Public Notice - Child Nutrition Program State Waiver Request
Waiver for the National School Lunch Program Verification Reporting and Recordkeeping RequirementsIn accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Services policy memorandum, SP 15-2018, CACFP 12-2018, SFSP 05-2018 - Child Nutrition Program Waiver Request Guidance and Protocol-Revised, May 24, 2018, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a waiver of statutory and/or regulatory Program requirements to assist CACFP and SFSP program operators in transitioning to normal operations while understanding the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
Waiver for the National School Lunch Program Verification
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements
1. State agency submitting waiver request and responsible State agency staff contact information:
Tennessee Department of Human Services
Allette Vayda- Director of Operations
Child Care and Community Services- Food Programs- CACFP & SFSP
James K. Polk Building, 15th Floor
505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243
p. 615-313-3769
2. Region:
Southeast Region
3. Eligible service providers participating in waiver and affirmation that they are in good standing:
Any Tennessee Department of Human Services (TN DHS) approved sponsor who meets all the following requirements:
- In good standing; and
- Approved by TN DHS to operate a Summer Food Service Program and/or a Child and Adult Care Food Program
4. Description of the challenge the State agency is seeking to solve, the goal of the waiver to improve services under the Program, and the expected outcomes if the waiver is granted. [Section 12(l)(2)(A)(iii) and 12(l)(2)(A)(iv) of the NSLA]:
As sponsors continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to reduce administrative burden to the fullest extent possible. Sponsors are continuing to face extensive supply chain and staffing challenges as they work to transition back to normal operations. Our state agency desires to provide administrative and operational flexibility, where possible, while maintaining program integrity in providing nutritious meals during COVID-19 response.
TN DHS is planning to provide extensive technical assistance and training in the coming months on several regulatory and operational aspects of the meal programs. A relief of these regulatory requirements will help us to better meet the needs of our customers.
Challenges Without the Waiver
- Sponsors continue to face uncertainty in how to best streamline operations while continuing to respond to pandemic related challenges, especially supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages. Without these waivers, sponsors will spend an extraordinary amount of time completing activities related to regulatory burden rather than focusing on properly servicing students and children.
- Decreased program participation as the public health emergency continues and COVID-19 cases continue to cycle through pockets of state as new variants arise.
- Food insecurity will continue to be an issue for students and children as the price of consumer goods has increased and families will have to make tough decisions on how they spend money.
Goal of Waiver to Improve Services
- The goal is to decrease some administrative pressures for the sponsor for this next transitional year. Sponsors are working to transition back to normal operations, but the supply chain and labor shortages continue to plague their efforts. These waivers will allow for additional flexibility when needed during summer 2022.
- By relieving administrative pressure, sponsors can focus on communicating changes to families, training staff to accept and approve meal applications, and navigate the ongoing COVID-19 related challenges.
- Continued flexibility of meal service options; non-congregate meal service, parent/guardian meal pickup, meal service times, and offer versus serve provide sponsors the flexibility needed to continue to provide meals in response to COVID-19.
- Maintain sponsor and site program participation and minimize hunger in the local communities.
- Allow TN DHS staff to focus on targeted technical assistance and training for sponsors as that navigate all the supply chain and labor shortage challenges.
Expected Outcome of Waiver
- Sponsors will have an opportunity to transition back to normal operations over a longer period which helps to assure success.
- Sponsors will implement flexibilities, as needed, to minimize the negative impact on program participation that are still caused by COVID-19 challenges.
- Simplify program administration for the sponsors, so they can focus on the highest priority needs of their program/sites.
5. Specific Program requirements to be waived (include statutory and regulatory citations). [Section 12(l)(2)(A)(i) of the NSLA]:
6. Detailed description of alternative procedures and anticipated impact on Program operations, including technology, State systems, and monitoring:
If approved, there are no significant impacts on technology, state systems, or monitoring.
7. Description of any steps the State has taken to address regulatory barriers at the State level. [Section 12(l)(2)(A)(ii) of the NSLA]:
There are currently no state level regulatory barriers related to this specific issue.
8. Anticipated challenges State or eligible service providers may face with the waiver implementation:
TN DHS does not anticipate that the establishment of this statewide waiver will pose any challenges at the state or sponsor level.
9. Description of how the waiver will not increase the overall cost of the Program to the Federal Government. If there are anticipated increases, confirm that the costs will be paid from non-Federal funds. [Section 12(l)(1)(A)(iii) of the NSLA]:
The waiver will not increase the overall cost of the program to the Federal Government.
10. Anticipated waiver implementation date and time period:
The anticipated statewide implementation start date is upon approval from USDA and is to remain in effect through dates identified on the attached.
11. Proposed monitoring and review procedures:
Monitoring of sponsors performance under the requested waivers will follow administrative review regulations for each program. This practice will be consistent with 7 CFR 225 and 226 review requirements.
12. Proposed reporting requirements (include type of data and due date(s) to FNS):
No later than October 30, 2023, TN DHS will report to USDA the number of sponsors that used this waiver.