Workshop/Training Descriptions

CACFP Workshops

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

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

NSLP Workshops

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 (191 pages—Updated July 2007)

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.

Workshop Registration

Healthy Meals, Healthy Students- Implementing the 2005 Dietary Guidelines at Your School!

This new workshop was developed to help schools to design menus that are more 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 to their schools menus. Pre-registration is required; please visit www.isbe.net/nutrition/htmls/workshops.htm.

Registration is at 7:30 a.m. and the workshop is from 8 a.m. until noon.

*June 26—Fairview Hts. 
*July 10—Lombard
*August 27, 2008—Springfield

*School Food Safety Plan, the Process Approach to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles (HACCP) is an optional workshop offered in the afternoon.  See the description below; you must register separately.

Workshop Registration

Developing a Food Safety Plan, Process Approach to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles (HACCP)

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.

The next set of Food Safety Plan workshops are being held June through September of 2008. Please see dates and locations below.

*June 26—Fairview Hts.
*July 10—Lombard
*August 27, 2008—Springfield

*Healthy Meals, Healthy Students- Implementing the 2005 Dietary Guidelines at Your School! is an optional workshop offered in the morning.  See the description above; you must register separately.

Workshop Registration

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.–2:30 p.m. Complimentary lunch and beverages are provided. There is no registration fee. Pre-registration is required and must be completed online no later than seven days prior to the workshop.

The next set of meal service contract procurement workshops will be held in the late fall/early winter of 2008.  Be sure to check our website at the beginning of the 2008–2009 school year for dates, locations, and pre-registration information.

SFSP Workshops

SFSP Solving the Mystery of the Competitive Bidding Process

This training is offered to assist sponsors who contract for meal services with a food service management company/vendor. The session will cover:

• Rules and regulations that guide the bidding process
• Procurement basics
• Creating a menu
• Using the Invitation for Bid prototype
• Informal bidding procedures
• Document submission timelines

The trainings are offered free of charge. Any school food authority sponsor who does NOT specifically include summer meals in their year-round contract or all other sponsors who contract their summer meal services with a total cost of over $10,000 should attend this training. Attendees must be employees of the sponsor; employees of the food service management company are NOT allowed. Visit our website for future dates and locations.

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:

• Program Overview
• Participant Eligibility
• Sponsor Eligibility and Requirements
• Site Eligibility
• Meal Services
• Sponsor Responsibilities
• Budget
• Claim and Reporting Requirements
• Instructions for Completing the Sponsor and Site Applications
• Sanitation Requirements

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.

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:

• Updates and Reviews on Regulations
• Overview of Summer Mandate Legislation
• Production Records
• Menus
• Sponsor Responsibilities
• Budget
• Claim and Reporting Requirements
• Updates on the Sponsor and Site Applications

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.

Resources