerations to keep in mind during emergencies, including key tips and practices that aid in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery in school nutrition and foodservice operations. Using the information provided, operators and their school communities can come together and be ready for food safety emergencies they may face.
Register for the Get Ready to Respond: Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery webinar
Date: Thursday, April 28
Time: 12–1 pm PT
Additional Details
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
- Registrants are eligible to receive a continuing education certificate for attending this webinar. Professional Standards Code: 2620 – Practice general food safety procedures.
- Webinar recordings can be found on ICN’s online course platform, iLearn, one week after the live webinar.
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April 15
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SFSP Application Open in WINS
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April 29
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SFSP Application due date for Programs starting before June 1
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May 6
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SFSP Application due date for Programs starting June 1–June 15
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May 20
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SFSP Application due date for Programs starting June 16–June 30
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June 3
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SFSP Application due date for Programs starting after June 30
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June 15
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Federal SFSP Application Deadline—Applications received after this date will not be accepted
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