In April USDA released a set of nationwide waivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CDE has released their guidance on applying for the waiver specific to meal pattern flexibility. There is an extra step to apply for this one. You can see the guidance and application expectations below. If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to reach out to the Roundtable to field them with the community and the state: samantha@ccfproundtable.org.
On April 20, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response #91: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for School Year (SY) 2021–22, which allows CACFP Operators to submit a request to the California Department of Education (CDE) to waive one or more of the following three CACFP meal pattern requirements, effective July 1, 2021:
That at least one serving per day, across all eating occasions, must be whole grain-rich
That the crediting of grains by ounce equivalents (oz eq) must be fully implemented by October 1, 2021
That low-fat (1 percent) milk must be unflavored
Note: The California Healthy Beverages in Child Care Act does not allow flavored milk to be served to children in licensed centers and homes. Therefore, the flexibility to waive the requirement that low-fat (1 percent) milk must be unflavored only applies to milk served to:
Adults in adult day care centers
Children six years and older in unlicensed centers
Participants ages 18 through 24 in emergency shelters (meals are only reimbursable to this age group until the date the COVID–19 health emergency is lifted)
The USDA and the California Department of Education (CDE) encourage CACFP Operators to meet the CACFP meal pattern requirements to the greatest extent possible, but recognize that in some situations, it might not be possible. CACFP Operators may request to waive one or more of the CACFP meal pattern requirements listed above by submitting a CACFP Meal Pattern Waiver (MPW) Application, documenting the flexibilities requested and providing justification for the request(s). The intent of the USDA meal pattern waiver is to utilize only as needed. To comply with this goal, the CDE has established the following three timeframes for CACFP Operators to opt into the CACFP MPW:
July 1–December 31, 2021
January 1–March 31, 2022
April 1–June 30, 2022
Each CACFP MPW is valid from the date the CACFP Operator receives an approval email from the CDE through the end of each timeframe. For example, a CACFP MPW Application submitted for the July 1–December 31, 2021 timeframe, is only valid from the date the CACFP Operator receives an approval email from the CDE through December 31, 2021. CACFP MPW requests are not automatically approved upon submission.
CACFP Operators who need to continue to waive the specific meal pattern requirements allowed in the USDA COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response #91 after December 31, 2021, must resubmit a CACFP MPW Application for the next timeframe (e.g., January 1–March 31, 2022), and receive an approval email from the CDE before using the flexibilities.
The CDE will notify CACFP Operators when the CACFP MPW Applications are available for the January 1–March 31, 2022 and April 1–June 30, 2022 timeframes.
Starting July 1, 2021, all previously submitted MPW Applications expire. CACFP Operators may no longer waive the meal pattern requirements that were allowed under the USDA COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response #70. For example, CACFP Operators may no longer waive the CACFP meal pattern requirements of limiting juice to one serving per day and ensuring breakfast cereals contain 6 grams of sugar or less per dry ounce after June 30, 2021. Additional information is available in the Meal Patterns Flexibilities section of the CACFP tab of the CDE COVID–19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs web page. Please thoroughly read the information on this web page prior to submitting a CACFP MPW Application. Contact Information If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the CDE MPW Team by email at CACFPMPW@cde.ca.gov. Thank you. Nutrition Services Division California Department of Education COVID-19 Guidance in CNPs | https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cnpcovid19guidance.asp NSD Customer Service Survey | www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/nsdcs.asp Web | www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/ Twitter | @CDENutrition Course Catalog | www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/ed/cnpcoursecatalog.asp
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The CACFP Roundtable is committed to fostering a community of leaders who work together to build equitable access to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and nutritious meals in care settings. Your support goes toward programs and advocacy that help us get closer to ensuring everyone has the right to nutritious meals and making the CACFP an even better Food Program for all.