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The Abbott infant formula recall exacerbated infant formula supply chain challenges that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges continue. It is difficult to fully anticipate the level of impact in the months ahead.
The FDA is responsible for taking steps to ensure the safety of infant formula, while also ensuring that supply can be met when these steps are taken. The FDA published a press release highlighting actions it is taking to address formula supply shortages including working with major infant formula manufacturers to increase supply and helping to ensure that Abbott’s Sturgis facility can safely resume production.
The supply shortages are impacting Child Nutrition Program participants differently depending on where they live and what their specific formula needs are. FNS continues to work closely with the FDA on the impact of the recall on the infant formula supply in the CACFP.
As formula challenges persist, please encourage program providers and parents/caregivers to work with their child’s health care provider for recommendations on other ways to feed their baby or toddler if their regular formula is not available. In addition, please continue to promote safe feeding practices for infants including the following resources:
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USDA Infant Formula Safety website - contains key messages for consumers on infant formula safety and links to other helpful government resources.
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Questions and Answers for Consumers on Infant Formula - FDA question #12 addresses homemade infant formula.
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Powdered Infant Formula Preparation and Storage - links to CDC guidance on preparing infant formula.
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Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe - an informative AAP web article on the topic of homemade formula.
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With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find any? - HealthyChildren.org – AAP tips for parents and caregivers who are struggling to find baby formula during the shortage. This advice is strictly for urgent situations but may be helpful to parents and caregivers. State agencies should continue to encourage parents and caregivers of CACFP infants to talk with their pediatrician about safe and appropriate feeding alternatives for their child.
FNS is currently making a correction to the “Let’s Make a Snack! Child and Adult Care Food Program Snack Menu Planner for Children 3 Through 18 Years of Age” with a publication date of April 15, 2022, and removed it from the FNS website on April 20, 2022.
This publication included incorrect information about food intolerances. As per CACFP 14-2017, SFSP 10-2017, Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, “A physical or mental impairment does not need to be life threatening to constitute a disability. It is enough that the impairment limits a major life activity.
For example, digestion is a bodily function that is a major life activity. A child whose digestion is impaired by lactose intolerance may be a person with a disability, regardless of whether or not consuming milk causes the child severe distress.”
FNS regrets any confusion as a result of the error in the menu planner. Sponsors will be notified once the revised version of this publication has been released.
What is it: The Farm to School Purchasing Grant is a competitive reimbursement grant that supports the purchase and use of local, Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs.
Who can apply: Active NSLP and CACFP sponsors.
Funding is available for the 2022–2023 school year.
Join Us for an Info Session!
Register for a Farm to School Purchasing Grant Info Session to learn about the program and how to apply. Both sessions will include the same information and a recording will be made available.
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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
WSU Extension SNAP-Ed would like your input to determine training and nutrition education needs and preferences among school food service and early childhood education providers.
Please take 5 minutes to complete this Training and Nutrition Education Survey before Friday, May 27.
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 FY 22
- The renewal closing date for FY 22 is June 30, 2022.
- Sponsors 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.
To support school nutrition, child care, and adult care professionals' efforts to connect children and adults with nutritious meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) established nationwide waivers to allow program flexibility for School Year 2021–22 (SY 21–22) and Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
Allowances may be requested in circumstances where sponsors are experiencing food or labor shortages or altered facility operations due to COVID-19.
The CACFP Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) & Waiver Request Survey may be submitted for current program operation through September 30, 2022. Use this Checklist prior to beginning the survey. If you exit the survey before it is submitted, your progress will be lost.
The MDP Survey must be submitted to request the following flexibilities:
- Grab-and-Go Meal Service
- Off-site Monitoring
- Meal Pattern Flexibilities
Additional information or follow up documentation may be requested by your Program Specialist to support approval of waiver requests.
More MDP Information
- Your MDP must be submitted and approved prior to utilizing available waivers granted by the USDA. Approval may be made retroactive in emergency circumstances when prior approval cannot be made.
- FNS expects schools and child care providers to use the flexibilities only for the duration and extent that they are needed.
- Waiver use will be approved on a case-by-case basis and only for a limited duration of time.
- Once you submit the MDP you will receive a confirmation email.
- Your program specialist will contact you regarding approval status of your organization's plan and waiver request(s).
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To request use of additional waivers or extensions for approved waivers, program operators should notify their program specialist and submit an additional MDP for approval.
Resources
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist
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.
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- Outlines how meat/meat alternates can be a part of lunch and supper
- Examples of meat/meat alternates that are lower in saturated fat and sodium
- Chart listing CACFP meal pattern required amounts of meat/meat alternates
- Lists may be creditable and not creditable meat/meat alternates
- And even some menu planning tips
- Available in English and Spanish USDA-FNS-Serving-MMAs-at-Lunch-and-Supper-EN-SP-cacfp.org_.pdf (azureedge.net)
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Mealtime Memo from the Institute of Child Nutrition
- A monthly theme based electronic newsletter
- Intended for use by CACFP participants
- Provides researched based information on planning, preparing and/or serving nutritious, safe and child friendly meals
- Subscribe today! https://theicn.org/memo
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June 15
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May Claims Due in WINS
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