If you were not able to join us for the live “What’s New in CACFP” webinar, the recording is now available. We discussed several important upcoming Program changes that will affect all Sponsors operating CACFP.
Discussion topics Included:
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Annual Training
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Required Annual Training will be held virtually and will be available in September
- Optional in person trainings will be conducted in October throughout the state (Olympia, Ellensburg, and Seattle).
- Study month for Fiscal Year (FY) 23
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October must now be used as the study month for all Sponsors.
- Study months conducted in July-September may no longer be made effective in the new fiscal year.
- Sponsors may only update their study month 1 time during the fiscal year.
- Renewal closing date for FY22
- The renewal closing date for FY 22 is June 30, 2022.
- Sponsor most affected by this change are those who plan to operate At Risk or Pre-school programs that start in Aug/Sept. 2022 who are not currently operating CACFP this school year.
- If you plan to Operate CACFP in the Summer or Fall and have not yet renewed your CACFP application, please start this process now.
- Infant meal pattern requirements
- All CACFP Sponsors with enrolled infants must follow the CACFP meal pattern. Regardless if infants are claimed, the center must provide meals that meet meal pattern and developmental readiness requirements.
- A more streamlined infant meal recordkeeping process has been created for Sponsors to utilize.
- Expense reporting
- Beginning with the FY 23, sponsors will need to record Operating Expenses in WINS each month when entering monthly claims.
- Waiver usage
- All Nationwide Waivers and State Approved Waivers are set to expire.
- If you need to request use of available waivers you are still able to do this through the waiver expiration date by submitting a Meal Distribution Plan Waiver Request Survey.
- Training resources for new staff
- Contact your Program Specialist if you have new staff that play key roles in your CACFP.
- Your Specialist can help assign training specific to your type of organization and the new staff member’s CACFP role using our Individualized Training Plan.
- OSPI staff updates-Welcome to our new CACFP staff!
CACFP Administrative Program Specialists:
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Teresa Diaz-Region 1, which includes Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom, and Okanogan counties.
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Eddie Griffin- CACFP Part of Region 7 & 8 - Chelan, Kittitas & Douglas counties
Administrative Support Staff:
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Lindzie Frederick- CACFP/SFSP support
For details on these changes, please view the recorded webinar or contact your Program Specialist.
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.
CACFP sponsors are required to provide Civil Rights staff training at least annually. The ICN created a free e-learning training that reviews Civil Rights requirements and how customer service plays a role in nondiscrimination.
Staff must create a free account through the ICN iLearn platform to access the training.
Questions? Visit the iLearn How-To Guide for additional information!
The FDA issued Draft Guidance to Industry on Action Levels for Lead in Juice. Lead is associated with serious health effects, including effects on the developing brain, such as impaired intellectual development. Action levels define the levels of lead contamination that may cause juice products to be considered unsafe.
The draft guidance recommends an action level for lead in apple juice of 10 parts per billions (ppb) and an action level for lead in other juices of 20 ppb. The action level for lead in apple juice is lower because apple juice is the most commonly consumed juice by young children and may contribute a greater share of their potential lead exposure than other juices.
Before FDA begins work on the final version of the guidance, they are accepting comments in writing and via regulations.gov by June, 28th, 2022.
This action is part of FDA’s Closer to Zero action plan to reduce exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury from foods commonly eaten by babies and young children to as low as possible.
The Office of Head Start will be presenting a webinar for Head Start Program Operators on CACFP Meal Service. The Child and Adult Care Food Program contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children. Head Start programs provide nutritious meals and snacks to children and use the CACFP program to improve quality and make the food program more affordable. This webinar provides resources and information on how to implement CACFP in your program and summarizes the requirements for recordkeeping and reimbursement of meals and snacks.
Register for the CACFP Meal Services in Head Start Programs Webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 1
Time: 11:00-12:00 pm PT
The nationwide waiver of on-site monitoring allows off-site monitoring (desk audits) in Child Nutrition Programs for State agencies and local level operators and is effective until 30 days after the end of the Federal public health emergency.
As a state agency we have begun more onsite reviews and only conducting virtual or hybrid reviews in special circumstances. OSPI Child Nutrition staff are vaccinated and will follow masking protocols while onsite. Staff will do whatever is necessary to keep the site safe from COVID exposure while conducting onsite reviews.
As a reminder, CACFP Sponsor agreements with OSPI assure that announced and/or unannounced reviews will be allowed during normal business hours by the State Agency. It is our expectation that this will be accommodated. If the ability to conduct administrative reviews is not made available, it may result in meal disallowances.
If you have questions or concerns about this onsite reviews, please contact your specialist.
The Washington Farm to School Network hosts a monthly community of practice call for early learning providers and partners. This is a great opportunity to connect with other early learning providers interested in bringing local foods, gardening, and agriculture education into their early learning and child care programs.
You can find the recording of the last meeting here.
The next Community of Practice call will be July 26, 2022 – Topic: TBD
To sign up for the next CoP meeting: Register Here
About the Dietary Guidelines
The Dietary Guidelines provides science-based advice on what to eat and drink to promote health, reduce risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. It is designed for policymakers and nutrition and health professionals to help all individuals and their families consume a healthy, nutritionally adequate diet.
Information in the Dietary Guidelines is used to develop, implement, and evaluate federal food, nutrition, and health policies; and have aided in the development of Child Nutrition Program meal patterns.
Submit Your Feedback
Every five years, USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partner to provide the latest, science-based nutrition guidance in re-evaluating the Dietary Guidelines. These agencies are kicking off the process of developing the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by posting proposed scientific questions for public comment.
Your feedback on the proposed questions – and throughout the development process for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – will help us change lives and ensure a healthier, more prosperous future for all Americans. These departments are committed to equity and transparency at every point in the process, which is why this first step starts with you – the public.
The public comment period opens April 15, 2022. We invite you to read the proposed scientific questions and comment before May 16, 2022, to inform the process from the very start!
Additional Resources
May 15
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April Claims Due in WINS
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