Child and Adult Care Food Program Dual Sponsors Exchange Meeting May 19, 2015 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hilton Austin Airport 9515 Hotel Drive Austin, Texas 78719 MEETING MINUTES Sponsors Present: Dawn Fobbs, We Are Caring Hearts Lauren Weston, We Are Caring Hearts Clemencia Cuellar, Sol Care Services Magda Gonzalez, Sol Care Services Suzana Rez, El Paso Human Services Alma Langrum, AJL’s Wings of Hope Paulette Wiley, Kiddies Workshop Johnny Ragan, Kiddies Workshop Paula Beight, Cool Kids Deborah Kolenda, Cool Kids Cynthia Price, All Children Nutrition Charles Price, All Children Nutrition Katrina Milloway, Red River CCFP Angela Young, Child Care Group Nguyen Nguyen, Right From the Start Giao Pham, Right From the Start Gerry Hurwitz, Child Food Program of Texas Carole Kloper, Child Food Program of Texas Sharon Ray, Nutriservice Vickie Keys, Food for Kids Yolanda Keys, Food for Kid I. II. TDA Food and Nutrition Representatives Present Angela Olige, Assistant Commissioner Tracy Mueck, Administrator Catherine Wright-Steele, Administrator Melissa Dozier Gonzales, Director Robin Roark, Director Beth Thorson, Director Sharon Wellborn, Director Edgar Curtis, Director Christine Bendana, Assistant Director Kelli Wise, Coordinator Marianne Hopper, Specialist Welcome and Updates A. Angelia Olige, Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Assistant Commissioner for Food and Nutrition, opened the meeting with an introduction and updates on TDA actions at 9 a.m. Discussion of USDA Regulations and State Administration A. Jo Ellen Collin, from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southwest Regional Office, initiated a discussion to provide context for USDA regulations and review TDA’s administration responsibilities for programs. III. Discussion of Technical Assistance A. TDA initiated a discussion of technical assistance and how the agency and ESCs can improve technical assistance delivery. B. It was determined that additional information on the following will be made available: 1. The process for contracting entities (CE) to seek technical assistance 2. Frequently asked questions from CEs will be made available on SquareMeals website. 3. Details on the new TX-UNPS technical assistance module will be developed and made available. IV. V. Questions and Answers for Application Issues A. TDA provided answers to questions along with onsite technical assistance for the most recent application renewal cycle and described changes planned for the upcoming renewal process. Highlights included: 1. TDA has made adjustments to the application tiering process; a summary of the adjustments will be available soon. 2. Dual sponsors are encouraged (although not required) to submit applications by August 15, 2015. 3. All applications must have been submitted by the CE at least once before October 1. TDA will work with the CE until Dec. 1, 2015 to ensure the application is complete and approvable. Applications not approvable as of December 1 will go into the Serious Deficiency (SD) process. 4. The 2016 application includes a new budget detail worksheet designed to streamline the CE’s budget development and reduce error rate that resulted from the previous two-step process. 5. A new upload documents feature will be available for CACFP July 1. 6. Once a compensation plan is approved, resubmitting is not required unless there is a change. Overview of Review Process A. TDA provided clarification for the review process. B. Review clarification highlights included: 1. Findings corrected during the review will be noted on the findings letter. 2. TDA will develop materials to provide CEs a clear understanding of the review process. 3. CEs will receive a preliminary findings report during the exit close out conference. A CE signature on the report indicates receipt of the report and not the CE’s acceptance of the primary preliminary findings. VI. VII. Discussion of Site Transfers A. TDA initiated a discussion of site transfer concerns to provide clarification on the process and the requirements. Closing 1. TDA thanked everyone for attending and proposed continuing to hold dual sponsor meetings. END OF MINUTES