Resources

Nutrition Programs


Professional Development

Workshop Schedule and Online Registration


Due to limited space and facility rules, and as a courtesy to the other workshop/training participants and the presenters, please refrain from bringing children to workshops.

Workshop and Training Descriptions


CACFP • Food Distribution Program • NSLP • SFSP • NFSMI • Online Videos


Topic CACFP Workshops



bullet CACFP Child Care Centers—New Institution Training

CACFP Orientation for New Institutions provides guidance to new organizations on the Child and Adult Care Food Program application process and required procedures. New institutions are required to attend an entire session prior to having their application for participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program approved.

The work sessions are offered free of charge in Springfield, IL and are six hours in length. Registration is limited to two people per organization and each person must register online. Click on the following link to learn more about the Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements for application. If you meet the program requirements described in the Fact Sheets, visit our workshop/training schedule and online registration.

Workshop Registration


bullet CACFP Child Care Centers—Program Administration

Refresher Training for Institutions Participating in CACFP provides updated information concerning administration of the food program for institutions currently participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Current staff, as well as new staff needing program requirement training, would benefit from this refresher training. Topics include determining eligibility, meal participation, meal pattern requirements, and financial documentation.

The work sessions are offered free of charge and are four hours in length. Visit our workshop/training schedule to select a date and location that works best for you.

Workshop Registration

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Topic Food Distribution Program Workshops



bullet USDA Foods and Illinois Commodity System Training

To better manage USDA foods, please plan on attending one of seven half-day training sessions devoted exclusively to USDA foods. These training's will focus on the Illinois Commodity System; placing the annual commodity order; diversions to processors; the Department of Defense (DoD) fresh fruit and vegetable program and monthly processes all designed to teach better management of USDA foods.

Workshop Registration

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Topic NSLP Workshops



bullet New Workshops on Purchasing in the National School Lunch Program
 

The Nutrition Programs Division is pleased to announce a new set of workshops focused on purchasing in the National School Lunch Program, The Competitive Edge: Purchasing in the National School Lunch Program.  The half-day workshops are designed to assist schools and districts with the processes involved in establishing procurement procedures, developing solicitations/contracts, issuing solicitations for bids, and awarding contracts.  Emphasis is placed on the State and Federal rules and regulations that govern the purchasing of foods and goods for School-Based Child Nutrition Programs.

Currently no Competitive Edge: Purchasing in the National School Lunch Program workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

bullet Basic Training—A Guide to School-Based Child Nutrition Programs

The Basic Training workshop provides participants an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture’s regulations that govern the school-based programs including processing household applications, verification, completing the annual application process and required reports, menu planning, food commodities, and much more. Topics covered during this workshop are based on information from the Illinois State Board of Education's School-Based Child Nutrition Programs Administrative Handbook PDF File (224 pages—Updated July 2009)

This workshop is ideal for new school food service personnel and administrative staff, and also allows veteran school staff a refresher course on the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs. If you only work with the Illinois Free and/or Special Milk Program, you do not need to attend the Basic Training workshops unless you are interested in enrolling in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs.

Currently no Basic Training workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

bullet Bridging the Gap in School Meal Service Procurement: The Invitation for Bid and Contract Process

This informative workshop is designed to assist school food authorities (SFAs) who currently contract or are seeking to contract for meal services with a food service management company or meal vendor in meeting all requirements associated with the Invitation for Bid and Contract process. Attendees will better understand the three-step document submission and review process and receive hands-on training in developing Invitation for Bid and Contract documents that meet federal and state regulations and statutes.

All SFAs conducting a new procurement or considering contracting for school meal services are highly encouraged to attend this training. Attendees must be employees of the school food authority (school or district).

Registration for all workshops begins at 8 a.m. and workshops are held from 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Complimentary beverages will be available in the morning, and complimentary lunch and beverages will be available at noon. Pre-registration is required and must be completed online no later than seven days prior to the workshop. There is no registration fee.

Workshop Registration


Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Radisson Hotel—Schaumburg
Thursday, November 19, 2009 Doubletree Hotel—Alsip
Friday, December 4, 2009 Hilton Garden Inn and Regency Conference Center—O’Fallon
Friday, December 11, 2009  Eastland Suites Hotel—Bloomington

bullet Menu Planning and Dietary Guidelines

This workshop will provide tools schools can use to design menus that are in line with the recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, Healthier US Challenge, and current research. We will also tie the healthy recommendations together with how to successfully complete your School Meals Initiative (SMI) Reviews. Participants will learn about current nutrition research, trends, and practical tips on how they can implement healthy options in their school menus.

Currently no Menu Planning and Dietary Guidelines workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

bullet Certification and Verification

Gain a solid understanding of the certification of Household Eligibility Applications, verification, and the mandatory electronic direct certification process in this half-day training.

Currently no Certification and Verification workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

bullet Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement/Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs

This half-day training informs participants of program policies regarding civil rights and accommodating students with special dietary needs.*

Currently no Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement or Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

bullet Developing a School Food Safety Plan

Beginning with the 2005–2006 school year, all schools were required to have a food safety plan in place. The Developing a Food Safety Plan, Process Approach to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles (HACCP) workshop will help schools satisfy this requirement. Participants will be introduced to the Process Approach to HACCP Principles which allows for a more practical application of food safety procedures. Participants will receive information and work with hands-on activities they can take back to their schools and immediately use in the development of a food safety plan or revision of a current food safety plan.

Currently no Developing a School Food Safety Plan workshops are scheduled. Please check back in 2010 for future workshop dates.

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Topic SFSP Workshops



bullet Summer Food Service Program—New Sponsor Orientation

This training on how to run a successful Summer Food Service Program is offered to prospective new sponsors and existing sponsors.

The session will cover:

The work sessions are offered free of charge and are six hours in length. New sponsors and current sponsors who have new staff are required to attend an entire session prior to undertaking their responsibilities. Current sponsors can either attend this workshop or the half-day workshop described below.

bullet Summer Food Service Program—Current Sponsor Orientation

This training on how to run a successful Summer Food Service Program is offered to existing sponsors.

This session will cover:

The work sessions are offered free of charge and are three hours in length. Topics will provide more detail on the program and will cover updates in the online applications and regulations.

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Topic NFSMI Training Opportunities

The National Food Service Management Training Institute, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, offers workshops, specialized training, online instruction, and satellite seminars/teleconferences on relevant school food service topics. For more information, please go to www.nfsmi.org and click on "Training Opportunities".

Topic Online Videos



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