Welcome Back to a New Year!
While it's only January, it's already time for us to start thinking about Summer Meals, and what better way than a kickoff event?
The last couple years have brought us lots of changes in our programs. To help stay in touch, we invite you to join us for a short webinar next month. During this webinar, we will introduce staff, discuss training, and provide information regarding 2023 SFSP plans.
Register for the 2023 SFSP Kickoff Webinar
Date: Wednesday, February 15
Time: 2–3 pm PT
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Food establishments, including school food authorities (SFAs), will be required to have at least one employee with a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certificate starting on March 1, 2023, per WAC 246-215-02107.
The CFPM’s responsibilities include training managers and staff, implementing a food safety program, and ensuring food safety requirements and procedures are followed. A CFPM is not required to be employed at each site. One employee may be the CFPM for all sites within an organization (such as the Food Service Director). If the CFPM leaves employment, a new CFPM must be on staff within 60 days.
The CFPM certificate must be obtained through an ANSI accredited organization. You can view a list of accredited organizations that issue food protection manager certifications on the Washington Department of Health’s (DOH) website. National Restaurant Association ServSafe, Food Protection Manager Training meets the CPFM certification requirements.
Resources:
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Civil Rights Requirements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated their nondiscrimination statement in May 2022 to clarify prohibitions against discrimination based on sex in all USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs.
Sponsors must:
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Update program discrimination complaint processing procedures to include complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, if not currently part of your organizational practices.
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Process any complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination as complaints of prohibited sex discrimination.
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Ensure webpages and other widely distributed documents contain required Civil Rights information, including:
- 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.
- OSPI CNS updated documents to include the updated statement in English and Spanish. USDA will be updating their Nondiscrimination Statement Webpage as additional translations are made available. Be sure to use the document listed under the "All Other Programs NDS" column.
- Information regarding Child Nutrition Programs in languages commonly encountered in your program(s).
- Operators and sponsors are required to take reasonable steps to ensure program access and benefits to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
- Information regarding accommodating disabilities and special dietary needs in your program(s).
- Details on how to file a Civil Rights complaint, including complaint procedures.
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Continue using the 2019 'And Justice for All' posters OSPI CNS has ordered updated 'And Justice for All' posters, we are currently waiting to receive these items and will announce when distribution will begin. Until you receive the updated posters, please continue using the 2019 'And Justice for All' posters in areas where participants may see it.
Civil Rights Training
Civil Rights training must be completed annually by all staff who help administer a Child Nutrition Program. Program directors and administrators must train staff on organizational practices and requirements.
Review Your Requirements with the CNS Civil Rights Training!
CNP sponsors, administrators, and directors of organizations must be trained annually on Civil Rights requirements, as well as train program staff on their requirements. While this training goes over what is required for Civil Rights training, it does not go into your organization’s practices. Additional training must be provided to staff to meet requirements.
How To Access This Training
Anyone is able to access the Civil Rights training in the Moodle platform. NOTE: You must have a Moodle Account to access this training.
Questions? Please email the Child Nutrition inbox so we may assist.
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It's hard to believe that we transitioned to weekly program newsletters over three years ago! Over the past several months, OSPI CNS has been looking at our current practices and leaning into questioning how to best serve you by asking ourselves, "Does this still work?"
Changes to Newsletters
We heard you! OSPI CNS wants to ensure the information shared in newsletters continues to be pertinent and timely.
We will continue to share information in newsletters based on program (School Meals, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program). Keep an eye out for these changes:
- Newsletters will come to your inbox on the 2nd and 4th Mondays every month!
- Regular office hours with your Program Specialist — Office hours will provide opportunities for us to share important information and for you to ask questions. Reach out to your program specialist for their office hours information.
By changing to this format, we hope that you'll have more time to focus on what you do best—serving children delicious meals, while also ensuring you have the information to operate your programs successfully!
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To help you navigate the CNS Newsletter format, here are a few helpful tips:
1. Use the Table of Contents at the Beginning of the Newsletter
At the top of every newsletter there is a table of contents to give you an overview of what you MUST look at and what is "good to know" (see details below).
2. See "Action Item" at the beginning of the article?
"Action Items" are things that require action on your part. Not completing required steps may result in delay of renewal or reimbursement for meals served.
3. See "Update" at the beginning of the article?
Articles with the word Update at the beginning indicates that there is an important update in regards to State or USDA requirements. These are the articles you must review to stay in the loop about requirements.
4. If you see "Reminder" at the beginning of the article
Reminders are previous "updates" that are still important, but were shared in previous newsletters.
5. How about "FYI"?
If you see an article starting with FYI, this is a good-to-know. These include resources, outside trainings and opportunities, grant opportunities from partner agencies, or other good-to-know type of items.
6. Highlights
CNS Highlights are articles highlighting good practices, Food, Body, and Mind Awardees, and other items.
7. Important Dates to Remember
You will find these at the bottom of every newsletter. They will include things like claim due dates, upcoming training and webinars, and other important dates.
We hope this is helpful! If you have any questions or comments about newsletters, please reach out to Sam Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
In September 2022, the USDA issued a Final Rule for streamlining Program requirements and improving integrity in the SFSP. The rule became effective 10/1/2022, and compliance with the provisions must begin May 1, 2023. Key aspects of the Final Rule are:
- Decrease paperwork burdens while making permanent operational flexibilities.
- Give sponsors the ability to focus program oversight and technical assistance on sites that need it most.
- Ease redundant requirements for high performing, experienced program operators.
- Provide local control of meal service times and allow children to take one non-perishable item offsite to eat later.
- Provide clarification on performance standards, program definitions, and other program requirements.
- This rule also codifies FNS’ statutory waiver authority for all child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and SFSP.
CNS will go over the impact of these changes on SFSP operations during annual training. More information can be found on USDA's Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP webpages.
Register now to attend free, live, interactive training sessions for child nutrition professionals offered by the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN). These virtual training sessions feature individual lessons led by ICN's expert trainers on important topics for child nutrition professionals in child care programs.
Trainings will be held in January–March 2023. Some of the child care trainings include:
- Food Safety in Child care (4 hours)
- Introductions to Happy Mealtimes in Child Care Settings (4 hours)
- Norovirus in Child Care (2 hours)
- Training Culturally Diverse Groups (4 hours)
- Basic Culinary Math (4 hours)
For a list of trainings as well as training dates and times, please visit ICN’s VILT Registration page.
Registration is limited to 25 participants per session, and training sessions will fill up quickly.
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