An Introduction to School Nutrition Programs in Washington State Child Nutrition Programs help fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, child care centers, and after-school programs for providing healthy meal to children. Child Nutrition Programs Funded through the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Administered by State Agencies School Meal Programs -Provides federal reimbursement for meals served to students. National School -Must offer free or reduced price meals to Lunch Program eligible children -Meals must meet meal pattern and nutritional requirements. School Breakfast -Operates in the same manner as the Program National School Breakfast Program. School Meal Programs Federal assisted snack program for schools participating in the National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program. Program Must provide an afterschool care program that includes education or enrichment activities in a supervised environment. A component of the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program). At-risk Afterschool Federal funding to afterschool programs Meals Program that serve a meal or snack and provide educational or enrichment activities to children in low-income areas. School Meal Programs Provides milk to children in nonprofit schools who do not participate in other Special Milk Child Nutrition programs. Schools receive federal reimbursement for Program milk served. Program must be operated on a non-profit basis. Provides student in participating elementary schools with a variety of free Fresh Fruit and fresh fruits and vegetables Program goal is to combat childhood Vegetable Program obesity by improving children's overall diet and create heathier eating habits. School Meal Programs Established to ensure children in lower- income areas continue to receive Summer Food nutritious meals during summer breaks. Service Program Can be a continuation of NSLP, called the Seamless Summer Option for summer school students or available to all children. Supports American agricultural producers Food Distribution by providing nutritious, USDA-purchased food. Program Available to agencies participating in the National School lunch program Are you required to participate in Child Nutrition Programs? No Federal requirement to participate Washington State Requirements: Lunch program where ≥25% of enrolled K-4 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals Breakfast program for public schools with >40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals Determining Student Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals 1) By Direct Certification of Categorically Eligible Children 2) By Free and Reduced Price Application Determining Student Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals Direct Certification of Categorically Eligible Children Other Source Assistance Program Categorical Eligible: Households: • Foster Care • Basic Food • Homeless • TANF • Migrant • FDPIR • Head Start or Even Start Direct Certification -Washington State has an electronic system that matches data from DSHS with CEDARS data to produce a “Direct Certification List.” -Use this list to directly certify students without further application. -This system identifies Basic Food, TANF, and Foster Care children as automatically eligible for free meals. FDPIR and Other Source Categorical Eligible student data must be gathered from the appropriate officials and agencies. Determining Student Eligibility Free and Reduced Price Applications: • Provided by OSPI • Collected annually at beginning of year • Must be processed within 10 days Determining Student Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals • USDA sets income eligibility guidelines for school meals. • Income guidelines are based on the federal income poverty guidelines. • Updated annually. Determining Student Eligibility Verification • Must annually verify eligibility of children from a sample of household applications approved for free and reduced price meal benefits What are the Program Requirements? Plan meals to meet Meal Patterns • Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans • Specific for “grade groups” K-5, 6-8, 9-12 • Requires minimum amounts from food components: Meat and Meat Alternates; Milk; Fruits; Vegetables; Grains • Specific nutrient requirements/limits for: Calories, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, and Sodium What are the Program Requirements? What are the Program Requirements? What are the Program Requirements? Document Prepared Meals • Production records that show how the meals planned and offered meet or contribute to the meal pattern. What are the Program Requirements? Serving Meals: Offer Vs Serve • Allows students to decline some of the food offered. • Reduces food waste and gives students a choice. • Specific rules about how much food needs to be offered and how much and what choices a student may take for a meal to count as a reimbursable meal. What are the Program Requirements? Meal Pattern Certification • Certification that planned menu meets Meal Pattern requirements • Provides additional reimbursement: 6₵ per lunch meal served How much Reimbursement do you receive? What are the Program Requirements? Civil Rights -Administer program services and benefits in accordance with all laws, regulations, instructions, policies, and guidance related to nondiscrimination in program delivery. -Provide annual civil rights training to any staff that interact with program participants. What are the Program Requirements? Food Safety Program -Implement a school food safety program that addresses food safety in all aspects of meal preparations and is based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles. -Annually, two food safety inspections conducted by the state, county or local health department What are the Program Requirements? Wellness Policy • Establish a local school wellness policy that includes: - Goals for: Nutrition Education, Physical Activity and Nutrition Promotion - Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on the schools campus - Policies reading food and beverage marketing • Involve stakeholders and encourage public comment and input • Assess progress and provide annual progress report What are the Program Requirements? Smart Snacks • Requires all foods/beverages sold on “school campus” during the “school day” meet standards for fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and sodium • Promotes products that have whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as the main ingredient. What are the Program Requirements? Point of Service System • System to track and count how many meals were served and to what student (tied to student’s eligibility) • Point of service is done at the time the student receives a complete reimbursable meal (meal that meets the meal pattern requirements) • These are the numbers that will be submitted in the Claim for Reimbursement What are the Program Requirements? Resource Management • Establish a nonprofit School Food Service Account: Ensure costs are allowable (used only for the operation and improvement of the school food service) and net cash resources may not exceed three months’ average operating costs under the nonprofit school food service account • Nonprogram Food Revenue: Revenue from non-program foods must generate at least the same proportion of revenue as they contribute to food costs What are the Program Requirements? Resource Management, cont. • Indirect Costs: Follow fair and consistent methodologies to identify and allocate allowable indirect costs to the school food service account • Procurement: Follow procurement guidelines • Policies and procedures in place to safeguard and utilize USDA foods What are the Program Requirements? Paid Lunch Equity • Annually set paid meal prices • Ensure sufficient funds are provided to the nonprofit school food service account for meals served to adults and/or students not eligible for free or reduced price meals by completing Paid Lunch Equity Tool What are the Program Requirements? Written Policies and Procedures • Special Dietary Needs • Field trips • Alternative Point of Service Options to providing meal service Food Service Self-Operated Management Company Agreement with another school or Vended Meals institution participating in a School Meal program Options to providing meal service Self-Operated • Responsible for all compliance • Hire staff to supervise program, plan menus to meet requirements, prepare and serve meals, complete administrative tasks Options to providing meal service Food Service Management Company • Must comply with all USDA and OSPI rules and regulations. • Specific contracting procedures • Level of service varies depending on contract • School is ultimately responsible for regulations being met Options to providing meal service Vended Meals • Provides prepared meals to school Options to providing meal service Agreement with school or institution What steps do I take? Menu Certification 4 Annual Program Renewal Application 3 (paper) WINS application (on-line) 2 User Authorization form for WINS 1 Where do I get help?.