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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released CACFP 09-2022 SFSP 05-2022: Questions and Answers Related to CACFP 11-2021, SFSP 07- 2021 Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data by Visual Observation and Identification in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program – Policy Rescission.
This memo provides clarification on questions related to the Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data by Visual Observation. As of May 17, 2021, visual observation and identification was no longer an allowable practice for CACFP operators, SFSP operators, or State agencies to use during the collection of racial or ethnic data (per CACFP 11-2021, SFSP 07-2021).
Race and Ethnicity Data Collection
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires all Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators to collect Race and Ethnic Data at the site level at least once per program year. This helps to determine how effectively FNS programs are reaching potential eligible persons and beneficiaries. This data may be used to identify areas where additional outreach is needed, determine any barriers to access, and assess the institution’s and sponsor’s compliance.
Program operators should use methods that are based on self-identification and self-reporting. A best practice for this would be obtaining the information from parents or guardians or adult participants. Please review the full memo for more details on data collection methods.
Providing meals to participants must not be contingent upon families providing their racial and ethnic data.
Grace Period Granted
FNS recognizes that it will take some time to develop methods and gather data from alternative sources. As a result, there will be a grace period to develop these methods through December 31, 2022. During the grace period, program operators will not receive a finding of non-compliance during reviews. By January 1, 2023, program operators must have alternative means to capture the data.
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals team.
Now that the application deadline has passed and some of you have started operating, there are some reminders we want to share!
- Keep an eye on your participation to make sure you can adjust your ADA in WINS prior to submitting your claim. Remember, sponsors who use a FSMC/Vendor must adjust ADAs before the claim goes into error status.
- Any changes to mealtimes and/or service days must be approved by OSPI. Maintaining continuous communication with site staff is essential to ensuring all changes are reported in a timely manner.
- If any of your sites are going on a field trip, please be sure to submit a Field Trip Notification no later than the day before the field trip.
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals team.
Spread the word about your program using branded statewide promotion materials!
OSPI Child Nutrition Services collaborated with United Way of King County and the Washington Dairy Council to create statewide promotional materials for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). As part of the kickoff, each sponsor will be able to order a promotion kit for their sites at no cost!
Ordering Information
- Each SFSP Sponsor must order kit(s) to distribute to their sites.
- Ordering closes at the beginning of June—Submit your order soon! The earlier you order, the sooner your kits will arrive.
- Kits are expected to be on site no later than July 1, 2022.
Order Your SFSP Promo Kit(s) Today!
Kit Contents:
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Survey Flyer: This year CNS is going to be collecting information on how parents heard about summer meal sites. Post this flyer in a visible location during the week of July 25–29, 2022! We will collect this information directly from parents during the week of July 25–29, 2022. Parents can scan the QR code with their phone or visit the URL listed on the flyer to answer a few questions and register for a chance to win a $50 gift card courtesy of United Way of King County. Each kit includes one (1) survey flyer.
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Banner: Use this banner to promote your site throughout the summer months. Each kit includes one (1) banner.
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Stickers: Stickers can encourage participants to come to your site and try new foods! Each kit now includes 1,500 stickers (updated from 1,000 stickers).
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Bookmarks: Learning does not stop during the summer months! Inspire participants to read and spread the word with these double-sided bookmarks. Each kit now includes 700 bookmarks (updated from 500 bookmarks).
Statewide Branded Materials
We encourage you to use a printer of your choice to have additional items produced. You can use the images and graphics on the SFSP Resources webpage at no charge to you.
- Marketing Materials
- Social Media Content
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals Team.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides healthy meals to all children ages 18 & under, and students ages 21 and under enrolled in a Washington school district.
SFSP sponsors must promote meal access to all children. This includes providing accommodations for children with disabilities who have special dietary needs.
Typically, accommodations can be made within the meal pattern requirements. If this is the case, a medical statement is not required. Examples of this may include modifying the texture of meals (pureed, chopped, etc.) and substituting food items from the same component.
Potential Substitutions
Gluten Free Grains
- Corn products, such as tortillas, tortilla chips, popcorn, corn-based cereals
- Rice products, such as rice crackers, enriched white or brown rice, rice cereals
- Oat products, such as gluten-free oatmeal or oat-based granola bars
Allowable Milk Alternatives*
- Lactose-free milk
- Lactose-reduced milk
*Please note that non-dairy milk substitutes are not creditable in SFSP without a note signed by a state-recognized medical authority.
Meat Alternates
- Yogurt, flavored or unflavored and nonfat, low-fat, or whole
- Cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, American, or Swiss
- Beans or Peas, such as black beans, refried beans, chickpeas, or hummus
- Nuts/Seeds, such as almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds
- Please note that Nuts/Seeds may only comprise 50% of the M/MA component at lunch/supper.
- Nut/Seed Butters, such as almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower butter
- Eggs
Important Note: Tofu is not creditable under the SFSP.
Substitutions Outside the Meal Pattern
If an accommodation cannot be made within the meal pattern requirements, a statement signed by a state-recognized medical authority would need to be submitted. The statement must detail:
- Food(s) to be avoided
- How the food impacts the participant
- Food(s) to be substituted
OSPI has developed the Special Dietary Accommodations Form, available in both English & Spanish, as a resource. When supported by a signature from a state-recognized medical authority, meal modifications that do not meet meal pattern requirements can be claimed for reimbursement.
Resources on Special Dietary Accommodations
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals inbox.
Appeal procedures give USDA Child Nutrition Programs sponsors an avenue to appeal when the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Child Nutrition Services takes adverse administrative action as required by federal regulations.
These procedures are specific in what actions are appealable and what programs they apply to. Appeal procedures are included in Final Letters summarizing review findings; however, you may review the procedure at any time on our webpages.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Check out our SFSP Site Resources!
It is important to communicate with families as we transition back to normal SFSP operational requirements. We understand this may be challenging, as families have been able to grab meals and leave the past two summers. Two major changes from operations during the pandemic include:
- Requiring of all meals to be consumed on site.
- Parents or guardians no longer able to pick up meals for their children.
Resources
OSPI has the following resources to assist with this transition, which can be found on our SFSP Requirements and Materials page! We encourage sponsors to print up these resources and provide them to sites.
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals inbox.
| June 22 |
Final day to order your free SFSP Promo Kit! |
| July 15 |
June Claims Due in WINS - Make sure to adjust your ADA's before submitting your claim! |
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