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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires each Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsoring organization (sponsors with 2 or more sites on the CACFP) to provide adequate supervisory and operational personnel. This is to maintain effective management and monitoring of the program at all sponsored sites. Each sponsoring organization must employ monitoring staff sufficient to meet the federal requirements set forth in 7 CFR 226.16(b)(1).
The beginning of the fiscal year is an ideal time to create a monitoring schedule that includes unannounced visits and incorporates observation of a variety of meal types. This helps ensure monitoring requirements are being met. Additionally, if you have had a new site begin operation in FY 24, it must be monitored within the first 4 weeks of operation.
Keep these CACFP monitoring requirements in mind when creating your schedule:
- Child Care Sites need to have 3 monitoring visits each FY.
- At least two of the reviews must be unannounced.
- At least one unannounced review must include observation of a meal service.
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At least one review must be during each new facility’s first four weeks of operations.
- No more than 6 months may elapse between reviews.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) operating At-Risk only school sites only need 2 monitoring visits per SY.
Visit CACFP Site monitoring page for up-to-date monitoring forms.
Team Nutrition released two new training modules featuring the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG). These modules provide a step-by-step tour through the Exhibit A Grains Tool and FBG Calculator available on the FBG Interactive Web-Based Tool and Mobile App. Each module provides an in-depth look at each tool and interactive knowledge checks to assist the learner.
Topics covered include:
- Module 4: Exhibit A Grains Tool
- Module 5: FBG Calculator
These modules and other trainings such as webinar recordings can be accessed on the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Training Resources.
Also check out modules 1, 2, and 3 on the Institute of Child Nutrition’s iLearn Portal.
FNS released revised policy memorandum, CACFP 11-2023 “Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers (Revised September 2023).” The memorandum provides updated guidance on feeding infants and the infant meal pattern. It also includes Questions and Answers in the Attachment.
This revision incorporates updated breastmilk storage recommendations, infant formula food safety considerations, information on crediting grains in ounce equivalents, and includes four new questions and answers. This memorandum supersedes CACFP 02-2018: Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers, October 19, 2017.
Effective September 1, 2023, OSPI changed the current website address from k12.wa.us to ospi.k12.wa.us. This change is required for improved security.
Please make sure to update your bookmarks, links, and saved pages to reflect this change, as redirects will only be in place for a period of 6 months. Rest assured, all the content and functionality you've come to rely on will remain intact at the new URL.
OSPI will be working to update all links within webpages and imbedded in documents over the next few months.
Institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are required to conduct a study month annually in October. Program reimbursement for each institution is based on the income levels of the families that they serve. The study month establishes the percentages of the meals that will be paid at the free, reduced-price, and above scale rates.
*At-Risk Programs, Emergency Shelters, and ECEAP or Head Start only programs are exempt from this requirement.
October has Ended, Now What?
Starting November 1st, Sponsors are able to create their study month roster listing children who were in attendance during the month of October. Once rosters have been compiled, free, reduced-price or above scale eligibility for each child can be assigned to set the rate of reimbursement for the fiscal year.
For more information on how to compile your study month roster, review the Study Month Tips reference sheet. Visit the 'Study Month' dropdown on the CACFP Requirements and Materials webpage for study month documents, Attendance Rosters, and recorded Study Month training.
Entering Study Month Numbers in WINS
- Study month numbers must be entered with your October claim. If study month numbers are not entered, the October claim will remain in “error“.
- Study month numbers will show as “pending” in WINS until the claim has been paid. There is no need for OSPI to approve study month numbers in WINS.
Changes are coming in FY24 to CACFP Office Hours. Office hours will now be called “Technical Assistance Support”. Your regional Specialist will continue to offer these virtual sessions monthly and include a CACFP topic to highlight. Technical Assistance Support dates/times will no longer be advertised in the CNS Update. You will be sent an email directly from your CACFP Specialist inviting you to attend.
Technical Assistance (TA) Support Structure
TA Support will start with Specialists providing important CACFP updates and reminders. During the remainder of the session, specialists will provide technical assistance and training around specific CACFP topics.
Watch for emails from your Specialist for more information!
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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
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Child Nutrition Services has a new Fiscal Inbox!
Have questions about claims, grant payments or anything fiscal? Send an email to our CNS Fiscal Team at CNSFiscalServices@k12.wa.us.
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The FY24 Farm to School Grant Request for Applications (RFA) is now open and available online! The grant and related documents can be found at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=350548.
The grant will close January 12, 2024.
Two webinars will be held in early November to share additional information. Registration links are hyperlinked in the date/times below:
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 3:00pm ET-"Getting Familiar with the Fiscal Year 2024 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Request for Applications": This webinar will provide an overview of the FY 2024 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA), including updates to eligibility, funding priorities, and more. Get familiar with the requirements of the RFA and how to submit your completed application on Grants.gov.
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Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, 2:00pm ET - "Getting your Grant Package Together": During this webinar, we will explore the key characteristics of competitive Farm to School grant applications. We will review the required components and provide technical assistance on how to submit a complete application. Attendees will learn tips and tricks for writing a succinct application that clearly outlines your farm to school project.
Questions about the RFA should be directed to: SM.FN.FarmtoSchool@usda.gov.
Additional information about the FY24 USDA Farm to School Grant can be found on the Resources for Farm to School Grant Program Applicants page: https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/resources-farm-school-grant-program-applicants.
OSPI will feature a Harvest of the Month section highlighting one local food that will be in season the following month.
November - Delicata Squash
Fun Facts:
- The word squash comes from the Narragansett Native American word askutasquash, which means “eaten raw or uncooked”.
- Delicata squash is also called peanut squash, Bohemian squash, or sweet potato squash
- Delicatas are a winter squash that have a hard, but edible, skin.
- Squash is one of the earliest plants domesticated in the Americas. Archeologists have found squash rinds and seeds in cliff dwellings that date back to 1500 B.C.
Nutrition Information:
- Contains high levels of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which converts to Vitamin A
- Good source of Vitamin C
- Healthy source of fiber
- Contains polysaccharides that help regulate and/or control blood sugar
Selection and Storage:
- Select a squash that is firm, heavy for its size and has an even cream color.
- Ripe delicata squash are yellow with green striations and unripe delicata squashes are light green.
- Avoid squashes that have soft spots, dull and wrinkled skin or that are extremely light for their size.
- Because of its edible skin and uniform shape, the delicata squash requires little preparation.
Recipes:
Educational Resources:
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Harvest for Healthy Kids has fantastic activity kits for a variety of produce items including winter squash. Activity kits include activity plans, picture cards in, teacher & family newsletters in English, Spanish and Russian, as well as recipes.
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October 30
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August 60-Day Claiming Deadline—if you haven't already, submit your claim
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November 15
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October Claims Due in WINS
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