Notice: JavaScript is not available in your browser. Some enhanced features will not be available until JavaScript is enabled.

School chefs being trained

Training & Technical Assistance

The Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (OSCNP) provides training and technical assistance to schools and participating community agencies to ensure that they understand and meet the nutritional standards and guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information, or dates and locations contact 410-767-0199.

Training

Program	Description
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) – Public School Systems	Twice-annual Administrative Meetings to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance and professional development. Required for local public school systems.
NSLP and SBP – Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI) and Nonprofit Private Schools (NPPS)	Twice-annual Administrative Meeting to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance and professional development. Required for RCCI and NPPS.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – Basics	Monthly one-day training to provide orientation to major aspects of administering the CACFP at a Child Care Center. Designed for new program operators, new staff at existing CACFP agencies, or participating agencies who need a refresher.
CACFP – Child Care Centers	Required annual administrative training to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance, and professional development.
CACFP – Adult Day Care Centers	Required annual administrative training to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance, and professional development.
CACFP – Family Child Care Sponsors	Required annual administrative training to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance, and professional development.
CACFP – At-Risk Afterschool Programs	Required annual administrative training to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance, and professional development.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)	Required annual training for participating agencies to provide updates on USDA regulations and guidance, and professional development.
Food Safety Training for School Nutrition Professionals – ServSafe	ServSafe Food Handler and Food Manager Training and review sessions utilizing the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe curricula and certification exam.
Food Safety – Child Care Centers	Food Safety training tailored to child care centers to provide Core of Knowledge hours in Health, Safety, and Nutrition.

USDA Team Nutrition Training Grants

Maryland has been a frequent grant recipient of USDA’s Team Nutrition training grants.

Project SELECT

Project SELECT (Student Education, Lunchroom Environment, and Culinary Training) was Maryland’s Team Nutrition training grant implemented from 2016 through 2019. It targeted middle schools in five school systems: Allegany, Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Wicomico. The grant provided training and technical assistance in culinary and food service operations, Smarter Lunchrooms strategies, food tasting events, and nutrition education.

The goal was to increase students’ selection and consumption, and their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about vegetables and fruits. A family engagement wellness toolkit was also developed to support wellness policy implementation involving families and parents.

Grant partners included the five targeted school systems, the University of Maryland Food Supplement Nutrition Education (FSNE), and the University of Maryland Baltimore Division of Growth and Nutrition.

CACFP Meal Service Training Grant

Maryland’s USDA CACFP Meal Service Training Grant expands menu planning training to address meal pattern requirements, menu planning principles, creditable and non-creditable foods, standardized recipes, healthy food preparation methods, and culturally appropriate CACFP recipes.

USDA's Feeding Infants in the CACFP is also offered to improve knowledge and skills on infant feeding, including breastfeeding, formula use, and safe food handling. A peer advisory team was recently formed to help guide CACFP training and future programming. For more information about this USDA grant visit CACFP Meal Service Training Grants.

Food Is Safe Here (FISH)

The Food Is Safe Here (FISH) Initiative is an ongoing program of food safety training options and resources for school food service personnel in Maryland that participate in federally funded Child Nutrition Programs.

Food Safety for School Programs

ServSafe Manager Training and Certification is a nationally recognized food safety credential in the foodservice industry. The audience includes School Nutrition Managers, Supervisors, Directors, and others required to receive a minimum of 8 hours of Food Safety Training for USDA Professional Standards. This course meets or exceeds the requirements for local jurisdictions that require certification.

ServSafe Food Handler Training Materials are available for School Nutrition staff to provide basic food safety instruction, including onboarding and refresher training.

Certified ServSafe Instructors from LEAs can teach ServSafe Manager classes and order materials at no cost. Certified Proctors can order answer sheets and administer exams at no cost.

Access the online ServSafe Training Materials Order Form. Training dates must be scheduled before ordering. Place orders four weeks in advance.

Food Safety for Child Care

The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) offers a free online course, Food Safety in Child Care, on the ICN iLearn website. MSDE Office of Child Care (OCC) has approved this course for 4 COK hours in health, safety, and nutrition. Learn more at the MSDE OCC training webpage. Click "Free Training" in the Trainings menu to see all approved ICN online courses.

School Meals

Reimbursable Meals

The USDA sets guidelines for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to align meals with the latest nutrition science. Meals that meet standards are eligible for USDA reimbursement.

Point of Service

Point of Service is the final step in serving student meals where a determination is made whether a student has selected a meal that meets USDA standards, and is eligible for reimbursement.

This video provides practical information about this responsibility in school foodservice, and can be useful for training School Nutrition Professionals, especially those serving food and conducting Point of Service at a cash register, in the classroom, at a kiosk, or wherever Point of Service occurs. Practice assessment included.

Smart Snacks

Since July 2014, the federal government requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) to adopt Smart Snacks standards for all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day. Compliance with these rules is embedded in every school systems’ Wellness Policy.

In addition to adopting the USDA Smart Snacks standard, Maryland schools have continued to uphold two beverage standards, which do not allow caffeinated beverages or diet sodas to be offered to students throughout the school day. Some school districts have embraced more stringent rules than those of the USDA and Maryland Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools.

The following tools may be used to assess products’ compliance with USDA Smart Snack Standards.

COVID-19 Safety & Nutrition

This video shares food safety and nutrition guidance for MD Non-Profit Private Schools and Residential Child Care Institutions participating in School Meals Programs during COVID-19.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Child Care

The Benefits of CACFP

Participation in the CACFP has many nutritional benefits for children, youth, adults, and the agencies that serve them. This video shares information about the key benefits of participating in CACFP from childcare center and State Agency staff. Key members of an organization or agency who are interested in joining the program should watch the video to learn more. This video can also be used as a training video for onboarding new staff about the benefits of CACFP.

The CACFP Meal Pattern

A meal pattern is used by the USDA to set the nutritional standards for meals and snacks in the CACFP. The CACFP meal pattern was last updated in 2016 and indicates that meals and snacks must meet certain food group standards, portion sizes, and sugar limits for yogurts and cereals. This video provides practical information for CACFP program operators, and menu planners who are expected to follow the meal pattern requirements. Practice assessments are also included.

The CACFP Mealtime Environment

Throughout the meal service, the CACFP has compliance requirements and best practices to assist with a smooth mealtime. This video describes two different types of meal service, pre-plated and family-style dining, and discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and requirements for both. In addition, the Point of Service (POS) is emphasized to ensure the meal meets all of the requirements to be claimed for reimbursement. Program operators and all staff who participate in the CACFP meal service should view this training video.

Standardized Recipes in the CACFP

What is a Standardized Recipe?
Standardized recipes in CACFP are required in order to prove that a menu item or dish meets meal pattern requirements. This video provides all the information that CACFP program operators, menu planners, and cooks need to know about standardized recipes, including recipes that combine menu components. A practice assessment is included.

How to Write a Standardized Recipe

This video describes the step by step process of writing a standardized recipe for one serving and multiple servings. CACFP program operators, menu planners, and cooks will find this video helpful as they write and standardize recipes. View ‘What is a Standardized Recipe?’ prior to viewing this video.

CACFP Recordkeeping Recommendations

This video is part of the 2020 CACFP Basics Training Series for Child Care Centers. Recordkeeping requirements and some helpful tips for Maryland child care agencies participating in the CACFP are included.

CACFP Refresher: Meal Benefit Applications

This video is part of the 2020 CACFP Annual Administrative Meeting series for Maryland Child Care Centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This training reviews requirements and helpful tips related to determining participant eligibility categories.