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CACFP COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities

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The Iowa Department of Education Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services has received approval from USDA Food and Nutrition Services of waivers to support access to nutritious meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

USDA Nationwide Waivers

USDA has extended the following nationwide flexibilities to ensure America’s children receive the nutritious food they need throughout the upcoming school year as the nation recovers from the coronavirus.  It allows CACFP providers to tailor operations to serve the children in their care. The following waivers will remain in effect through June 30, 2021. ​

If you plan to participate in any of the waivers listed below, please complete the corresponding survey.

​USDA has issued the following question and answer documents to provide additional guidance and clarification regarding the Nationwide waivers issued by FNS:

USDA Waiver Requests – Public Notification

The Iowa Department of Education Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services is seeking the following waivers from the United State Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. 

Submitted and Approved USDA Waiver Request

Submitted USDA Waiver Requests

Schools Approved to Provide Meals 

Schools and non-profit organizations across the state have been approved to provide meals during unanticipated school closures under the USDA Summer Food Service Program. To learn more about approved sites, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program webpage. Home providers receiving meals through SFSP cannot claim those meals for CACFP reimbursement. It is recommended providers maintain a separate record to track meals served from other sources.

Program Integrity 

To promote and maintain the accountability and integrity of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, CACFP organizations are required to implement procedures to ensure that meals are responsibly distributed to parents/guardians of eligible students, and that duplicate meals are not distributed. When providing non-congregate meals that are picked up by parents, it is important for parents to be informed to not take a meal or snack for consumption at home if that same meal or snack will be provided by the school. In CACFP child and adult care centers, Head Start, outside school hours, child care, and preschools, children are allowed to receive up to one meal and two snacks or two snacks and one meal per child per day. 

Integrity Sign- sample sign that may be posted at meal distribution sites and provided to families. 

CACFP Resources 

For more information on the approved USDA waivers during COVID-19 sponsor closures, please contact the CACFP Nutrition Consultant in your region. 

Printed from the Iowa Department of Education website on September 16, 2021 at 10:00am.