California Department of Education (CDE) has sent out several notifications this month about updates to the website, a survey and new virtual forums that are available. We've heard the CACFP Integrity Plan is really helpful for navigating what needs to be in place and thought of in regard to the waiver implementation.
CACFP Integrity Plan
"The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division (NSD) recognizes the challenge of providing nutritious meals to children and adults everyday while trying to keep up with the numerous changes, flexibilities, and nationwide waivers that have gone into effect over the past several months. As part of receiving the national waivers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires program operators to have a written plan in place to ensure program integrity while operating under numerous COVID-19 waivers. The NSD has developed a Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Integrity Plan guide to support program operators. When operating under the various waivers, program operators are required to maintain written procedures that outline plans to ensure the integrity of the CACFP while serving and distributing meals to a child or adult during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CACFP Integrity Plan guide assists program operators in the development of standard operating procedures (integrity plan) and helps identify some of the required documents program operators must collect and maintain to meet CACFP requirements while implementing the nationwide waivers. This guide also provides prompting questions that program operators should consider and answer when developing an integrity plan to ensure their procedures and documents address and meet all CACFP requirements related to preparing, serving, distributing and claiming meals served to children in their CACFP."
Cash-in-Lieu of USDA Foods Survey
"Every two years, the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) surveys Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Operators to determine the statewide interest in receiving either U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods entitlement or cash-in-lieu (CIL). Based on past survey results, currently all CACFP Operators receive CIL.
For each lunch and supper claimed, CACFP Operators receive an additional $0.2450, referred to as CIL of USDA Foods. For example, a center operator currently receives $3.755 for a lunch or supper reimbursed at the free rate—$0.2450 of this amount is the CIL. It is important to note that a CACFP Operator cannot receive both the additional $0.2450 CIL and USDA Foods entitlement.
For a current USDA Foods Price List containing products offered, quantities, and estimated entitlement prices, please visit the CDE USDA Foods Program Information web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/offeringinfo.asp.
The next survey to determine CACFP CIL or USDA Foods entitlement is scheduled for release in Program Year (PY) 2022–23, and we encourage CACFP Operators to participate in this survey. The NSD will use the feedback to determine viable USDA Foods options in the future.
Please complete the PY 2020-21 CIL survey at https://surveys2.cde.ca.gov/go/usdafoods2021.asp Contact Information If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact your CACFP County Specialist. The County Specialist list for the CACFP is available in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) Download Forms section, Form ID CACFP 01."
Emergency Costs Reimbursement Programs Web Update
"The California Department of Education (CDE) COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cnpcovid19guidance.asp now includes a section on the Emergency Operational Costs Resource (ECR) Program under the Reimbursement tab. Updates include, but are not limited to, information on compliance, reimbursement calculations, and reimbursement payments for both the School Nutrition Programs Emergency Operational Costs and Child and Adult Care Food Emergency Operational Costs Programs.
The CDE CNP COVID-19 frequently asked questions (FAQ) web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cnpcovid19faqs.asp has also been updated to include FAQs on the ECR.
Contact If you have additional questions about the ECR, please contact the CDE by email at ECR@cde.ca.gov."
Upcoming Virtual Child Care Forums
The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division, in collaboration with the WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, is pleased to announce that registration is open for the virtual 2021 Child Care Forums. Child Care Meal Quality Forums The Child Care Meal Quality (MQ) Forums are designed to assist early child care program food service staff to enhance the quality of meals served to young children. This year, the Child Care MQ Forums will take place in a virtual classroom and kitchen. The forums will highlight ways to enhance the nutrition environment of early child care programs through improved food preparation and service using the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns for children. The forums highlight healthy meal planning, food purchasing, food preparation, culinary skills, recipe development, and kitchen safety. Participants will be exposed to culinary techniques to assist with the creation of meals to bolster health and wellness. All attendees will receive a toolkit with a variety of resources that they can immediately use in child care centers (CCC) and homes. Visit the California Preschool Instructional Network Child Care MQ Forums web page at https://cpin.us/content/child-care-meal-quality-forums-0 for the agenda, registration links, session descriptions, speakers, target audience, recommendations to optimize the virtual Child Care MQ Forum experience, professional growth hours, and contact information. Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Forums The Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity (NPA) Forums highlight and demonstrate methods for integrating nutrition education, edible gardens, wellness policies, and physical activity into CCCs and homes. This year, the Child Care NPA Forums will take place in a virtual classroom. Participants will learn ways to create environments that maximize opportunities for children to develop healthy eating habits and to move their bodies to learn. These forums provide a unique platform where early childhood educators can express challenges and develop solutions toward supporting active living and healthy eating environments. All attendees will receive a variety of tools and resources they can immediately use in CCCs and homes. Visit the California Preschool Instructional Network Child Care NPA Forums web page at https://cpin.us/content/child-care-npa-forums for the agenda, session descriptions, speakers, professional growth hours, cost, and registration information. Contact Information If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Courtney Hardoin, Nutrition Education Consultant, by email at chardoin@cde.ca.gov.
Thoughts or questions? Please share in the comments or email samantha@ccfproundtable.org.