Flexibility in Meal Services for Early Childhood Education and Care Department
Discover the various meal service options available for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, including Congregate Meal Service, Non-Congregate Meal Service, Conditional Non-Congregate Meal Sites, and Meal Service Flexibility. Learn about the requirements for operating Non-Congregate Meal Services, as well as the flexibility in meal issuance and parent/guardian meal pick-up. Explore the guidelines for bulk food items and the distribution of meals over multi-day periods to ensure the health and safety of children.
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Presentation Transcript
Early Childhood Education and Care Department Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky 2025 Congregate Meals Non- Congregate Meal Service and New Summer EBT
Congregate Meal Service vs. Non-Congregate Meal Service Congregate Meal Service Non-congregate Meal Service Congregate meal service means a food service at which meals are consumed on site in a supervised setting. Non-Congregate meal service means a food service at which meals are provided for children to consume all the components off site. Non-congregate meal service must only be operated at sites designate as rural with no congregate meal service
Non-Congregate Meal Services REQUIREMENTS: Good standing Sponsor must be considered in good standing to operate a non-congregate meal service.
Conditional Non-Congregate Meal Site Conditional non-congregate site means a site that qualifies for Program participation because: It conducts a non-congregate meal service for eligible children, In an area that does not meet the definition of areas in which poor economic conditions exist, Is not a camp
Meal Service Flexibility/ Multi-Day Meal Issuance/Home Meal Delivery Approved sponsors may distribute up to the allowable number of reimbursable meals that would be provided over a 5-day period. Sponsors electing this option must have procedures in place that document, to a reasonable extent, the proper number of meals are distributed to each eligible child Sponsor that are approved to operate a non-congregate meal service home delivery
Meal Service Flexibility/ Parent/Guardian Meal Pick-up Sponsors in good standing may allow parents or guardians to pick up Program meals on behalf of eligible children. Sponsor must have documented procedures in place to ensure that meals are only distributed to parents or guardians of eligible children and that duplicated meals are not distributed to any child.
Meal Service Flexibility/ Bulk Food Items Bulk meals provided must meet the meal pattern requirements for each meal service type with added safeguards to ensure Program integrity and the health and safety of children. Bulk 5-day meal distribution The maximum number of reimbursable meals provided to a child should not exceed the number of meals that could be provided over a 5-calendar day period.
Meal Service Flexibility/ Bulk Food Items All food items that contribute to a reimbursable meal are clearly identifiable and clearly indicate the food items and portion sizes for each reimbursable meal. Food preparation, such as heating or warming, is minimal.
Offer Versus Serve Only SFA sponsors, who are experienced with OVS , may utilize OVS in their non-congregate meal services
Non-Congregate Sites New Site means a site which did not participate in the program in the prior year. Sites switching from congregate meal service to non-congregate in summer 2024, are considered new sites. Sites switching from congregate meal service to operating a hybrid site (operating congregate and non-congregate meals service at the same site) are considered new sites
2025 Summer Food Service Permanent EBT The Summer EBT introduces a new layer of nutrition assistance that is flexible and allows families to supplement summer meals with foods of their choice that is available anytime, including when meal sites are not open. $40.00 per month benefit.
Non-Congregate Plan Are you planning to serve multiple meal types How many days of food will be served at once Explain in detail in how you will ensure that multiple days of food will meet the meal pattern requirements How will the meal be provided? Unitized Bulk food items Combination of both
Cont. Non-Congregate Plan What type of non congregate service do you intend to operate Sponsors allowing parent/guardian pick up must have a way to : Verify the number of eligible children in the household Obtain written permission listing the parent/guardian who are permitted to pick up meals Have a process to ensure that meals are only distributed to parents/guardians and that duplicate meals are not distributed
More information about the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department Programs for Parents and Professionals: https://nmececd.org ore information about Family, Friend, and Neighbor program in-home childcare registration and reimbursement: https://newmexicokids.org Program Resources for SFSP Sponsors https://summerfoodnm.org/sponsors/program-resources If you have any questions, please contact your NM SFSP Compliance Officers: Program Manager: Debra Candelaria at 505-699-2596 Senior Compliance Officer: Christine Juancho at 505-699-2627 Compliance Officer: Frank Quintana at 505-350-5879 Compliance Officer: Cassie Martinez at 505-637-1440
