Schools
Summer Professional Development
School Food Authorities are encouraged to check the School Nutrition Resource Site for upcoming events, webinars, training and more. This site is designed specifically for Iowa School Nutrition Professionals participating in a USDA School Nutrition Program. If you don't already have access to the site, you may complete a request.
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CACFP Centers Training Webinars
The Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services will be offering training webinars on the following dates in 2023:
CACFP Online Trainings
How Do I Access the Online Trainings?
- Visit Iowa Learning Online Professional Development
- Create an account if you haven’t done so already.
- Select a course and click "Enroll me".
- Complete the demographic survey (required to receive certificates).
- For technical assistance, contact techsupport@iowalearningonline.org
Certificates of Completion
- Certificates are available to download and/or print after the participant successfully completes a module (80% score required).
- If completed on a mobile device, screenshot the certificate as documentation.
DHS Credit
CACFP Iowa Learning Online Professional Development training is automatically tracked on the DHS Iowa’s Early Childhood and School Age Professional Workforce Registry (i-PoWeR) when you have a linked DHS ID. Contact trhelp@dhs.state.ia.us for assistance with i-PoWeR.
Joining the CACFP
Joining the CACFP provides training and step by step guidance on how to apply for CACFP for home providers and center staff. The 3 lessons include:
- CACFP Overview and Benefits provides an overview of the CACFP and describes the benefits of participating. This lesson answers common, frequently asked questions.
- New Organization Eligibility provides a description of CACFP eligibility requirements for centers.
- New Organization Application Process - How to Apply for the CACFP explains the steps to apply to participate in the CACFP.
The course provides 1 hour DHS credit hour for center staff. Family child care home providers only need to complete lesson one and are not eligible to earn credit hours for completion of this informational lesson.
Steps to Success
The Steps to Success Online Training Modules covers basic CACFP administration. The CACFP authorized representative must complete all modules applicable to their organization. Other staff may register for one or more sessions. At least one person from new centers (the owner of for-profit organizations and authorized representative for all organizations) must complete all modules of the core workshop and any additional modules that pertain to the center. A test must be completed over each module with a score of 80% or higher in order to receive a certificate.
Below are some of the modules available:
- Menu Planning (3 training credit hours)
- Food Production Records (2 training credit hours)
- Income Applications (2 training credit hours)
- Civil Rights (0.5 training credit hour)
- Infant Feeding and Recordkeeping (1 training credit hour)
- Feeding Infants in the CACFP Handbook (2 training credit hours)
- Adult Care (0.5 training credit hour)
CACFP Wellness Courses
The following online training modules were developed through Team Nutrition grants for CACFP participants:
- New Meal Pattern Best Practices (1 training credit hour)
- Smarter Mealtime Scorecard (1 training credit hour)
- Farm to CACFP (1 training credit hour)
- Meaningful Mealtimes (1 training credit hour)
- Trying New Foods (1 training credit hour)
- Opportunities for Active Play (1 training credit hour)
- Nutrition Education (1 training credit hour)
- Healthy Food Purchasing (1 training credit hour)
- Updated Healthy Menu Makeover (4 training credit hours)
Feeding Infants in the CACFP
Pick from a variety of lessons to create a training that best fits your needs. The Feeding Infants in the CACFP modules were created using the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Feeding Infants in the CACFP guide and corresponding training tools. Each 30 minute lesson contains a webcast, practice questions, resources, and a certificate of completion. The lesson topics are listed below:
- Lesson 1: Overview of the CACFP Infant Meal Pattern
- Lesson 2: Identifying and Responding to Hunger and Fullness Signs
- Lesson 3: Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Environment in a Child Care Site
- Lesson 4: Storing and Handling Breast Milk in a Child Care Site
- Lesson 5: Selecting, Storing, and Handling Infant Formula in a Child Care Site
- Lesson 6: Bottle Feeding and Introducing a Cup
- Lesson 7: Developmental Readiness for Solid Foods
- Lesson 8: Infant Feeding Skills and Modifying Food Textures
- Lesson 9: Creditable Infant Foods: Part 1
- Lesson 10: Creditable Infant Foods: Part 2
Additional Courses for DHS and IQ4K Credit
Request certificates from Ann Parker at ann.parker@iowa.gov
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