The Office of Child Nutrition is the administrator of eight programs under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). This office provides leadership, guidance, training and technical assistance for local school districts, daycare centers, head start centers and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI’s). It is our goal to enhance each School Food service Administrator and cafeteria staff with the ability to provide quality child nutrition to all Mississippi students.
School Food Authorities (SFAs) and other participating organizations serving individuals who are not fluent in the English language may contact the Office of Child Nutrition via email (acarson@mdek12.org) for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) assistance.
Current Announcements/Updates
- NEW: New USDA Waivers - June 25, 2020
- NEW: Considerations for Reopening Mississippi Schools - June 9, 2020
- NEW: MS Pandemic Electronic Benefit - June 8, 2020
- NEW: Direct Certification File Update and CEP Information Update - June 8, 2020
- NEW: Direct Certification File Update and CEP Information - June 4, 2020
- NEW: CN Programs Funding and Related Topics - June 4, 2020
- NEW: Contingency Planning for Back to School - May 27, 2020
- NEW: New Resource from Team Nutrition - May 27, 2020
- NEW: OCN Training, CEP, SFSP Updates - May 22, 2020
- NEW: Inventory Memo - May 21, 2020
- Parent Pick-Up Waiver Guidance - April 16, 2020
- Area Eligibility Waiver - Instructions COVID-19
- Area Eligibility Waiver - Application COVID-19
- Meal Pattern Flexibility - Instructions COVID-19
- Meal Pattern Flexibility - Application COVID-19
- Parent Pick-Up Waiver - Application COVID-19
- Parent Pick-Up Waiver - Sponsor Template
- Parent Meal Pick-Up Dashboard Sign
- Parent Pick-Up Sample Plan
Where to Find Meals:
- Visit the USDA sponsored Meals for Kids Site Finder
- Text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 877-877
- Visit the School Meal Finder site
NEW: Serving Meals Safely and Social Distancing
- Child Nutrition Kitchen Social Distancing 1
- Child Nutrition Kitchen Social Distancing 2
- Child Nutrition Meal Preparation Social Distancing
- Child Nutrition Grab-Go Social Distancing
- Child Nutrition Meal Delivery Social Distancing
- Child Nutrition Meal Delivery Safety Tips
- USDA Meal Delivery QA 4-1
- Institute of Child Nutrition COVID-19 Resources
Previous Announcements:
- Mississippi: COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities (USDA)
- Implementing New Waivers Memo - April 13, 2020
- Update: Memo - School Meals Programs Not Closed - April 1, 2020
- USDA Waivers, School Closures, and Child Nutrition Funding - March 27, 2020
- School Meals During Closure Update - March 17, 2020
- Coronavirus School Closure Update - March 15, 2020
- Coronavirus School Closure Meals Announcement - March 14, 2020