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Now that the application deadline has passed and some of you have started operating, there are some reminders we want to share!
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Claiming
Keep an eye on your participation to make sure you can adjust your Average Daily Attendance (ADA) in WINS prior to submitting your claim. Remember, sponsors who use an FSMC/Vendor must adjust ADAs before the claim goes into error status.
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Meal Service
- 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.
- Make sure each meal service takes place within the approved WINS mealtime.
- 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.
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Food Safety is Everyone's Responsibility!
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Staff Changes
- All site supervisors, staff and volunteers must be trained before they assist with SFSP operations. If you have a new staff supervisor or staff member who is not listed in WINS, please update your site application(s) as soon as possible!
- Staff must be trained on topics based on their role in the SFSP. OSPI CNS created several short, topic-based SFSP trainings available in Moodle that sponsors can incorporate into staff trainings. There are several different training topics such as Monitoring, Menu Planning, Offer Vs. Serve, Point of Service Meal Counting, and more!
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals team.
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.
Translations Update
The USDA posted additional translations of the updated statement to their Nondiscrimination Statement webpage. When utilizing these materials, be sure to use the document listed under the "All Other Programs NDS" column.
Public Notification Requirement
USDA Child Nutrition Program sponsors have the responsibility to inform applicants, participants, grassroots organizations, and potentially eligible persons of information such as:
- Program availability
- Changes in programming
- The policy of non-discrimination
- The procedure for filing a Civil Rights complaint
- Your organization's responsibilities to be compliant with Civil Rights rules and regulations
Public notification responsibilities include websites or webpages used for the promotion of the Child Nutrition Programs and public-facing documents.
Operators and sponsors are required to take reasonable steps to ensure program access and benefits to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Steps to Complete
- Ensure webpages and other widely distributed documents contain required Civil Rights information.
- 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.
- Be on the lookout for CNS documents to be updated with the current NDS statement. Utilize these documents once available.
- OSPI CNS updated documents to include the updated statement in English and Spanish. We are in the process of updating documents translated into other languages.
- 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.
- For more information, please review the 6/26 Keep Using The 2019 "And Justice for All" Posters update.
Resources
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
It's 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 during the height of the pandemic. Two key changes from operations during the pandemic include:
- Requiring all meals to be consumed on site.
- Parents or guardians are no longer able to pick up meals for their children.
Best Practices
- If a child asks for additional meals for siblings/friends who are not present, remind them you must be able to see the child who is receiving the meal.
- Put up clear signage reminding participants meals must be eaten on site.
- Set up a visible perimeter, such as cones or yard signs, and make a rule that meals cannot be taken past the established perimeter.
- Provide enrichment activities that entice participants to stay; bubble blowers, coloring sheets, books, other types of entertainment – get creative!
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.
In accordance with the USDA SFSP Program Integrity Final rule; SFSP 08-2023: Guidance on Site Selection Criteria during Reviews in the SFSP; and SFSP 10-2023: Initial Site Visits in the Summer Food Service Program, there have been some permanent changes to how monitoring may be conducted in SFSP.
Review the SFSP Monitoring Requirements Reference Sheet for additional information.
Important Changes
SFSP Administrative Reviews
In addition to these new flexibilities, OSPI as the state agency must review at least 10% of a sponsor’s sites or 1 site, whichever is greater, when conducting an Administrative Review (AR) for SFSP. The following factors will be considered when conducting site selection for ARs (per 7 CFR 225.7(e)(5)(i)):
- The maximum number of meals approved to serve under 7 CFR 225.6(h)(1) and 7 CFR 225.6(h)(2)
- Method of obtaining meals (i.e., self-preparation or vended meal service)
- Time since last site review by the State Agency
- Type of site (e.g., open, closed enrolled, camp)
- Type of physical location (e.g., school, outdoor area, community center)
- Rural designation (i.e., rural, as defined in 7 CFR 225.2, or non-rural)
- Affiliation with the sponsor, as defined in 7 CFR 225.2.
Compliance with the provisions of this rule must begin by May 1, 2023.
Questions? Email the Summer Meals Team.
Please use the https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids web address when sharing out the USDA Summer Meal for Kids Site Finder. This new link is both desktop and mobile friendly unlike the original link provided.
We understand the difficulty many of you have faced and will continue to face as SFSP operations return to traditional requirements, including congregate feeding. The safety of sponsors, staff, and participants is our priority. If you experience any challenges and/or safety issues during SFSP operations, please reach out to the summer meals team to discuss options.
Questions? 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 must 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 Team.
If you did not receive promotional materials at one of our in-person trainings, you may place your order for materials using the link below from our partner, the United Way of King County. They will process and ship materials to you directly.
Order SFSP Promo Materials
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals Team.
Happy Farm to Summer Week!
OSPI CNS celebrates the use of locally produced food in SFSP and can’t wait to see the great efforts you’ve made to include local foods and nutrition or agricultural enrichment activities into your summer meal service.
Share your Farm to Summer success stories on social media using #WAFarmtoSummer.
Would you like to learn more about how to integrate local farm fresh foods into your meal service? Check out these resources:
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Summer Squash
Did you know squash is one of the earliest plants domesticated in the Americas? This bountiful plant is typically available in Washington from July to October. Some other interesting facts about squash:
- They are related to cucumbers and melons.
- Zucchinis are so easy to grow and so abundant that Aug 8 is "National Sneak Some Zucchini onto your Neighbor’s Porch Day"!
- The largest ever recorded zucchini came in at just under 70 inches long and weighed 65 pounds!
Nutrition Information
- Contains vitamins C, B6, beta-carotene, and manganese.
- Zucchini has more potassium than a banana.
- Is a good source of fiber.
Selection and Storage
- Choose summer squash that is firm and free of cuts and bruises.
- Choose squash that are about 6 to 8 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter.
- Store zucchini in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- Do not wash it until you are ready to use it.
- Cooked zucchini can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days.
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Recipes
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