Child Nutrition Program COVID-19 Information

USDA Guidance

• FNS issued guidance on meal delivery using existing authorities in summer meal programs

USDA Waivers of Program Requirements

• SFSP and SSO Non-congregate Feeding Waiver Approval
• Wisconsin Area Eligibility Waiver Approval
• Public Notification of Waiver Requests (DPI)

Nationwide Waivers

1. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Service Time Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs 3/20/20
2. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-congregate Feeding in the Child Nutrition Programs 3/20/20
3. Nationwide Waiver of the Activity Requirement in Afterschool Care Child Nutrition Programs 3/20/20
4. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs 3/25/20
5. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children 3/25/20
6. Nationwide Waiver of Community Eligibility Provision Deadlines in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs 3/25/20
7. Nationwide Waiver of Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the Child and Adult Care Food Program 3/27/20
8. Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program 3/27/20
9. Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs 3/27/20
10. Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for Sponsoring Organizations in the Summer Food Service Program 3/27/20
11. Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Summer Food Service Program 3/27/20
12. Nationwide Waiver of 60 Day Reporting Requirements for January and February 2020 4/1/20
13. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs - EXTENSION 4/21/20
14. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option 4/21/20
15. Nationwide Waiver to Waive First Week Site Visits in the Summer Food Service Program 4/21/20
16. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibilities in the Summer Food Service Program 4/21/20
17. Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option 4/21/20
18. Nationwide Waiver of Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessments in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs 4/23/20
19. Nationwide Waiver of Food Service Management Contract Duration in the National School Lunch Programs and Summer Food Service Program 4/24/20
20. Nationwide Waiver of Annual Review Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program 4/24/20
21. Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 4/27/20
22. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-congregate Feeding in the Child Nutrition Programs - EXTENSION 5/14/20
23. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Service Time Flexibility in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program - EXTENSION 5/14/20
24. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs - EXTENSION 5/14/20
25. Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children - EXTENSION 5/14/20

USDA Memos

• Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks SP 08-2020, SFSP 04-2020, USDA, 3/6/20
  • Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks Questions and Answer SP 08-2020, SFSP 04-2020 Attachment, USDA, 3/6/20
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during COVID19 SP 12-2020, USDA, 4/9/20
• Questions and Answers related to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers SP 11-2020, CACFP 06-2020, SFSP 05-2020, USDA, 4/9/20
• Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Questions and Answers #3 SP 14-2020, USDA, 4/11/20
• Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers: Questions and Answers SP 13-2020, USDA, 4/11/20
• Child Nutrition Program Meal Service During Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Question and Answers #4 SP 15-2020, CACFP 09-2020, SFSP 08-2020, 4/21/20
• Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option Nationwide Waivers - Questions and Answers SP 18-2020, SFSP 10-2020, 5/19/20
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during COVID-19: Questions and Answers #2 SP 19-2020, 5/19/20

USDA Guidance

FNS issued guidance on meal delivery using existing authorities in summer meal programs

DPI Guidance

• CACFP COVID-19 Questions and Answers (updated 5/4/2020)
• Q&A on operating the USDA Child Nutrition Programs during COVID-19
• Wisconsin Agencies Serving During COVID-19 Unanticipated School Closure
• Find Meals for Kids When Schools are Closed
• SFSP vs. SSO Decision Flow Chart
• Parent Pick Up State Policy Sign
• School Meals News: School Nutrition Bulletins
• For more information visit the CACFP COVID-19 Information webpage
• For more information visit the SSO webpage
• For more information visit the SFSP webpage
• And Justice for All poster

DPI Waivers of Program Requirements

• CACFP Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver Application
• CACFP Nationwide Waiver Application
• SSO Nationwide Waiver Application
• SFSP Nationwide Waiver Application
• Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver (Schools and SFSP Sponsors ONLY))
• Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Waiver Notification Form

Wisconsin School and Community Nutrition Programs have been provided the option to continue to provide reimbursable meals to children during closures related to the COVID-19 virus. The following outlines the steps that School Food Authorities (SFA), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) facilities must take to be approved to operate during a closure. SFAs have the option to select the SFSP or the SSO. Free and reduced eligibility thresholds for the SFSP and SSO sites do not apply in this circumstance.

• Providing meals during a closure/dismissal
  • Definition of closure/dismissal: closing the center/school and sending all the children and staff home. In a dismissal, the center/school may stay open for staff while the children stay home. We will use the term dismissal for purposes of closure and dismissal.
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) may waive the requirement at 7 CFR 225.6(e)(15) and 7 CFR 226.29(b)(6)(iii), that meals be served and consumed in a congregate setting.
  • FNS may waive the requirements at 7 CFR 225.6(d)(1)(iv) limiting the operation of the SFSP or SSO during an unexpected dismissal during the school year to non-school sites.
  • FNS may waive the requirements at 7 CFR 210.10(1), 220.8(1), 225.16(c)(1) and (2) allowing State agencies to adjust the time of meal service as addressed at 226.20(k), including suspension of meal times as needed in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, during the public health emergency.
  • FNS may also waive the requirements at 7 CFR 210.10(o)(1)(ii) and 7 CRF 226.17a(b)(1)(ii) and (iii), allowing eligible schools and at-risk afterschool care centers to serve afterschool meals and snacks without an educational or enrichment activity during this public health emergency.
  • It is not mandatory that SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors provide meals during a dismissal; however, SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors are encouraged to ensure that the needs of low-income children are met during extended dismissals.
  • The SSO COVID-19 waiver “is targeted to children who attend schools that have been dismissed due to COVID-19. However, in eligible areas, meals may be served to all children 18 and under in the household if at least one child attends a dismissed school.”
• Ways to inform families of availability of meals
  • Wisconsin Child Nutrition Programs encourage SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors to use your standard methods of communication to inform households of the availability and location of meals during closures related to COVID-19. Such methods may include social media, emails, texts, and phone calls.
• Ideas of Non-Congregate Meal Delivery
  • Consider ways to deliver meals to households, such as:
    • serving meals out of a drive thru area at the school/center,
    • using delivery trucks to deliver to remote sites,
    • delivering meals along the bus route using school buses, or
    • delivering a lunch meal along with a breakfast pack for the next day to provide two meals at once.
• Shelf-Stable Menu Item Ideas SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors who need to provide shelf-stable meals for food safety concerns or lack of available product may consider these options.
• Ways to use WI-Processed Products SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors who need creative ideas for how to use their WI-Processed products.
• Food Safety
  • If serving meals at a school or center, SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors should continue to follow their food safety plan and the standard operating procedures (SOP) for that site.
  • If serving meals at a non-school meal distribution site, SFAs, SFSP and CACFP sponsors should create an SOP detailing specific food safety practices. A DPI template is available.
  • Refer to the Food Safety Tips for more information.
  • Guidance from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
• Closing Instructions
  • If you are a SFA, that is closing, notify the DPI at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.

Below is a list of vendors providing unitized, boxed, and bagged meals for SFSP and SSO during the COVID-19 unanticipated school closure. This emergency procurement model is not intended to be a long-term feeding solution. Instead, this option could be utilized to increase capacity during the public health crisis to supplement some or all meals. SFAs that are having difficulty producing meals due to increased demand, product shortages, labor concerns, or other reasons may want to explore this option. When inquiring, ask the company about their production models and food safety critical control points, like use of equipment to produce meals, masks, cleaning and sanitation, and precautions for transporting food.

To enter into an agreement with an emergency meals vendor, complete the Wisconsin Template Vended Meals Agreement and obtain a copy of the vendor’s state restaurant or processing plant license. Upload the template and license to the 2019-20 SY online contract under the Meal Charges page. The Modifications to DPI’s Template “Vended Meals Agreement” (page 7) can be used as a place for the purchasing SFA and seller to account for atypical negotiations related to the procurement.

Calling all Wisconsin School Nutrition Professionals, Principals, and District Superintendents! GenYOUth, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating healthier school communities, will provide grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts to get food to students during COVID-19. From soft-sided coolers, bags and containers for individual servings, to protective gear for food service sanitation and safety, this equipment will ensure our children continue to receive the nutritious meals they need now more than ever while schools are closed across Wisconsin and the nation. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is participating in this grant program and have allocated grant dollars specifically for Wisconsin schools. Apply today at https://COVID-19.genyouthnow.org/ (Google Chrome recommended for this application)

For more grant opportunities, view COVID-19 Grant Opportunities and the DPI Grant webpage.