Food and Nutrition Programs

FY23 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Winter Training Opportunities (January–April 2023)

As required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) will provide training opportunities to CACFP sponsoring organizations on program regulations and operations. This memo includes a detailed list of training events scheduled for the winter of fiscal year 2023 (FY23).

FNP will continue to host all trainings virtually via the Zoom platform. Participants can register for each event and save a calendar invitation with the training access details via Zoom. All trainings will be recorded, and the recorded training will be available in the Document and Reference Library shortly after the live event. If unable to attend a live training event, participants can listen to a recorded training and receive a certificate of training completion.

Live Zoom Trainings

The following training events are currently available for registration:

• MMIS Eligibility and Enrollment Summary (Adult Day Health programs Only): ADH programs have been utilizing the MMIS system to reduce the paperwork burden for participants, and clearly capture participant eligibility since 2019. This training will provide an overview of the MMIS Eligibility and Enrollment Summary document—how it should be used, what programs should be documenting, and how to maintain it. This training will also introduce new requirements on collecting eligibility information.
  • Date: Wednesday, January 18^th
  • Time: 12:00–1:00pm
  • Registration link
  
  

  Note: This is an updated date for this training from what was issued in the CACFP Newsletter on 12/23/22

• Procurement Process in CACFP: Aside from the physical document of a Food Service Agreement (FSA) or Formal Bid (IFB), procurement is a required process for all Sponsoring Organizations in the CACFP. This training will review what the procurement process is all about, and how programs can be sure they are following the right process (and how they should be documenting it).
  • Date: Tuesday, February 21^st
  • Time: 11:00am–12:00pm
  • Registration link
  
  

  For programs which utilize an FSA or IFB, please see the on-demand recorded trainings for the specific contract types, available in the online document library—Understanding Food Service Agreements (FSA) and Understanding Formal Bids (IFB)

• Food Safety & Food Temps: Food Safety is an essential part to any program to ensure that participants receive a safe meal or snack. This training will provide some general guidance on food safety, including how take a meal temp, how to calibrate a food thermometer, and when temperatures must be taken.
  • Date: Wednesday, March 22^nd
  • Time: 1:00am–2:00pm
  • Registration link
  
  

  Please note: This is not a food safety certification training. Attending this training does not replace the need for a food safety certification for you or your staff, as may be required by your local board of health.

• CACFP Town Hall: All CACFP program types are encouraged to attend this monthly live, town hall-style setting with DESE staff. These sessions will introduce any new materials, resources, guidance from USDA or DESE. Individuals can submit their questions or requests for topics to be covered in these sessions through an anonymous online survey.
  • Date(s):
    • Thursday, February 9^th
    • Thursday, April 13^th
    • Thursday, June 8^th
    • Thursday, August 10^th
  • Time: 12:00–1:30pm
  • Registration link: Register for one or all sessions

On-demand trainings:

MA DESE continues to build up the online library of recorded trainings which can be viewed at any time. Go to the "CACFP Training and Resources" folder in the Online Document and Reference Library (ODL) to see what is available and what is applicable to your institution.

New trainings are now available to access on-demand!

• How to amend an application
• How to submit a claim
• How to complete a meal benefit form- children
• How to complete a child enrollment form
• Age-appropriate meal service utensils (infographic also available!)

Additionally, to support Family Day Care (FDC) Sponsors, DESE is building up a library of materials that sponsors can provide directly to staff. To begin, DESE is focusing on trainings specifically for program monitors:

• Completing the FDC home monitoring form
• Completing the 5-day reconciliation

Lastly, the John Stalker Institute from Framingham State University also provides training and resources for programs operating in the CACFP.

• Planning Smart Meals for Healthy Children (MassCAMPS):
• Growing Healthy Habits***

***Growing Healthy Habits has New content available on Gardens and gardening activities in Early Education and Care Programs which provides lessons and resources for centers and providers to use with the children in their care!

Reminder: The designated "CACFP Responsible Contact(s)" is/are required to participate in CACFP training each year. Each sponsoring organization is responsible for ensuring that the individual(s) listed as their CACFP Responsible Contact is registered/has attended training.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.