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In FY 25, OSPI requires Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors to use the OSPI menu templates. These templates were created to eliminate common menu errors and reduce fiscal action.
Watch the CACFP Menu Template Tutorial to learn more about:
- Reasons for this change
- How to use the Word & Excel templates
- How to submit your organization’s menu template for OSPI approval
Select the “Menu Template” dropdown from our Meal Patterns and Menu Planning page to view all available templates.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released SP 03-2025, CACFP 03-2025, SFSP 01-2025, Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tribal Communities which provides updated guidance on substituting vegetables for grains in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This new menu planning option is intended to enhance the nutritional quality of meals and accommodate cultural food preferences.
Key Updates
- Allows eligible entities to use any creditable vegetable to substitute for the grains component, with an emphasis on traditional and culturally relevant vegetables.
- Vegetables substituted for grains do not count towards the vegetable component requirements and must be offered in addition to other vegetables to meet meal pattern requirements.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Eligible entities include Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and schools that are tribally operated, operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, or that primarily serve American Indian or Alaska Native children.
- Program operators must maintain eligibility documentation, such as certifying statements, aggregate data, and school or census data if they choose to use this menu planning option.
USDA recently released policy memo CACFP 01-2025, Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Questions and Answers.
Some key details from CACFP 01-2025 include:
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Milk Requirements: Milk is a required component at meals and Program operators have the choice to serve it as one of the two components for snacks. It can be fat-free, low-fat, whole, lactose-free, or lactose-reduced. Goat's milk is also allowed when it meets age-specific requirements for percent fat content.
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Age-Specific Rules:
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One-Year-Olds: Must be served unflavored whole milk. Breastmilk is also allowed.
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Two Years and Older: Must be served low-fat or fat-free milk. Whole or reduced-fat milk is not allowed unless for medical reasons.
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Flavored Milk: Only allowed for children 6 years and older and must be low-fat or fat-free.
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Milk Substitutes: Non-dairy milk substitutes must meet specific nutritional standards and can be served for non-disability reasons if requested in writing.
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Medical Statements: Required for milk substitutes due to disabilities and must be signed by a licensed healthcare professional or registered dietitian.
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Temporary Milk Shortages: Institutions can serve alternate forms of milk or meals without milk during emergencies.
The purpose of CACFP 02-2025, Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program is to outline the use of Offer Versus Serve (OVS) in the adult day care and at-risk afterschool settings, as well as the use of family style meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This memorandum contains two attachments that highlight frequently asked questions and answers and OVS examples for breakfast, lunch, and supper meal service.
In addition, this memorandum provides updates to terms consistent with the final rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 (89 FR 31962) published on April 25, 2024. This memorandum supersedes CACFP 05-2017, Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Some key details from CACFP 02-2025 include:
- Updates terminology from “food component” to “meal component” per CACFP regulations;
- Updates definitions listed under “Terms to Know;”
- Includes two new questions clarifying policy regarding meals for supervising adults (#13) and meal accommodations (#14);
- Includes an attachment with updated examples of OVS;
- Adopts standardized terminology such as “institutions and facilities;” and
- Reorganizes information throughout the memorandum for clarity.
Attend the upcoming USDA webinar to learn more about how kosher and halal foods fit into Child Nutrition Program meal patterns. Availability of the non-congregate waiver for Ramadan 2025 will be highlighted to show how your organization can support participants' access to meals throughout Ramadan.
Register Here
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 10–11am PT
The webinar will be offered with closed captioning. Participants who require a different accessibility tool to participate in this webinar please reach out to Sheila Kopczynski, FNS-RAC, at sheila.kopczynski@usda.gov or (208) 202-2811.
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Institutions participating in the CACFP are required to conduct a study month every October. Program reimbursement for each institution is based on the income levels of the families they serve. The study month establishes the percentages of 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 is Almost Over, Now What?
Starting November 1, sponsors can create their study month roster of children who attended 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 about 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 status."
- Study month numbers will show as "pending" in WINS until the claim has been paid. OSPI does not need to approve study month numbers in WINS.
Events and Webinars
Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Webinars
ASPHN is offering Farm to ECE related webinars throughout the coming year. The webinars will review topics, innovations, and ideas in Farm to ECE, especially as it relates to CACFP. These webinars are open to anyone who wishes to attend. View the schedule and sign-up.
Grant Opportunities
Award Amount: Donation of fruit trees and shrubs, equipment, on-site orchard design expertise and oversight, horticultural workshops, and aftercare training and manuals
Orchards are donated where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. This grant is open to nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, public schools, or government entities serving a charitable purpose.
On an annual basis, USDA awards competitive Farm to School grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs. USDA's Farm to School grants are an important way to help state, regional, and local organizations as they initiate, expand, and institutionalize farm to school efforts.
USDA is allowing organizations to select the type of Farm to School Grant that best fits their needs by offering three different requests for applications. Each organization can only submit one application for one grant:
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Implementation Grant: Improve access to local foods in eligible CNP sites through comprehensive farm to school programming that includes both local sourcing and agricultural education efforts. Award Amount: $50,000 – $500,000
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Action Planning: Develop a roadmap for launching or enhancing farm to school activities.
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Agricultural Education: Incorporate agricultural education into curricula.
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Edible Gardens: Implement a food production operation.
Learn more about this opportunity by attending USDA Office Hours.
Register Here
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Time: 10am–11am PT
Register Here
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
Time: 8am–9am PT
Register Here
Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Time: 12pm–1pm PT
Register Here
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Time: 11am–12pm PT
OSPI is excited to highlight the Boys and Girls Club of the Columbia Basin and their Farm to CACFP Week celebrations.
Check out their Facebook posts about an amazing apple donation and a snack time lesson all about Washington apples!
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