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USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative has released five revised Team Nutrition publications to assist Child Nutrition Program operators with serving meals in their programs. The resources have been updated to remove guidance related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and reflect the current Team Nutrition URL.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) publications:
OSPI has created a customizable sponsor staff training, training agenda, and sign in sheet!
The CACFP Sponsor Staff Training is a train-the-trainer module to assist institutions with CACFP annual required staff training including the six required training components all Sponsor staff must be trained on. The slides are customizable to include internal policies and procedures of how your organization operates its CACFP program.
The CACFP Staff Training Agenda & Attendance template can be used to document what training topics were covered and which staff attended.
Find these resources on the Child and Adult Care Food Program Training page under the Requirements for Training your Staff drop down.
Staff Training Reference sheets are also available:
In November, USDA released TA 01-2024: Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs.
This memorandum is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/crediting-traditional-indigenous-foods and supersedes TA 01-2015: Child Nutrition Programs and Traditional Foods. It includes an updated and expanded list of traditional Indigenous foods. This memorandum is part of an effort to promote serving traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). For more information please visit the Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs webpage.
Information related to buying local meat, poultry, seafood, game, and eggs can be found in SP 01-2016, CACFP 01-2016, SFSP 01-2016 Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game, and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs – REVISED which clarifies the regulatory requirements related to food safety. .
As a reminder Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local, (including Tribal) laws and regulations.
Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game, and Eggs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recently revised SP 01-2016, CACFP 01-2016, SFSP 01-2016: Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game and Eggs. The memo clarifies the regulatory requirements related to food safety and provides a series of questions and answers included as an attachment. Questions six, seven, and eight are updated to better reflect opportunities to access domesticated and wild game. Program operators are required to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local, (including Tribal) laws and regulations.
Crediting of Tofu and Soy Yogurt
USDA also released SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, SFSP 02-2024: Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. This memo supersedes SP 53-2016, CACFP 21-2016: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program from August 8, 2016. The new policy memo provides guidance on the following:
- Crediting tofu and soy yogurt products in the Child and Adult Care Food Program,
- Extends previous guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products to the Summer Food Service Program,
- Extends previous guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products to the infant meal pattern in the Child and Adult Care Food Program,
- Explains how to credit tofu and soy yogurt in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program.
OSPI has been notified by dairy processors and distributors of potential milk shortages due to the shortage of cardboard for half pints of milk. Under current Program regulations (7 CFR 226.20(e)(1)). Sponsors may still participate in the Program if emergency conditions are the cause. Therefore, Sponsors may serve meals during the emergency period with an alternate form or variety of fluid milk, with OSPI approval. Details may also be found in SP 01-2024, CACFP 01-2024, SFSP 01-2024: Clarification of Allowable Flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages.
If you are experiencing a milk shortage that prevents service of the required CACFP compliant milk type/variety, you may request a waiver to allow meals to be served and claimed for reimbursement without the appropriate milk. Waivers will only be approved for the duration necessary and as shortages occur.
Waivers will not be approved if the appropriate milk type/variety is available in gallon plastic containers, and it is feasible for your staff to pour into cups for meal service.
Please contact your Program Specialist for more details.
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Operation of the CACFP is not transferable between businesses when ownership changes occur. Reimbursement to the previous owner will not be granted after the date of the ownership change.
The new owners must start the CACFP application process to become a CACFP Sponsor with the new:
- Business name
- Tax ID number
- Statewide Payee Number
The application process may take up to three months or longer. During this time, claims may not be submitted for reimbursement by the new or previous program sponsor. New CACFP sponsors may begin claiming meals for reimbursement once the Child Nutrition Programs Unified Permanent Agreement has been signed by both OSPI and the CACFP Sponsor.
If your business is anticipating an ownership change, notify your specialist as soon as possible. Your CACFP specialist will assist you and the new business owner through this transition.
Authorized users must be kept up to date in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS). WINS Authorized Users may make changes to your WINS Application, Site Application(s), Site Calendar(s), Budgets, Management Plan and file claims. It is important that only current and approved individuals are able to login to your organization’s WINS account.
Please use the instructions listed in the Adding and Removing WINS Users reference sheet when updating your Authorized Users.
Seven scholarship opportunities will be available from the National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) for the 2024 National Child Nutrition Conference in Orlando, Florida April 22–26, 2024.
Through the scholarship program, NCA recognizes the professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that our nation's most vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food.
Apply for NCA Scholarship Today!
Applications are due by Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 and recipients will be announced in February. Scholarships include conference registration fees, lodging, and some transportation costs. Eight additional scholarships will be awarded to attend the conference virtually.
Eligible applicants include:
- Sponsoring Organizations
- Family Home Providers
- Child Care Centers
- Adult Day Care Centers
- Head Start programs
- School Districts
- At-Risk Afterschool Sites
- Emergency Shelters
- Summer Food Sites
- Food Banks
- Tribal Nations
As a sponsoring organization (CACFP sponsors with 2 or more sites) are you familiar with:
- CACFP’s Performance Standards and requirements specific to financial viability?
- The purpose and importance of monitoring, monitoring review elements, and best practices for conducting monitoring reviews?
- The purpose of the serious deficiency process and the six steps of the serious deficiency process for day care home providers?
Training Designed for You!
CORE online training courses are designed to train on important Program requirements.
Available courses include:
- Financial Viability
- Monitoring and Oversight
- Serious Deficiency (intended for day care home Sponsors only)
The online courses can be accessed using a desktop, laptop, or Android or iOS mobile app. Register for CORE training today!
The USDA Farm to School Grant is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts.
The Farm to School Grant awards up to $500,000 with no minimum award amount. The funding support projects over 24 months. Applicants are required to provide matching support of at least 25 percent of the total project budget in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Applications are due Friday, January 12, 2024.
For additional information please see the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program website.
December – Lentils
Fun Facts:
- Lentils are a type of pulse. The name “pulse” refers to pols, a thick soup. They grow in pods and appear as lens-shaped seeds.
- Lentils were among one of the first crops to be domesticated in the Near East and have been part of our diets since the Stone Age.
- Like other legumes, lentils add nitrogen to the soil, improving soil health. This makes them a good rotational crop with wheat and other grains.
- Lentils are available in a variety of colors which include brown, yellow, green, red, and black.
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Nutrition Information:
Lentils are an excellent source of fiber, protein, and folate. Lentils are also a good source of iron, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Selection and Storage:
Select lentils that are dry and clean. Store lentils in airtight containers in a dry, dark, and cool place for up to a year. Cooked lentils can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipes:
Educational Resources:
For more ideas about what items you could feature as a Harvest of the month, visit WSDA’s Washington Grown Food & Recipe Kit and USDA’s Seasonal Produce Guide.
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December 15
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November Claims Due in WINS
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December 30
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October 60-Day Claiming Deadline—if you haven't already, submit your claim
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