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Oregon Child Nutrition Programs COVID-19 Response and Resources

This page contains the most recent information and resources available on how the 2019 Novel Coronavirus is affecting Child Nutrition Programs in Oregon.  

"There are no words that can truly express my appreciation for all Child Nutrition Program Sponsors and your dedicated staff.  You have dropped everything, pivoted and focused primarily on ensuring Oregonians have access to meals.  You have done so with grace while under extreme stress.  It has been one of the greatest pleasures of my career to watch you work.   Social media is flooded with the humanity of those that are putting others first.  And you all are responsible for that." - Dustin Melton, Oregon Child Nutrition Programs Director

Please visit the Oregon Department of Education's (ODE) main COVID-19 resources page to find information about starting the 2020-21 school year, distance learning, mental health & social support, serving all students, tools you can use, and essential links.

The COVID-19 Food Resources page catalogs and links to each district's webpage with information about how they are feeding kids during school closure.

Success Stories

Let's show the nation how Oregon's Child Nutrition Programs are rising to meet the need of feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Share your District or Organizations' success stories with us by emailing ODE CNP at ODE Nutrition Programs. 

Don't forget to Follow ODE on Twitter @ORDeptEd

All Programs

Memos, Q&A, Oregon and USDA Waivers
Nationwide Waivers

T​his image is a link and conveniently details all of the nationwide waivers and guidance issued to date by the USDA in response to the coronavirus. - No Kid Hungry (2019) Summary of COVID-19 Child Nutrition Programs Response Nationwide Waivers & Memos. Retrieved from: nokidhungry.org​

Waivers Pending Approval

USDA Foods

USDA Foods (direct delivery, finished end products, and DoD Fresh Fruits & Vegetables) can and should be used.

ODE has compiled a tips, guidance and considerations​ document​ to assist you with school year 2020-21.

Existing USDA Foods inventories can and should be utilized in your feeding operations. Many food distributors are reporting shortages of grab n go type food items. It may be more feasible to order in bulk and re-package. Re-packaging could be in baggies, pc cups, paper/plastic bags, etc. Hot f​oods may be packaged and served in grab n go situations. It is important to have instructions telling families that these items should be consumed within 2 hours or refrigerated to 41 degrees or below and then re-heated to 165 degrees when ready for consumption.

ODE has posted pictures of school district submitted photos of to-go options utilizing USDA Foods on the USDA Foods Best Practices ​web page. ODE has compiled a list of Grab-N-Go end products from USDA Foods processors. Existing USDA Foods inventory balances can be used while saving the school money during the COVID-19 crisis: List of available Grab-N-Go end products​

USDA Foods can be given to other sponsors or donated to the Oregon Food Bank/local food bank if the sponsor is unable to utilize. Many USDA Foods have extended shelf life, please keep this in mind before sharing or donating.

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For questions related to USDA Foods, you can contact the following staff directly:


ODE CNP Webinars


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Program-Specific Information

Some information may be duplicated across multiple programs depending on its relevance

School Nutrition Programs

For regulation and additional information, not related to operation during COVID-19, visit the SNP Webpage

Grant Opportunities

​GENYOUth, up to $3,000 for COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Equipment per School​

GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts to get food to students during COVID-19. From soft-sided coolers, bags, and containers for individual servings, to protective gear for food service sanitation and safety, this equipment will help ensure our children continue to receive the nutritious meals they need. Superintendents, Principals, Nutrition Directors, and Managers can complete the application. The funds are awarded on a rolling basis, so apply quickly. Look for the application PDF on the landing page to help you gather the information needed. Once you start the application, you will not be able to save it. If you have questions, please contact Crista (chawkins@odncouncil.org) or Erin (ehirte@odncouncil.org)

OEA Choice Trust

OEA Choice Trust is pleased to announce our School Employee Wellness (SEW) Grant opportunity.  This grant opportunity offers funds to Oregon public school districts, community colleges, and education service districts to promote and support the health, well-being, and resilience of public school employees. 

OEA Choice Trust is the only organization dedicated solely to workplace wellness for Oregon public school employees. Our vision is that all Oregon public school employees are healthy, resilient, and engaged as champions for healthy school environments and vital communities. As a result, they are fulfilled in their work, model well-being for students and are better equipped to foster student success.

OEA Choice Trust has a unique opportunity to assist in promoting the physical, emotional, and social well-being of school employees through the provision of grants. Our School Employee Wellness Grant Program is designed to allow school leaders and employees the flexibility to develop a locally tailored program to best meet the needs, goals, and priorities of their district and school staff.

OEA Choice Trust SEW Grant awards are a maximum of $100,000 to support the planning and implementation of sustainable school employee wellness programs that will be implemented within 5 years. This is a multiyear grant award and annual grant funding requests are limited to a maximum of $30,000 per grant year. If awarded, the first grant year is July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

Because of your expressed interest in school employee health and well-being, we have attached the Spring 2021 School Employee Wellness Grant Application and Scoring Rubric for your convenience.

To support both the planning of your school employee wellness initiative and development of your grant application, please review the following tools on the OEA Choice Trust website at https://oeachoice.com/wellness-resources/program-planning/

How to Apply

The official Spring 2021 Grant Application and Scoring Rubric can be found at http://oeachoice.com/grant-program/. To access the grant application:

  1. Go to http://oeachoice.com/grant-program/
  2. Click on Download the Grant Application
  3. Complete the form and click Submit
  4. Download the 2021 Grant Application (offered in Word and PDF formats) and the Grant Review Scoring Guide
Important Date: Application Deadline: May 6, 2021 

Please note: Grant applications received after May 6th will not be accepted.

Feel free to reach out to Asta Garmon at 503-741-9735 or asta@oeachoice.com with any questions or clarification needs!



NSLP and SSO Contacts

​Below are your contacts if you have not yet submitted an SFSP or SSO application or want more information:


Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Important Information Regarding Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

  • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, has provided additional funding available to families whose children would receive free or reduced price meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act if not for the COVID-19 school closures.
  • Similar to summer EBT, P-EBT will provide additional funding on a per student bases for families to spend on qualifying food purchases in their community. P-EBT funds go directly to eligible children to bring food into their household.   This program helps alleviate food insecurity and increase local spending at the same time.

Updates:

  • Federal funding and program eligibility guidance were issued separately for Spring 2019/2020 school year and September 2020/2021.
  • The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159) extends P-EBT through the end of September 2021 and expands P-EBT to cover certain children in childcare. 
  • States must apply to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to participate in P-EBT for school year 2020-2021.

Resources:

SNP/SSO Resources

Operational Resources

Meal Service Tips

Child and Adult Care Food Programs

For regulation and additional information, not related to operation during COVID-19, visit the CACFP Webpage

CACFP and SFSP Contacts
CACFP Resources

Operational Resources

Meal Service Tips
Safety and Sanitation Resources
 

Summer Food Service Programs

For regulation and additional information, not related to operation during COVID-19, visit the SFSP Webpage

CACFP and SFSP Contacts
SFSP Resources

Operational Resources

Meal Service Tips


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