Q&As for Child Nutrition Program Operations in School Year 2021-2022, Q&A #2

General

1. What is the process for State agency reporting of the required information for each nationwide waiver that is due to the Secretary not later than 1 year after the date the State received the waiver?

FNS is using the School Meals Operations (SMO) Study (OMB control number 0584-0607) to collect information needed to meet the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s (FFCRA) waiver reporting requirements.

School Meal Programs

11. Can residential child care institutions (RCCIs) operating under SSO claim weekend and holiday meals?

Yes. Because RCCIs are reimbursed on a “per day of operation” basis and have traditionally been reimbursed for meals served on weekends and holidays, RCCIs that operate SSO during SY 2021-2022 may serve SSO meals on weekends and holidays.

12. Can an SFA serve breakfast and lunch at an SSO school and then sponsor a site through SSO at a library or youth center in the evening to offer snack and supper to the same students?

No. A sponsor may offer only two SSO meals in the same area per day.

18. Under the non-congregate, meal times, and parent/guardian pick-up waivers, may Child Nutrition Program operators provide food items in bulk, either through pick up or home delivery?

Yes. However, FNS expects program operators to use the non-congregate, meal times, and parent/guardian pick up waivers only for the duration and extent they are needed.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

21. Can SSO and CACFP at-risk meal service sites be co-located if the at-risk meals are provided by a non-SFA? If so, can the meals for both Programs be bundled together and distributed at the same time?

Yes. Even if a non-SFA provides the at-risk meals or snacks, SSO and CACFP at-risk meal services may be located at the same site, bundled together, and distributed at the same time. However, the maximum number of meals that may be offered to each child may not exceed the number of meals allowed by each Program.

22. Do traditional CACFP operators (institutions, sponsoring organizations, and centers) operating under the COVID-19 waivers need to maintain daily attendance records?

Yes. CACFP operators approved to participate under the COVID-19 waivers must continue to maintain Program documentation as required under 7 CFR 226.10(d), 226.15(e), 226.16(e), and 226.17(b).

23. With the exception of the Child Nutrition Response #93: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in School Year 2021-2022, do all other CACFP waivers apply to adult care operators and emergency shelters?

Yes.

24. Can Head Start programs deliver meals to children enrolled in the home-based program option?

Head Start programs may only distribute meals to children who are enrolled to participate in the CACFP or the NSLP.

25. Child Nutrition Response #91: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program for School Year 2021-2022 waives three requirements. Can a State agency opt into just one of the waivers (e.g., ounce equivalents implementation date) or must they opt into all three:

a. That at least one serving per day, across all eating occasions, must be whole grain-rich, at 7 CFR 226.20(a)(4)(i)(A) and 226.20(c);

b. That the crediting of grains by ounce equivalents must be fully implemented by Oct. 1, 2021, at 7 CFR 226.20(c); and

c.That low-fat milk (1 percent) must be unflavored at 7 CFR 226.20(a)(1)(iii) and 226.20(c).

Child Nutrition Response #91 is an optional waiver. Because it is not mandatory, the State agency can opt into the waiver, and determine which of the three meal pattern flexibilities they will allow in their State.

26. In States that elect to use Child Nutrition Response #93: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in SY 2021-2022, is the State agency expected to automatically pay day care home providers the tier I rate or is it the responsibility of the sponsor to request this waiver for the day care home providers not currently receiving tier I rates?

State agencies that elect to participate in the waiver must offer to provide tier I reimbursement for all meals and snacks served by all day care home providers. Day care home providers are not required to take any action in order to receive tier I reimbursement during the waiver period.

27. Can day care homes decline to receive tier I meal reimbursement?

Yes. Although State agencies that elect to participate in Child Nutrition Response #93: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in School Year 2021-2022 must offer tier I reimbursement to all day care home providers, day care home providers are not required to accept it.

28. Will States and sponsors operating under Child Nutrition Response #93: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in SY 2021-2022 need to collect parent income eligibility forms to prepare for waiver reporting?

FNS does not expect State agencies or sponsors operating under the area eligibility waiver to collect parent income eligibility forms to determine providers’ tiering status for the purpose of reporting while the waiver is in effect. FNS will provide more guidance on preparing for waiver reporting once available.