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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released updated Civil Rights Division (CRD) policy memos.
Important Updates
These memos clarify prohibitions against discrimination based on sex in all USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs and related implementing regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.
What this means: Child Nutrition Program operators and sponsors must not discriminate or deny access to programs based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Next Steps
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Effective Immediately: If not currently part of your organizational practices, update program discrimination complaint processing procedures to include complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.
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Effective Immediately: Process any complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination as complaints of prohibited sex discrimination. There will not be a grace period for accepting and processing discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation and gender identity in FNS programs.
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Before August 3, 2022: Update webpages and documents with the updated USDA Child Nutrition Programs Nondiscrimination Statement.
- The nondiscrimination statement is required on all documents referring to program access, program approval, and widely distributed documents. Examples include: items distributed to the public, landing page of web pages, student handbooks, brochures, letters to families, or press releases.
- Child Nutrition Program operators and sponsors are required to take reasonable steps to ensure program access and benefits to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
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NEW! The USDA is currently working to translate the updated nondiscrimination statement into over 50 languages! Please do not translate the nondiscrimination statement at this time.
- OSPI CNS will update documents previously translated with the updated nondiscrimination statement. Please keep an eye out for future CNS Updates.
Additional Details
- OSPI CNS is ordering updated And Justice for All Posters and will be distributing them over the coming months. Until you receive the updated posters, please continue using the 2019 And Justice for All poster.
- We understand many program operators and sponsors are preparing materials for the upcoming program year.
- If your organization has already printed materials that include the previous nondiscrimination statement, you are not required to re-print documents.
- If your organization has not printed materials, please use the updated versions as they become available on the OSPI CNS webpages.
- OSPI CNS will be updating reference sheets, materials, and webpages in the coming weeks.
Questions? Please email the Child Nutrition inbox so we may assist.
The USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative is pleased to announce the availability of several new resources for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
CACFP Trainer's Tool: Milk Aide
The CACFP Trainer’s Tool: Milk Aide is a quick visual reminder of the different milk requirements under the meal patterns in the CACFP.
This resource is available in English and Spanish and can be found on the CACFP Trainer's Tool webpage. Team Nutrition CACFP Organizations will be able to order this resource as a magnet at a later date.
Sponsoring organizations and independent child care sites that participate in the CACFP are invited to become Team Nutrition CACFP Organizations on the Team Nutrition CACFP Organizations webpage. Existing Team Nutrition CACFP Organizations can update their information on the Team Nutrition CACFP Organization Search page.
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Printed CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets
CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets are now available to order in print for all who participate in USDA’s Child Nutrition Programs:
- Calculating Ounce Equivalents of Grains in the CACFP
- Offering Water in the USDA CACFP
- Serving Adults Participants in the USDA CACFP
- Serving Meat and Meat Alternates at Lunch and Supper in the USDA CACFP
- Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Foods for the CACFP Using the Ingredient List
To order, please visit Team Nutrition’s CACFP Meal Pattern Training worksheets webpage in English or Spanish, click on the name of the worksheet, and click on the link under “ordering” on the webpage.
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Additional Resources
Milk in the CACFP Web Quiz in Spanish
The Milk in the CACFP web quiz is now available in English and in Spanish! This quiz focuses on the meal pattern requirements related to milk in the CACFP. It is the latest addition to the collection of Team Nutrition web quizzes that cover a variety of nutrition topics, including:
- School Breakfast
- School Lunch
- Infant Nutrition (English and Spanish)
- Toddler Nutrition (English and Spanish)
- Older Adult Nutrition
- Meal Components
The complete quiz collection is available on the Team Nutrition Quizzes webpage.
Team Nutrition Photo Collection
Team Nutrition’s photo collection now includes 350 original photographs that can be used in nutrition education and training materials for CACFP operators. Photo albums that might be especially useful for the CACFP include Food Portions, Child Care Recipes, Handwashing, Infant Nutrition, and Nutrition Education.
For more tools and resources, sign up for Team Nutrition Updates!
It is time to start the preparation for the next program year!
A recorded FY23 renewal training, recorded tutorials and renewal references sheets are available to assist you through this process.
Resources
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Recorded Training and Tutorials Recorded trainings are located on our CACFP Annual Training Moodle Course. You will need to create a free Moodle account to view this training if you do not have one already.
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WINS Info Sheets WINS Information Sheets are located in WINS. To locate these resources, log into your profile and select the “Info” tab, then click on the “WINS Documentation and Job Aids” option.
- Child Care Sponsors
- Adult Day Care Sponsors
- Family Day Care Home Sponsors will receive an email directly from OSPI CNS.
Application Reminders
All costs, including food, require prior approval before the cost is incurred. Therefore, budget submissions must be approved prior to the start of the fiscal year, no later than September 30, 2022. It may take up to 30 days to process and approve a complete application.
Sponsors may choose to submit their application for approval past the September 1 deadline but may not be approved in time to receive reimbursement for meals served during October 2022.
Required in WINS
- Update Sponsor Profile
- Sponsor Application
- Site application(s)
- Site calendar(s)
- Budget
- Management Plan (multi-site sponsors)
- Contract Fact Sheet if using a FSMC or Vendor
Dates to Remember
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July 15: FY23 WINS Applications Open
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September 1: Deadline to submit WINS Applications and Components
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September: Required Annual Training modules will be available in Moodle. Annual training is required to continue your participation in the CACFP.
- Please note:
- If submitting your Sponsor Application in WINS prior to the release of the recorded Annual Updates Training, answer "No" to the question "Institution attended required OSPI training".
- Required Annual Updated Training is separate from the recorded "FY 23 Renewal Training" and the "What's New in CACFP" webinar conducted in May.
Sponsors who have had a gap in CACFP operation of a year or longer must reactivate their CACFP application in addition to the renewal requirements to operate CACFP in FY23.
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
P-EBT Summer and Children Under 6 Plans Approved!
Thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, many families in Washington state will start to receive Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits beginning late-July and through the end of the summer. These benefits will help buy groceries while children are home during the summer months.
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits are available to families with young children who are eligible for Basic Food benefits as well as school-aged children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meal programs. The Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits and will not impact immigration status.
Encourage Families to Sign Up for Up-To-Date Information
We encourage you to share out that families can sign up for text message alerts about the status of their child’s P-EBT by going to textpebt.dshs.wa.gov. All they have to do is fill out a simple verification form to enroll.
Families Can Still Access Summer Meals
P-EBT benefits do not replace any food assistance program already offered, including free summer meals or meals provided in child care centers. Families are encouraged to continue participating in a summer meal program at their local schools and community locations, even if they receive P-EBT benefits.
P-EBT benefits can be used to shop at any grocery store, farmers market, or food retailer certified to accept SNAP/EBT.
P-EBT Plan Information
The Children Under 6 and Summer 2022 P-EBT programs will be available as follows:
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P-EBT Children Under 6 program: Qualifying children under age 6 who live in a household that receives Basic Food benefits (the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Washington state’s Food Assistance Program) may receive $43 for each month they received Basic Food assistance from September 2021 – June 2022.
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Summer 2022 P-EBT program: Qualifying children under age 6 as well as school-aged children will receive a one-time lump sum of $391 per child to cover the summer period through July and August 2022. School-aged children enrolled in Washington state schools that operate the NSLP who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits. Children under 6 will receive benefits under this plan as long as they receive Basic Food assistance during July and August.
- These benefits are separate from a P-EBT 2021-2022 School Year program, which has not been approved by USDA at this time.
To ensure children who may be newly eligible receive P-EBT benefits, schools should encourage families to complete the free and reduced-price meal program application by August 31, 2022. Families should contact their district for meal application information.
P-EBT Contact Center
For full details and additional questions about P-EBT benefits, families can visit dshs.wa.gov/PEBT or call the P-EBT Contact Center at 833-518-0282 between 8 am and 5 pm PT, Monday-Friday (except observed holidays).
 The Washington State Broadband Office and the Washington State Office of Equity are leading the Washington State Digital Equity Forum. Access to broadband services is essential and Washington residents are still struggling to get online. The state’s goal is to provide all residents access to high-speed broadband – 150 Megabits per second download and upload – by 2028.
Your Feedback is Crucial!
Your feedback will help the Washington State Digital Equity Forum make recommendations to the Washington State Legislature to improve internet access for all people in Washington.
We encourage you to complete the Digital Equity Forum Community Survey to help guide recommendations, as well as share out information with those you serve. All responses are anonymous. The survey is offered in several languages including, Arabic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and more.
If you have any additional accessibility needs, please contact the Washington State Broadband Office at (360) 688-3473 or 711 (Washington Relay) or send an email with your accessibility request to the Digital Equity team.
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.
Join the Next Call
This session will explore the intersections of Outdoor Nature Based learning and Farm to ECE. Hear from presenters who have experience facilitating nature based activities and leave with resources to start your own!
Register now to attend the Next Community of Practice Call
Date: Tuesday, July 26
Time: 3 pm PT
You can view the recording of the last meeting using this link..
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