Tuesday Morning - October 5, 2021 An Update on Federal and State Policy Issues from SNATable of Contents COVID-19 Policy Updates USDA Announces New Funds for Schools Amid Supply Chain Disruptions Federal Policy Federal Register: SNA Comments on APEC IV Study U.S. Congress Passes a Stopgap Bill to Prevent Shutdown FY2022 CACFP and SFSO Area Eligibility Data Available SNA Signs onto Letter Supporting the Build Back Better Act Share Stronger with School Meals Materials State Snapshots New Jersey Establishes a State Supplement for Summer Meals, Breakfast Mark Your Calendars Celebrating Hispanic Heritage The Diversity Dilemma Congressional Management Foundation Mystery Chat Corner COVID-19 Policy Updates USDA Announces New Funds for Schools Amid Supply Chain Disruptions On September 29, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new funds to support school meal programs amid ongoing supply chain challenges. The funds are part of a broad package of USDA investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers. USDA’s press release specified the move will provide up to $1.5 billion of assistance to help schools respond to supply chain disruptions, saying “These funds will support procurement of agricultural commodities and enable USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to enhance the toolbox for school nutrition professionals working hard to make sure students have reliable access to healthy meals.” Read USDA’s Fact Sheet for more information. Like many schools across the country, Red Wing (Minn.) Public Schools are navigating crippling supply chain disruptions and staff shortages while doing their best to keep students fed. Director of Student Nutrition Services Brenton Lexvold called this year the "hardest of my career." Read more. Back to the top Federal PolicyFederal Register: SNA Comments on APEC IV Study SNA submitted comments in response to the Federal Register Notice, Agency Information Collection Activities: Fourth Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification Study Series (APEC IV), published August 4, 2021. In the comment letter, SNA recommends that as the Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification (APEC) IV Study is developed, FNS looks to state agencies for data collection and review the technical assistance provided to school nutrition practitioners as well as other suggestions to reduce burden and improve accuracy. Read the comment letter. U.S. Congress Passes a Stopgap Bill to Prevent Shutdown The House and Senate on Thursday approved a Continuing Resolution, a short-term government funding bill, that keeps federal agencies funded at current levels and open through December 3. The bill includes funding for several emergency relief efforts. FY2022 CACFP and SFSO Area Eligibility Data Available USDA FNS has announced that the 2022 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participant Area Eligibility data are now available. The FNS mapping tools have also been updated to reflect the new data. To see the map, click this link. The data set is also available for download on FNS’ open data site. SNA Signs onto Letter Supporting the Build Back Better Act On September 29, SNA joined nearly 800 national, state and community-based organizations in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging passage of the U.S. House’s Build Back Better Act. The letter emphatically stated the need to protect the size, scope and spending contained in the package, especially the historic investment in critical anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs that would ensure children have access to the nutrition they need year-round during and after the impacts from the pandemic. Read the letter. Share Stronger with School Meals Materials Celebrate the important work of school nutrition professionals and the school community with Team Nutrition’s Stronger with School Meals educational materials. Print materials coming soon for Team Nutrition Schools. Back to the top State Snapshots New Jersey Establishes a State Supplement for Summer Meals, Breakfast S3943 establishing a state supplement for federal Summer Food Service Program meals, while S3944 establishing a state supplement for Breakfast after the Bell meals. Mark Your Calendars Upcoming SNA Webinars Learn about hot topics in school nutrition and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) with SNA’s popular professional development webinars. If you missed a particular webinar, catch up with SNA’s on-demand webinars. Learn about hot topics in school nutrition and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) with SNA’s popular professional development webinars. If you missed a particular webinar, catch up with SNA’s on-demand webinars. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Join SNA during Hispanic Heritage Month to explore the diversity of the Hispanic/Latino/LatinX Community and learn about their contributions to U.S. society, individual communities and students who benefit from school meals. Meet SNA members who share their Hispanic heritage and hear their perspectives on school nutrition, current trends and how they see the future of the profession. The Diversity Dilemma 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, November 10, 2021 This leadership workshop will challenge you to create true diversity and explore the myth that "difference automatically produces diversity." Attendees will analyze how their organization(s) may be unknowingly impacted by the culture they have created or inherited. You’ll leave this session with the action steps you can take to address your own diversity dilemma. Congressional Management Foundation Using Research to Connect the Dots Between You and Your Lawmaker 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Despite the narrative presented by Hollywood screenwriters and the mainstream media, lawmakers are human, too. Before being elected, these politicians have careers, attend school, volunteer and achieve college degrees. This presentation will explore some strategies for using research to help connect the dots between the issues you're advocating for and those on your member's current agenda. Mystery Chat Corner On October 5, 1947, which U.S. President made the first official Presidential address televised live from the White House? A: President Harry S. Truman Back to the top