Food for thought, Vol. 7, no. 1 (Aug. 2006)

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Food For Thought

Volume 7, Issue 1

Welcome to the first issue of Food For Thought FFY 2006

August 2006

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Nutrition Services' Vision Statement:
Working together with our partners to eradicate hunger and ensure nutritious meals for ALL Georgians!

From the Chair of the Director
Bright from the Start and several other organizations have formed a committee to improve the lifelong eating and physical activity habits of children between birth and five years old. This group also supports Governor Sonny Perdue's and the Department of Human Resources' Live Healthy Georgia Campaign.

The Healthy Eating for Life website is a part of Bright from the Start's Nutrition and Physical Activity Education initiative in collaboration with our partners to improve lifelong healthy eating habits and increase physical activity among children between the ages of birth to five years of age and their caregivers. The website will serve to promote the initiative's goal to eat healthy and be active by:

1) Providing nutrition and physical activity information in the form of resources/materials, research studies, and training/events relevant to the target population.
2) Advertising trainings (location, date, and additional information when possible) offered in Georgia about nutrition and physical activity relevant to the target population.
3) Acting as a web directory for nutrition and physical activity information for parents, child care providers, and other child care and development professionals.

Please keep in mind that this is a new website, and it is constantly being updated and revised. The web address is www.healthyeatingforlife.org. For more information about this project, contact Kantrell Brown at 404-656-2472.

Policy Memorandum Updates (Sponsoring Organizations Only) The following is a brief summary of CACFP Policy Memorandums and Policy revisions that were issued and sent to you by mail.
Policy Memorandum-Household Contact Requirements (revised) Sponsoring Organizations of Childcare Centers and Day Care Homes This memorandum was revised to provide additional clarification for conducting household contacts. The memo specifically states when sponsors are required to make contacts, the deadline for making these contacts, and how many contacts must be made.
Policy Memorandum-Block Claiming Follow-up Review Guidance Sponsoring Organi zations only This memorandum provides guidance for conducting unannounced reviews and extends the timeframe for conducting block claiming related reviews from 60 to 90 days. This guidance states that sponsoring organizations must conduct an announced follow-up review of a facility if the sponsoring organization detects block claiming. This review must be made in addition to reviews that the sponsoring organization is required to conduct in order to meet its monitoring requirements. The review is intended to confirm or refute suspicion of fraud via block claiming and does not have to be a full review. This guidance also discusses an exception for not conducting reviews due to block claiming for the remainder of the annual review year for a facility that the sponsoring organization has previously investigated for possible block claiming and documented a valid reason for the block claims. However, the exemption only applies to situations where the sponsoring organization determines the cause of a block claim during an unannounced review conducted prior to the facility's first submission of a block claim during the current review year. An example of a valid reason is a facility that provides drop-in care and always fills to capacity on each day that it is open.

Permanent Agreements
Effective Fiscal Year 2006 Bright from the Start issued permanent agreements to all approved institutions. The agreement, which is the contract between Bright from the Start and each institution, does not have to be re-signed each year as long as the institution meets the annual and renewal requirements set forth by federal regulations and state policies. Because this document is a permanent agreement, it should be maintained with the institution's CACFP records permanently. While normally only the three prior year's (plus current) records need to be maintained, because the permanent agreement covers the entire span of the institution's participation in the program, it should never be discarded, but maintained at least three years after the date the institution files its last claim for reimbursement after terminating participation.

Perfect Child and Adult Care Food Program Reviews
We want to recognize organizations that have had perfect CACFP reviews for the
first quarter of FY 2006:
One-year reviews Sand Castle Day Care
Cochran, GA
Three-year reviews Loving Care Daycare, Inc
Atlanta, GA
Lil' Blessings, Inc
Ashburn, GA

Three-year reviews RJW Corporation dba First
Steps School
Atlanta, GA
Wonderland Learning Center
Tallapoosa, GA
********************************
2005 Sunshine Award Recipient of the Summer Food
Service Program
City of Savannah Savannah, GA
City of Savannah is the Southeast Regional Winner for Service to Special Populations. City of Savannah has served as an SFSP sponsor for 34 years.

More than 95 percent of the population being served by the program belongs to a targeted minority group. In conjunction with the summer program, groups such as Savannah's Recreation Services Department Therapeutic Program hosted a series of events geared toward physically and mentally challenged children. Despite a 40 percent reduction in the workforce for the Summer Lunch Program, with help from volunteers the city was able to exceed its goal of serving approximately 116,000 summer lunches by almost 20 percent.
Way to go City of Savannah!!

Summer Food Service Program News Update
Each year all New Sponsors, Programmatic Sponsors, Sponsors that fall on the three-year review cycle, and some additional sponsors will receive an SFSP review. If your organization is chosen for a review, Bright from the Start will notify your organization with a Review Announcement Letter. To prepare for the review, please review the Review Tools that Bright from the Start reviewers will use to conduct the review. These tools will be included with each organization's application package.
All Summer Food Service Program sponsors with more than one site will be required to claim all sites individually in CNP 2000 effective June 1, 2006. Please refer to the article entitled "From the Finance Department" on page four of the newsletter.
If you have any questions or problems with SITE CLAIMING, please direct them to our toll free Help Desk at 1-888-418-8778.

Department of Labor (DOL) One-Stop Career Centers
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is encouraging all faith-based and community organizations to take advantage of the resources that are available through the United States Department of Labor's One-Stop Career Centers.
The One-Stop Career Center is a site that offers federal, state and local education services. The services range from self-service to more hands-on, staff-assisted services.
At your local One-Stop Career Center, individuals will have access to high quality local information on available jobs and skill requirements. All One-Stop services are free of charge.
By referring people in your community with employment needs to their local One-Stop Career Center website, workers can get the help that they need in achieving their career goals.

To find the One-Stop Career Center near you go to: http://www.servicelocator.org/
To learn more about One-Stop Career Centers and how they can enhance the services that you offer as a faith-based and community organization, go to: http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/ employmentassistance.htm
Melons for the Summer Months Serving seedless melons during the summer months is a great way to encourage healthy eating with children.
Melons add very good color and tex ture to any meal or snack, and they are packed with vitamins and minerals, which aid in the growth and development of children.
Melons can also help children stay cool during the hot summer months because they contain plenty of water!

Ask Pierre Baguette

Dear Pierre,
Does the deadline for corrective actions refer to the deadline for completing corrective actions or for completing a corrective action Cplaapn?tion describing Sincereplyi,cture or graphic. Ms. Correct Me
Dear Ms. Correct Me:
In the CACFP, corrective action deadlines refer to the completion of the corrective actions. Institutions must submit to Bright from the Start their corrective actions describing in detail what processes and/or procedures have been fully and permanently implemented to correct the findings; who is responsible for implementation and compliance with the processes and/or procedures; and how the institution will ensure that the processes and/or procedures are followed consistently in order to prevent future findings. It is Bright from the Start's expectation that an institution's correcti ve actions are fully and permanently implemented at the time of the institution's submission of corrective action plans.

In the SFSP, corrective action deadlines are for the completion of a corrective action plan. The plan must be received by Bright from the Start on or before the deadline date(s). The plan must describe in detail what processes and/or procedures will be implemented to correct and preven t the findings, who will be responsible for implementing and complying with the processes and/or procedures and when the processes and/or procedures will be implemented.
Dear Pierre,
I am a non-profit organization, and I am planning to have a financial audit next year, and I would like to know if I can charge the audit fees to the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Sincerely, Tell Me What To Do
Dear Ms. To Do: If an organization does not have federal audit requirements, the cost of the audit, including a financial audit, cannot be charged to CACFP reimbursement. However, when a non-profit organization is required to have a federal audit when there is an expenditure of

more that $500,000 in federal funds, then these audit fees can be charged to CACFP.
Dear Pierre,
The children in my day care love to eat pineapples, but I am running out of new and interesting ways to serve pineapples to them. Do you have any new ideas as to how I can serve pineapples to the children?
Sincerely, Need a New Creation
Dear Ms. Creation:
It is very good that your children love pineapples! You see, pineapples are an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is very good for the body. Vitamin C is a very good antiviral agent, which is good for treating and preventing colds yes! yes!
Also, Vitamin C helps prevent scurvy, and it is a good antioxidant.
Many people do not know this, but the pineapple is the world's favorite tropical fruit.
Believe it or not, the pineapple was not always called "pineapple." At first it was called "anna," which is a Caribbean word for "excellent fruit." European explorers named the fruit "pineapple" because it looks li ke a pinecone with flesh like an apple.

Pineapples love the sun and are grown in places like Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.
It takes 18 months for pineapples to grow, while it takes most fruit 3-4 months to grow. Because pineapples are picked when they are ripe, you can always count on them being juicy and sweet yes! yes!
If you choose to serve canned pineapples, it best to buy pineapples that are canned in their own juice. Please do not buy the pineapples that have been canned in heavy syrup because of the extra sugar it is not the best choice for little children.
Ms. Creation, some ideas that I have for serving pineapples are:
1. Use as a topping on yogurt or cottage cheese for snacks (please make sure that you serve enough pineapple to each child for a creditable fruit component).
2. Use crushed pineapples mixed with pineapple juice along with other crushed fruit such as strawberries to make frozen juice bars (for the hot summer months of course!).
3. Use the recipe below to make pineapple muffins and serve them along with milk for a creditable snack!!!
-Pierre Baguette

Pineapple Muffins

Ingredients: 5 cups crushed pineapple (drain if canned) 5 cups sugar 5 cups flour 1 1/4 tsp. salt

5 stick butter/margarine 5 large egg 1 1/2 tablespoons baking soda 1 1/4 cups of oats

Directions: 1: With mixer, cream margarine and sugar together. 2: Add eggs and then pineapples. 3: Then add dry ingredients and spoon into greased muffin pan. 4: Bake for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven.

Yields 60 Muffins Recipe Source: www.duncanhines.com

From the Finance Department
Claim Submission Policy Change Bright from the Start will soon be changing the policy dealing with the deadline for submitting a reimbursement claim. In order to meet the required federal reporting expectations, Georgia has reduced the filing period from 60 days following the end of the claim month to 30 days. This policy change became effective June 1, 2006.
Reminders Payments are processed once a week, and it could take from three to five "business" days from the "processed date" in CNP2000 before the funds are available in your bank account.
~Please make sure that your e-mail address is current in the CNP2000 system.
Important Claim Notice:
Due to upgrades to PeopleSoft, our statewide financial accounting system, claim payments will not be processed during the period July 1, 2006 to July 16, 2006. Please note that you will still be able to enter your claim information into CNP 2000, however Bright from the Start will not be able to pay claims until the upgrades are complete in our statewide financial accounting system. We appreciate your patience in this matter.

We are Here For YOU!
NUTRITION SERVICES
Nutrition Staff News
Please join us in welcoming Leslie Truman our new CACFP Administrative Assistant; Sherry Mays our ne w SFSP Administrative Assistant; Rae-Marie Lockhart our new consultant for the middle-GA Territory; Deidrea Thompson new consultant for the Northeast and East GA Territory; Kantrell Brown our new Project Coordinator for the Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative; Wanda Simkins is our new CACFP Application Specialist; and Dedra Williams our new CACFP Administrator/Review Manager.
Jackie Romain Director 404-651-8197 Jackie.romain@decal.state.ga.us
Lou Brienza Program Manager 404-651-7433 Louis.brienza@decal.state.ga.us

Marissa Hamm Policy Administrator 404-651-7181 Marissa.hamm@decal.state.ga.us
Leslie Truman CACFP Administrative Assistant 404-657-1779 Leslie.truman@decal.state.ga.us
Kay McCorkle CACFP Business Process Manager 404-463-0970 Kay.mccorkle@decal.state.ga.us
Wanda Simkins CACFP Application Specialist 404-651-7191 wanda.simkins@decal.state.ga.us
Falita Flowers CACFP Admin/DCH Sponsor Coordinator & Review Manager 404-656-6452 Falita.flowers@decal.state.ga.us
Dedra Williams CACFP Admin/DCH Sponsor Coordinator & Review Manager 404-651-7192 Dedra.williams@decal.state.ga.us
Kantrell Brown Project Coordinator 404-656-2472 kantrell.brown@decal.state.ga.us
Brenda Carter Nutrition Consultant 229-386-3523 Brenda.carter@decal.state.ga.us

Deidrea Thompson Nutrition Consultant 404-656-5957
Deidrea.thompson@decal.state.ga.us
Valerie Coulton Nutrition Consultant 770-732-2601 Valerie.coulton@decal.state.ga.us
Sonya James Nutrition Consultant 770-808-5307 Sonya.james@decal.state.ga.us Bridgette Merrett Nutrition Consultant 404-243-7351
Bridgette.merrett@decal.state.ga.us
Rae-Marie Lockhart Nutrition Consultant 478-329-4770
Rae-marie.lockhart@decal.state.ga.us
Reynaldo Salamo Nutrition Consultant 912-526-5852 Reynaldo.salamo@decal.state.ga.us
Anjulyn Ballard Training Coordinator 404-656-6292 Anjulyn.ballard@decal.state.ga.us
Sopha l Lackey SFSP Manager 404-651-8193 Sophal.lackey@decal.state.ga.us
Deanna Jones SFSP Coordinator 404-656-6411 Deanna.jones@decal.state.ga.us

Sherry Mays SFSP Administrative Assistant 404-651-7426 Sherry.mays@decal.state.ga.us
Finance Glenda Hambrick Budget Officer 404-651-7411
Glenda.hambrick@decal.state.ga.us Aneshia Harris Claims Administrator 404-656-3325 Aneshia.harris@decal.state.ga.us
MIS/Technology Charlotte Stevenson MIS -Nutrition Program Coordinator 404-463-5006
Charlotte.stevenson@decal.sta te.ga.us
Audit Tanya Astin Audit Coordinator 404-656-6293
Tanya.astin@decal.state.ga.us
For Your Information
The CACFP is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap, write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.