COVID 19 Preparedness for School Meals and Child and Adult Food Care Program- Waiver Announcements
Nutrition Services has put together a comprehensive document to provide guidance on understanding and applying waivers and waiver extensions applicable to Child Nutrition Programs. This document will be updated as new information is received from USDA.
CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM
- CACFP Monitoring Requirements for Family Day Care Homes: Request to waive the on-site monitoring requirements for sponsors of family day care homes during pandemic situations.
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Guidance during COVID19: This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification on the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program During COVID19- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the administration of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during school closues in all States and school food authorities during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
NATIONWIDE WAVIERS FAQ
- Questions and Answers related to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers: This memorandum provides clarification to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring Nationwide Waivers #7 through #12 available to all States, SFAs and sponsoring organizations during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the Nationwide waivers issued by FNS in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks- Questions and Answers #3: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring Nationwide Waivers #14 through #17 available to all States, SFAs and sponsoring organizations during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Extension Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to COVID-19: Child Nutrition Responses #21, Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
Please contact the Office of Nutrition Services for more information.
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program
The Families First Coronavirus Act established the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to provide assistance to families of children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals and impacted by school closures. Families who are already participating in SNAP will have their benefits automatically placed on their EBT card. Families who are not currently participating in SNAP but have been determined eligible by their schools to receive free or reduced-priced lunches will need to apply for P-EBT through the P-EBT online application and will receive a specific “P-EBT” card. Apply here
Serving Up Great School Meals Webinar Series
The Nutrition Services staff is excited to begin offering webinar experiences for Nebraska meal service providers every other Tuesday afternoon starting June 2. Anyone engaged in meal service for children across the state is welcome to join and learn the latest information about federal waivers and guidance, share tips and tricks with other meal service providers and get your questions answered by Nutrition Services program specialists.
- If you have any questions about these opportunities, discussion ideas or general feedback, please reach out to our office at nde.nsweb@nebraska.gov.
Area Eligibility (AE) Waiver Information
The USDA has issued a nationwide waiver approval to allow operation of SFSP open sites in areas that are not located in “areas in which poor economic conditions exist”.
- Sponsors wishing to continue providing meals to all children age 1-18 years in non-eligible areas may extend their days of operation and must update their SFSP site applications in the CNP system.
- Sponsors wishing to provide meals to all children age 1-18 years in non-eligible areas may request to use this waiver by completing the AE Waiver Application by providing justification of economic hardship.
- Nutrition Services hosted an informational webinar to share about AE waivers as well as other USDA-issued waivers. This webinar also included time for Q&As.
- Slides from the AE Webinar are available for download.
COVID 19 and School Meals- Food Service Sites
School Food Authorities across Nebraska are continuing their hard work to give students access to nutritious meals despite school closures and closed facilities. Find a link below to a frequently updated list of open food service sites throughout the state.
Open Food Service Sites (4/20/2020)
COVID 19 and School Closures- Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols
Nutrition Services has developed documents outlining Standard Operating Procedure for school use during the COVID 19 Viral Pandemic.
COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Response School Closures Standard Operating Procedure
COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Response
COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Non-School Meals Distribution Sites
COVID 19 Employee/Visitor/Customer Positive Test Result Protocols
Nutrition Services Vision Statement
Nutrition Services provides leadership that inspires service of nutritious meals to children, students and adults.
Nutrition Services Programs
Child Nutrition Program Statistics
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.