Community Eligibility Provision data reporting period now open
All sponsors must submit current year data, as of April 1 for all sites in the Colorado Nutrition Portal by Friday, April 9. Required totals include enrollment and identified student totals for each site operating School Nutrition Programs as of April 1. Identified students include any student who has been certified for free school meals without the use of a household application. Please use resources available on the CEP webpage to assist in completing the report.
On March 9, the USDA extended several nationwide waivers for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). While many waivers were extended through Sept. 30, 2021 USDA has provided guidance that at this time the waivers do not allow sponsors to operate the SFSP during School Year 2021-22. So, when school starts in the fall for any given area, School Food Authorities (SFAs) would go back to operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and SFSP operations will stop. This applies to SFA and non-SFA sponsors.
CDE’s School Nutrition Unit will continue to provide updates and any new guidance via The Dish and this FAQs resource.
The SFSP production record template has been updated. The template now includes a column to record portion sizes for menu items and production record instructions and minimum requirements are now included in the same document. The updated document can be found on the SFSP Menu Planning & Meal Patterns webpage under the required documentation heading.
Based on flexibilities granted through a state waiver, sponsors are not required to retrain staff that already completed SFSP training during the 2020-21 school year. Any new staff must complete training applicable to their position. Sponsors are encouraged to provide training to returning personnel as needed to ensure compliance. Training resources are located on the SFSP sponsor and site training webpage.
CDE’s School NutritionUnit has developed a reporting tool to assist sponsors in conducting the triennial assessment of their local wellness policy. The report contains three sections: policy assessment, policy progress, and comparison to a model policy. The reporting tool and instructions can be found on the Wellness Policy Assessment Tools webpage.
As part of the response to COVID-19, USDA extended the deadline to complete the first triennial assessment from June 30, 2020, to June 20, 2021. Sponsors do not need to submit the completed report to CDE School Nutrition. The completed assessment report should be kept on file for your next administrative review and the results of the assessment should be made available to the public.
This year's 2021 USDA Virtual Food Show opening day and processing training will be Monday, April 5. from 3 to 4 p.m. View more information on the Food Show Newsletter.
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is hosting a virtual summit two afternoons in May to help plan and strategize for school year 2021-22. Hear how state agencies, industry representatives, school administrations, state leaders and school nutrition operators are redefining their relationships and supporting one another to open new avenues of revenue and feed more students. Registration fees: $149 SNA member or $299 non SNA member. Register here.
The Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) informational webinar recording is available. Participants learn about P-EBT issuance, outreach materials, and the required student issuance data process. The presentation can be found on the School Meal Eligibility webpage under P-EBT.
Watch the 2021 SFSP sponsor training webinar recording
The 2021 SFSP sponsor training webinar recording is available. This training covers current program flexibilities, strategies to operate a compliant summer program, financial management, procurement practices and resources to make the most of your summer program. A program administrator and/or key staff members from each sponsoring organization are required to annually complete the CDE School Nutrition training to participate in the program. This training can be found on the SFSP online training webpage.
Nourishing Neighbors, an initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation, has established a fund to help local families impacted by the current crisis. This new opportunity includes two priority areas: summer meals and connecting families and children to federal meal programs. Funds can be used for outreach, transportation, staffing, capacity, innovations and advocacy. Applications are due Monday, April 12. For more information please visit, FRAC's grant opportunity webpage.
Apply for the final round of COVID-19 Hunger Relief Grant Funds
Round 9 of the Blueprint COVID Relief Fund is open. Apply here. Similar to previous rounds, two tiers of funding are offered: Tier 1 awards are meant for emergency relief assistance and are given in amounts up to $10,000; Tier 2 awards are meant for both emergency relief assistance and small-scale systems building and are eligible for awards up to $20,000. Priority will be given to systems building activities that involve the following:
Expanding child nutrition sites
Improving quality of service at child nutrition sites
Creating place-based solutions to end hunger
Creating transportation solutions to end hunger
Improving food sovereignty in communities
Improving awareness of WIC and/or SNAP benefits
Gathering client feedback to improve practice
Reducing barriers for clients (operating hours, languages, etc.)
Expanding access to culturally relevant and nutritionally appropriate foods
Engaging in policy change or advocacy work
Applications are due at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 2. For questions, contact Allison Butler at butler_a@cde.state.co.us or 303-242-6830.
Apply for funding through the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids program
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment provides healthy food access to youth through the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids program. Voters approved the initiative in 2018 to establish a sales tax, which adds up to approximately $11 million annually. Schools, nonprofits, and city agencies can submit grant proposals on how to best improve youth access to healthy food and food-based education. This funding round includes an emphasis on early childhood education, participation in federal food assistance programs and encouraging organizations to purchase food from local producers.
The application deadline is Monday, April 26. Apply here. Learn more or sign up for the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids program email list to receive funding updates and read more about the funding.
