Nutrition Services Food for Thought May 2013 FY 13 Volume 1, Issue 1 From the chair of the Director...... After over 11 years administering the CACFP and SFSP at in Georgia, I am retiring as Director of Nutrition Services of Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning effective Wednesday, May 1, 2013. My last full work day in the office was Friday, April 26, 2013. Special points of interest: Income Eligibility Statements Update Gearing Up for the Summer Food Program Smoothies The CACFP and SFSP have experienced significant changes and Nutrition on the Move improvements in the past 11 years. In 2002, only 200 CACFP participants, less than 25%, did online claiming or turned in an online CACFP application. The remaining 75+% per- cent completed all this on separate documents and turned this all in to this agency some- times having to duplicate some of the same information on 10 or more different docu- ments. We had no capabilities for online training registration, training delivery, and training evaluation, which meant that mandatory USDA annual CACFP training re- quired Center Directors and Program Contracts to be away from their programs for more than a day to attended annual training events throughout the state. "In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture Most importantly, I express my sincere appreciation to all of you who have directly or policy, this institution is prohibited indirectly helped serve millions of nutritious meals and snacks every day to the children from discriminating on the basis of and adult beneficiaries of the CACFP and the SFSP throughout Georgia. I salute you and race, color, national origin, sex, thank you. age, or disability. Sincerely, Lou Brienza, Director The Nutrition Services Division bids a congratulatory farewell to Nutrition Director, Louis Brienza, Nutrition Accountant, Teresa Todd and Nutrition Program Consultant, Wanda Simpkins. Congratulations on your retirements. We thank you for your hard work, dedication, and support throughout your tenure here at Bright from the Start and we wish you the very best in your future endeavors. ~ Nutrition Services Staff Nutrition Services Gearing Up for Summer Food Service "To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 ( TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." Inside this issue: & Looking for Eligible Sponsors CACFP Updates 2 The Summer Food Service Program ters, community and migrant centers, (SFSP) provides free meals to eligible chil- child care centers, and other local com- SFSP Policy Updates 3 dren in low-income areas during the sum- munity areas where children congregate Summer Food mer months when students are out of and play. Sponsors are reimbursed ac- 3 school where they would normally re- cording to federal guidelines for the ceive breakfast and/or lunch. meals they serve. They can prepare and Fresh Baby 4 serve meals themselves or contract with Bright from the Start is seeking eligible a food vendor to prepare meals. Strawberry Banana 4 sponsors to provide summer meals to Parfait children through the SFSP. The following Visit www.decal.ga.gov for eligibility can qualify as sponsors: public or private information or contact Nutrition Ser- Contact Information 4 nonprofit schools; universities, colleges, or vices @ 404-657-1779 to register for the camps; units of local government; faith- two-day training for New Sponsors and based organizations; and private nonprof- the one-day training for Experienced it organizations considered tax exempt by Sponsors. the IRS. Sponsors can feed children at sites such as schools, churches, recreation cen- Food for thought Page 2 CACFP Updates Memo: Income Eligibility Determinations and Duration. Issue Date: August 2012 Income eligibility forms should be considered current and valid until the last day of the month in which the form was dated a year earlier. Requesting that parents/guardians complete Income Eligibility Statements at a set frequency regardless of when the form was previously completed and submitted is prohibited. This update applies to Child Care Centers and Family Day Care Homes and should be used to assess the expiration of an IES form in all situations regardless of the reimbursement calculation method used. Change in Income Households are NOT required to report changes in circumstances (i.e., increase in income, decrease in household size, or discontinuation of benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF]). Approval for free or reduced price or tier I benefits is valid for a period not to exceed 12 months, regardless of any change in household income. Elimination of Temporary Approval Households that were temporarily approved on November 28, 2011 or have been approved since this date must be approved for an entire year. If the temporary approval expired before November 28, 2011, the household must submit a new IES form. Policy Updates Memo: Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010: Categorical Eligibility of Children in Foster Care Issue Date: April 16, 2013 Memo: Variation in Meal Requirements for Religious Reasons: Jewish Schools, Institutions, and Sponsors. Issue Date: April 2, 2013 The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) authorized categorical eligibility for foster children in Section 9(b)(12)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and defined a foster child as "a foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of an agency that administers a State plan under part B or E of Title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or a foster child who a court has placed with a caretaker household." Provisions only apply to children formally placed in foster care by a State child welfare agency or a court. They do not apply to informal arrangements such as caretak- er arrangements or permanent guardianship placements that may exist outside of or as a result of State or court based systems. Whether placed by the State child welfare agency or a court, in order for a child to be considered categorically eligible for free meals, the State must retain legal custody of the child. If the State relinquishes custody of a child, the child is no longer considered to be in foster care and categorical eligibility no longer applies. Clarifies allowable variations to Child Nutrition Program Food Components to meet religious needs among Jewish schools, institutions, and sponsors. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) may approve the vari- ations of food components of meals served in the child nutrition programs on an experimental or on a continuing basis where there is evidence that such variations are nutritionally sound and are necessary to meet ethnic, religious, economic, or physical needs. The instructions pertain to meals served in Jewish facilities participating in National School Lunch, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. During the religious observance of Passover, Jewish facili- ties may be exempted from the enrichment and whole grain portions of the Child Nutrition Program grain requirements. Enriched matzo may be substituted for the grain requirement during that period of time only. Page 3 FY 13Volume 1, Issue 1 SFSP Policy Updates Memo: "Demonstration Project for NonCongregate Feeding for Outdoor Summer Feeding Sites Experiencing Excessive Heat" Issue Date: March 8, 2013 Non-congregate meal service shall be permitted only on days when the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Heat Advisory, an Excessive Heat Warning, or an Excessive Heat Watch for the area in which an approved outdoor feeding site is located. Memo: "Determining Area Eligibility Based on School Data" Issue Date: November 23, 2012 Provides guidance on how to determine area eligibility when children reside outside of the school zone but are bused to the school zone to achieve racial/economic diversity in schools. Memo supersedes previous memo "Busing on Area Eligibility" dated December 6, 2010. For school sites, Sponsors may rely on the school data for the NSLP for the individual school where the site is located, or For school or non-school sites, Sponsors may use NSLP free/reduced price meal data for the school where students attend or would have attended if not bused. Vegetables cannot be credited as a smoothie. Memo: "Tribal Participation in the CACFP Grains and meat/meat alternates and SFSP" (including yogurt) may not be credited Issue Date: July 24, 2012 when served as a beverage. Commercially prepared smoothies may Clarifies previous guidance regarding only be credited as the fruit component. eligibility requirements for Tribes partici- pating in CACFP and SFSP. Memo: "Approved Sponsors Participating Tribes are recognized as "public entities" in the Summer Food Service Program or "local governments" and eligible to (SFSP)" participate in SFSP when they meet: Issue Date: April 12, 2013 Local licensing or approval requirements Sites meet eligibility requirements Bright from the Start will restrict the Meals/snacks served meet SFSP meal number of meals that sponsors can serve pattern requirements per day at one or more sites if it is deter- mined that: Memo: "Smoothies Offered in Child Nutri- tion Programs" Issue Date: July 11, 2012 The site is in violation of approved SFSP meal service time frames per 7 CFR Part 225.16 (c), Memo provides guidance on crediting fruit smoothies in Child Nutrition Programs. Milk and fruit can be credited in smoothies prepared by SFSP sponsors/ When required corrective action is not taken by the deadline date. More than 20% of the sponsor's sites are determined to be in violation of the approved time requirements. CACFP institutions to meet meal pattern requirements for any meal served under Child Nutrition Programs. Parent Resource for Summer Food Service Locations The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered in Georgia by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. The Summer Food Service Program: Provides free meals and snacks to children 18 years or younger, or adults 19 years or older who are enrolled in an education facility and receiving meals during the school year. Families in Georgia can find free summer meals by: Visiting Bright from the Start's website at www.decal.ga.gov/Nutrition/Search.aspx Contacting United Way at 211 Call toll free at (855)550-SFSP (7377) Text FOODGA to 877-877 For more information about Bright from the Start or the Summer Food Service Program, contact Nutrition Services at 404.657.1779. Nutritious meals/snacks are served to children at summer camps, upward bound programs, churches, schools, universities, and park and recreation centers. Food for Thought Page 4 Strawberry Banana Parfait Nutrition on the Move... Description: Bright from the Start Nutrition Services Division welcomes the following new Whether you are looking for a staff members: Nutrition Application Specialists, Paula Lawrence and Demetria fruit-filled breakfast option or a better-for- Thornton; Nutrition Program Manager, Jennifer Popadiuk; and Nutrition you dessert, enjoy the flavors of layered sea- Program Consultants, Aleshia Golden and Robyn Parham. sonal fruit, crisp flakes, and creamy yogurt in this delicious parfait. Ingredients: Fresh Baby medium ripe banana, mashed teaspoon vanilla cup plain non-fat yogurt cup sliced fresh strawberries For more than 10 years, Fresh Baby has helped parents foster their children's healthy eating habits and proactively respond to the childhood obesity epidemic that plagues our nation. cup complete bran and wheat flakes ready- A National Strategic Partner with the USDA, Fresh Baby's nutrition education products and to-eat cereal publications offer solutions to support many stages of family life including: pregnancy, Directions: 1. Stir banana and vanilla into yogurt 2. In one 10-12 ounce glass, alternately layer breastfeeding, introducing solid foods, and feeding toddlers, preschoolers & schoolaged children. The products support people in critical areas where food choices are made - including food shopping, meal preparation, and meal time. the yogurt mixture, strawberries, and cereal. For more information visit: www.freshbaby.com Serve immediately. Serving Suggestion: serve with whole wheat toast, graham crackers, or animal crackers. Company Headquarters 202 Grove Street Petoskey, MI 49770 Phone: 231-348-2706 e-mail: info@freshbaby.com Nutrition Services Contact Information: We are here to serve you! (email address = Firstname.Lastname@decal.ga.gov) Name Leslie Truman Title Program Administrative Assis- Number 404-657-1779 Demetria Thorton Jennifer Popadiuk Application Specialist Nutrition Program Manager 404-463-2182 404-656-6292 Maria Reznik Falita Flowers Christy McCray Geneise Graham Takisha Aragones Angelica Flucas Marissa Hamm Taquella Austin Policy Administrator Program Manager (Training/ Applications) Program Coordinator Application Specialist Business Operations Specialist Business Operations Specialist Program Manager (Reviews/ Nutrition Ed) Nutrition Training Coordinator 404-651-7181 404-656-6452 404-651-7191 404-656-6411 404-463-1494 770-651-7426 404-651-7433 404-463-2317 Luetricia Billingsley Meggan HemansReese Sherrie Tuten Danna Foster Sonja Adams Nutrition Consultant Program Administrator (Supervisor) Nutrition Consultant Nutrition Consultant Program Administrator Sonya James Bridgette Merritt Valerie Coulton Tabitha Moreland Nutrition Consultant Nutrition Consultant Nutrition Consultant Nutrition Consultant 770-359-5806 404-651-7192 229-584-1289 770-359-5809 404-651-8193 770-357-7012 770-357-7062 770-357-4927 478-599-9801 Paula Lawrence Application Specialist 404-463-2111 Aneshia Harris Grants Administrator 404-656-3325