The renewal closing date for the current program year is June 30, 2022.
Sponsors who do not renew their CACFP application by June 30, will not be eligible to operate CACFP the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 22 (July- September 2022).
Sponsors most affected by this change are those who plan to operate At Risk or Pre-school programs that start in August or September 2022 who have not operated CACFP this school year.
School Districts that do not renew their CACFP application by June 30 for their pre-school programs may decide to:
- Claim pre-school children on NSLP for SY 2022–23
OR
- Claim pre-school children on NSLP for August/September 2022, then renew their FY 23 CACFP application and claim preschool children on CACFP October 2022–June 2023.
If you plan to operate CACFP in the Summer or Fall and have not yet renewed your CACFP application, please contact your CACFP Specialist to start this process.
For more details on this and other changes in FY 23, watch the “What’s New in CACFP” recorded webinar.
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 Food and Drug Administration (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. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) continues to work closely with the FDA on the impact of the recall on the infant formula supply in the CACFP.
Resources
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:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of Jif® peanut butter products sold in the U.S. due to potential Salmonella contamination.
USDA Foods are not impacted by this recall. The recalled peanut butter was distributed nationwide in retail stores and other outlets. Recalled products include the products below with lot codes 1274425 – 2140425. Lot codes are included alongside best-if-used-by date.
We encourage Child Nutrition Program sponsors to monitor the most current information on this recall and those related to it on the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts webpage.
Questions? Please contact the J.M. Smucker Co. at 800-828-9980.
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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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.
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
Washington WIC gives families access to nutritious food and provides health screening, risk assessment, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services. The program provides essential services for pregnant people, new and breastfeeding persons, infants, and children under five. Most pregnant people and young children on Medicaid or Basic Food (SNAP) qualify for WIC services.
To meet the needs of families during the pandemic there have been important changes to the program:
- WIC enrolls new applicants, provides nutrition education and breastfeeding support, and issues food benefits by phone or video chat.
- WIC expanded the choice of foods allowed for purchase using WIC benefits.
- Participants now shop for WIC foods using a WIC card, which makes shopping easier.
- The WICShopper app guides shoppers, and provides recipes and parenting tips!
Given layoffs and other economic consequences related to COVID-19, people may be seeking WIC services for the first time.
What Can You Do to Help?
Help the families you serve by sharing information about the benefits of WIC. The Department of Health has a great handout you can share (see image) that is available in 14 languages. You can order it from myPRINT.wa.gov so you can offer them to families.
Find WIC Services in Your Area
Resource: WIC, Healthy Food and A Lot More!
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As a sponsoring organization (CACFP sponsors with 2 or more sites) are you familiar with:
- CACFP’s Performance Standards and requirements specific to financial viability?
- The purpose and importance of monitoring, monitoring review elements, and best practices for conducting monitoring reviews?
- The purpose of the serious deficiency process and the six steps of the serious deficiency process for day care home providers?
Training Designed for You!
The CORE team is pleased to announce availability of the CORE online training courses. Each online course is designed to train on these importance Program Requirements. The courses are animated, self-paced, interactive, and informative.
Available courses include:
- Financial Viability
- Monitoring and Oversight
- Serious Deficiency (intended for day care home Sponsors only)
The online courses can be accessed using a desktop, laptop, or Android or iOS mobile app. Register for CORE training today!
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