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Hello! My journey into child nutrition started 15 years ago as a teacher in a preschool classroom of 20 three year olds. Through the years I learned from Child Nutrition Services how to create nutritional and fun menus that young children enjoyed. My degree is in Human Development K-12 with a concentration in Special Education. I also have completed my WA State stackable certificates in Early Childhood Education. I am the oldest of 5 girls, a mother to a wonderful and amazing 14 year old human, and have a Boxer pup named Max. As the CACFP Region 5 Specialist, I will be providing support for South Pierce, Lewis, Pacific, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties. |
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 can be appealed 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.
New yield data is available in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based (FBG) Tool and FBG Mobile App.
Explore the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs today!
- apple
- bananas
- chokecherries
- taro
- fresh apples
Over the past year, Team Nutrition has added previously-announced yield data for:
- sorghum
- purees (banana, blueberry, and strawberry)
- frozen mango
- frozen berry blend
- frozen cherries
- frozen cauliflower rice
- frozen diced carrots
- frozen legumes (black-eyed peas, navy beans, and garbanzo beans)
- mini sweet peppers
- pearled farro
- frozen mangoes
- fresh rambutan
- fresh lychee
- fresh and canned mandarins
- frozen legumes (dark red kidney beans and white kidney beans)
- pouched tuna
Stay tuned for additional yield data releases coming soon.
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the planned end date for the COVID-19 public health emergency is May 11, 2023.
To prepare for the expiration of nationwide onsite monitoring waivers impacted by this date, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued memorandums for Child Nutrition Programs. These memorandums provide guidance on oversight and monitoring once the public health emergency ends.
Please note: The attached appendix accompanying the memorandum presents onsite and offsite strategies for Sponsoring Organizations to incorporate in their reviews. Use of these strategies must be approved by OSPI Child Nutrition Services before they can be utilized.
Please review information found on the CACFP 07-2023 Oversight and Monitoring of the Child and Adult Care Food Program - Guidance on On-site and Off-site Strategies and Options webpage.
For more information on Child Nutrition Memos Related to the Public Health Emergency please refer to the 2/27 CACFP Newsletter.
USDA released SP 07-2023, CACFP 06-2023, SFSP 04-2023: Unique Entity Identifier Transition to provide guidance regarding the use of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Federal agencies were directed to complete system transitions from the use of the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) to the UEI on April 4, 2022. Child Nutrition Program operators are required to obtain the UEI to receive reimbursement.
Based on the latest nutrition science and feedback from Child Nutrition Stakeholders across the nation, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing updates to the child nutrition standards. The proposed updates reflect the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines, as required by law, and build in time for planning and implementation to ensure Sponsors and the children they serve are set up for success.
USDA Wants Your Feedback
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has extended the deadline to submit comments on the “Child Nutrition Programs: Revision to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guideline for Americans” proposed rule to May 10, 2023.
Comments on the Proposed Rule can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Section 16 of the proposed rule provides a summary of the rule and a list of specific questions for which USDA is seeking public comments. For more information on submitting comments, please see Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.
Want to learn more?
View the Proposed Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Revision to Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in the Federal Register.
Available Webinars
Proposed CACFP/SFSP Meal Pattern Revisions Webinar
USDA FNS presented a webinar on March 1 tailored specifically for CACFP and SFSP sponsors. You can access the Child Nutrition Programs Proposed Rule: Revisions to the CACFP & SFSP Meal Patterns presentation by registering for the on-demand recording.
Proposed Child Nutrition Program Meal Pattern Revisions Webinar
If you would like to know about proposed revisions across all Child Nutrition Programs, you can access the recorded webinar, Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Proposed Rule on FNS’s Website.
The renewal closing date for the current program year is June 30, 2023.
If your organization is planning to operate the CACFP August or September 2023 and is not operating the program this school year, you must complete the program renewal application in WINS no later than June 30, 2023.
Sponsors most affected by this change are those who plan to operate At-Risk or Pre-school programs. For more information on this, please refer to the FY23 CACFP Annual Updates Webinar.
To start the FY23 renewal process, refer to the CACFP Application and Renewal Reference Sheet and the CACFP Preparing to Complete Renewal Application Checklist.
Please contact your Program Specialist if you have any questions.
CORE is a USDA FNS funded initiative designed to provide practical CACFP training to Sponsoring Organizations. Training resources are accessible online, in-person and via mobile device.
Online courses:
- Monitoring and Oversight
- Financial Viability/ CACFP performance standards
- Serious Deficiency
Mobile App
The mobile app contains interactive child nutrition related micro lessons which include the following topics:
- Components of Corrective Action
- Elements of a finding
- Edit check best practices
- The five-day meal count reconciliation
- The 10 allowability cost factors
- Calculating non-profit food service
- Calculating the administrative fee
- Red Flags
The app is available on Google Play or the Apple Store.
To learn more about available courses and the mobile app, visit the CORE website.
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health was a great success due to valuable input provided by conference participants across the country. For more information about the conference, action steps and goals moving forward, please review the following:
Post-Conference Updates
To keep momentum of the Conference, please join the Biden-Harris administration for their first post-Conference monthly update.
Register for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Monthly Update session
Date: Wednesday, April 26
Time: 12:30 - 1:00 pm PT
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Each month your regional staff will be holding office hours. Specialists will start office hours by providing important CACFP updates and reminders. During the remainder of the session, specialists will provide technical assistance and training around specific CACFP topics. If a specialist outside of your region is hosting office hours with a topic of interest to you, please feel free to join! |
Office Hours This Week
Specialist: Jeannette Green, Region 3
Topic: CACFP Resources
Date: 4/28/2023 Time: 12:30 pm Click here to join the meeting
Upcoming May Office Hours Schedule
Specialist: Arianne McConchie, Region 9
Topic: USDA Proposed Rule - Meal Pattern Revisions
Date: 5/3/2023 Time: 2:00 pm Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Sandra Goodman, Region 5
Topic: Meet and Greet-New Program Specialist!
Date: 5/9/2023 Time: 9:30 am Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Tina Bischoff, Region 8
Topic: Recipes and the Food Buying Guide
Date: 5/10/2023 Time: 4:00 pm Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Jeannette Green, Region 3
Topic: Meal Counts
Date: 5/12/2023 Time: 12:30 pm Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Samantha Evans, Region 2
Topic: Recipes
Date: 5/15/2023 Time: 9:30 am Click Here to Join the Meeting
Specialist: Eddie Griffin, Region 7
Topic: Whole Grains
Date: 5/15/2023 Time: 11:00 am Click Here to Join the Meeting
Specialist: Teresa Diaz, Region 1
Topic: Recipes
Date: 5/22/2023 Time: 1:00 pm Click Here to Join the Meeting
Specialist: Andy Weaver, Region 6
Topic: Staff Training
Date: 5/22/2023 Time: 1:00 pm Click Here to Join the Meeting
Specialist: Molly Gleason, Region 4
Topic: CN Labels/Product Formulation Statements
Date: 5/22/2023 Time: 1:30 pm Click here to join the meeting
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Do you believe in the power of good nutrition? Are you interested in assisting school districts and other institutions in providing children with healthy and nutritious meals? CNS is seeking skilled candidates for several positions. Does this sound like you? Apply to join the CNS team today!
Current Recruitment
Administrative Program Specialist (In Training) Candidate Pool- Recruitment is ongoing. Looking to fill a position in Eastern Washington.
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The 2023 Team Nutrition Grant Application is now open!
The goal of the FY23 Team Nutrition Grant is to facilitate the adoption of healthy eating patterns by school-aged children (grades Pre-K through 12) through the coordination and implementation of MyPlate nutrition education connected to the nutritious meals and snacks offered through USDA Child Nutrition Programs.
Apply for This Grant
School Food Authorities (SFA) are eligible to apply for up to $1 million in grant funds. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with your local district to get nutrition education to those you serve!
Applications are due on Monday, May 22, 2023 by 8:59 pm PT.
SFAs can view the Request For Applications (RFA) and apply online using the grants.gov website. FNS expects to announce the grant awards in August 2023.
An informational webinar on this RFA was held on Wednesday, April 5. This webinar was recorded and will be posted on the Team Nutrition website.
Grant Objectives
The FY23 Team Nutrition Grant funds will support grant activities that focus on four objectives:
- Increasing the consumption of nutritious foods and beverages offered through the NSLP and CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals and Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC) via high-quality MyPlate nutrition education.
- Increasing awareness of the MyPlate symbol and accompanying MyPlate nutrition education tools, resources, and messages.
- Increase awareness of the nutritional contributions of meals and snacks offered to students from parents/caregivers, school coaches and athletic trainers, school nurses, afterschool program operators, and Pre-K through 12 teachers.
- Improving equity by increasing the number of students from historically underserved and marginalized populations who are reached by nutrition education resources, including resources and recipes that are culturally appropriate and/or in the preferred language of the students and their families.
- Increasing school community engagement in the development, implementation, and assessment of Local School Wellness Policies.
Additional information about the Team Nutrition Training Grant Program is available on the Team Nutrition Training Grants webpage.
Questions about this grant? Please email Anna Arrowsmith, Team Nutrition Grant Officer.
The National CACFP Sponsor Association (NCA) is hosting a training opportunity that may serve as annual training for Sponsor staff. This two-hour training is based on federal guidelines.
*Please note, this training is not offered by OSPI and will not fulfill Washington’s state specific annual training requirements.
Register for the NCA CACFP Training here
Date: May 10, 2023
Time: 11 am–1 pm PT (Live)
Cost: $29
This session will include:
- CACFP meal pattern
- Meal counts
- Claims submission & review procedures
- Recordkeeping requirement
- Monitoring requirements
- Reimbursement system
- Civil Rights
- Updates in the CACFP
On demand training will be available until June 7, 2023.
The Nutrition Facts Label- Look for it and Use it!
This resource will show you:
- Where nutrition fact labels are found
- How to use the information on the label to make healthy choices
*Available in both: English and Spanish
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CACFP Shopper App
This easy to use free app developed by the Iowa Department of Education will help you determine creditable foods to use in your CACFP!
- Interactive tool to help CACFP Sponsors determine creditable items while grocery shopping
- Includes a Foods for Infants section
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