Aug. 13-14 & Aug. 20-21 on Zoom
Earn up to 10 hours of Continuing Education!
*Registration includes on-demand viewing through September, 4 2025.*
Member Pricing:
$149 Early Registration
$199 Standard Registration from July 25, 2025
$249 Late Registration from August 9, 2025
Non-Member Pricing:
$199 Early Registration
$249 Standard Registration from July 25, 2025
$299 Late Registration from August 9, 2025
Scholarship Applications are Now Available!
Applications are now open for up to 100 scholarships to attend the CACFP Virtual Summit with four days of training and 12 insightful sessions.
Apply by July 22 at 8:00 pm Eastern.
SCHEDULE
Schedule presented in the Eastern time zone.
DAY ONE | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | USDA CACFP Program Updates
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Snack-tacular Celebrations
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Words Matter: Empower and Motivate Health with Facts
DAY TWO | THURSDAY, AUG. 14, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Coffee & Conversation: Medical Statements
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Practical Strategies for Family Style Dining in CACFP
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Navigating the 9 Major Allergens with Confidence
DAY THREE | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Coffee & Conversation: CACFP Meal Patterns
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Sponsor Audits: Avoid Pitfalls, Stay Prepared and Succeed
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Raising Healthy, Happy Eaters from Their First Bites
DAY FOUR | THURSDAY, AUG. 21, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | CACFP Policy Newsroom
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | CNP Integrity Rule Best Practices
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Effective Communication in CACFP Food Services
ON DEMAND
CACFP Professional Certification Program Overview
Meet Our Speakers
Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LDN, Senior Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
Isabel is bilingual and dedicated to serving the CACFP and SFSP communities through nutrition education, program operations support and promoting access to nutritious foods. She has a strong background in working with low-income communities of various cultures through graduate research projects and was previously employed at a nonprofit food bank for eight years. Isabel has a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University and completed her dietetic internship through Aramark.
Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD, Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
Melinda is dedicated to showing her passion for nutrition education by developing creative ways to reinforce knowledge. She began her career in Massachusetts by obtaining her Master of Science in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State University. She worked at Head Start, planning meals for toddlers before moving to Texas to work for Whole Foods Market as a Recipe Data Specialist before taking on a role with a State agency. Melinda joined NCA’s education team in 2025.
Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, Owner, Amy Goodson RD Courses
Amy has nearly 20 years of experience and has worked with many endurance athletes, including the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. She is also the creator of a free sports nutrition program for high schools, the Sports Nutrition Game Plan. With a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in exercise and sports nutrition, Amy is passionate about marrying the two to provide quality, science-based nutrition information to her audience.
Alexia Thex, MEd, Vice President of Policy, Partnerships and Events, National CACFP Association
Alexia is charged with leading NCA’s advocacy and policy efforts and forming long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations and organizations. Alexia also oversees NCA’s nutrition education and events that help advance the mission and support the success of all CACFP stakeholders. Alexia holds an MEd from the University of Texas at Austin.
McKenzie Brunner, MGPS, Policy & Outreach Specialist, National CACFP Association
McKenzie is responsible for tracking nutrition policy trends and legislation and serving as a subject matter expert for CACFP. She is also tasked with developing nonprofit partnerships and promoting collaboration among CACFP providers. McKenzie received her Masters of Global Policy from the University of Texas at Austin. With a background in international development and foreign policy, McKenzie is passionate about increasing food security through promoting equitable policy and cross-sector collaboration.
Jennifer Basey, Certification Coordinator, National CACFP Association
Jennifer has served in many roles for the association including membership, website, conference, sales and education. Jennifer graduated from Texas A&M with a BA in Business Administration, then went on to obtain her Master of Education degree from Texas State University. Jennifer spent ten years in the education field as an elementary teacher and later on became an instructional coach working directly with teachers.
Jami Rokala, MS, RDN, LD, CLC, Founder/Owner, Headwaters Nutrition Counseling
Jami received her MS in Nutrition from the University of North Dakota. She has worked as a child nutrition professional since 2013 and is the owner and founder of Headwaters Nutrition Counseling, contracting with Head Start agencies as the RDN throughout the country. Jami has served on the board for NCA and currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists and the University of North Dakota’s Nutrition and Dietetic Advisory Committee.
Brittany Uribe, Senior Event Specialist, National CACFP Association
Brittany plans and coordinates all webinars and virtual events for NCA, including those during the National Child Nutrition Conference. Brittany graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Family and Child Science. She began working for a CACFP sponsor in South Florida in 2013 and grew passionate about expanding CACFP training opportunities and educational resources.
Cherese Myree, CFE, Vice President, MH Miles Company, CPA, PC
Cherese is a certified fraud examiner who specializes in the USDA Food Programs and governmental compliance. She has over 15 years of experience in the fields of auditing, accounting and consulting with specialized experience in governmental contract auditing and contract compliance. She testifies as an expert witness for the CACFP and SFSP and manages MHMC’s review, consulting and training engagements across the United States. Cherese is a graduate of Clark University.
Hawley Evilsizer, MS, RDN, LD, Founder and CEO, Let’s Love Food Again
Hawley’s passion for food and agriculture led her to earn a bachelor's and an MS in Animal Science within the Texas A&M University System. Since 2005, Hawley has owned and operated her own nutrition and wellness private practice where she provides both consumers and corporations with nutritional information to promote overall health. Her focus is working with individuals and families suffering from disordered eating.
Kate Abernathy, MS, RD, LD, CMP, CCNP, Chief Executive Officer, Providers Choice
Kate’s work focuses on expanding participation in CACFP healthy meals and snacks to children across Minnesota. Providers Choice sponsors over 2,500 homes and over 100 centers. Kate’s in-depth nutrition expertise and leadership support providers with managing special diets. She also creates resources to simplify the CACFP and overall program support to child care providers. She has a BA from the College of Saint Benedict and an MS from Eastern Michigan University.
Molly Turnquist Butala, MPH, RDN, LD, Director of CACFP Centers, Providers Choice
Molly’s work at Providers Choice focuses on increasing access to healthy CACFP meals and snacks. Providers Choice sponsors over 2,500 homes and 100 centers in Minnesota. As the Nutrition Manager, she develops CACFP compliant menus, provider training, nutrition resources, and supports Farm to ECE in MN. Prior to PCI, Molly worked on the CACFP team for the MN State Agency for nine years. Molly has a BA in Nutrition/Dietetics from Concordia College and an MPH from UMN School of Public Health.
Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH Founder, Pediatrician, The Dr. Yum Project
Dr. Fernando is co-author of the book, Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater, and Dr. Yum’s Food Adventure, a nutrition curriculum that teaches preschool-aged children to enjoy whole foods. She is also the creator of Touchpoints, a family centered health behavior program. Her “Food as Medicine” approach was featured in the New York Times and NBC Nightly News. She received her MD and MPH from the University of Pittsburgh.
PROGRAMMING
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | USDA CACFP Program Updates
Hear from USDA as they present an overview of policy guidance and provide a state-of-the-program update for the CACFP.
Presented by: USDA Food & Nutrition Services
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 7
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Snack-tacular Celebrations
Take a fun and flavorful journey that will spark your creativity in developing easy, nutritious snacks. Celebrate every day with a new snack idea. Come hungry for ideas and leave with a snack resource to help you serve a variety of foods to those in your care.
- Discover how to celebrate daily moments through snack time, making each snack a purposeful and enjoyable experience.
- Understand the importance of incorporating a variety of food groups into snacks to ensure they are balanced and contribute to overall health.
- Learn how to develop easy and nutritious snacks that are both fun and flavorful, sparking creativity in snack preparation.
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 7
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Words Matter: Empower and Motivate Health with Facts
Nutrition is a multi-billion-dollar industry with no shortage of information available to the average person. Unfortunately, not all of that information is factual or helpful. Learn ways to effectively provide factual and empowering nutrition messages at your facilities that can make lasting positive change.
- Review the overabundance of nutrition information cluttering culture.
- Examine the way words can change how someone thinks about food and themselves.
- Hear how words matter and learn which ones to avoid or to focus on when promoting health.
Presented by: Hawley Evilsizer, MS, RDN, LD, Let’s Love Food Again
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 14, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Coffee & Conversation: Medical Statements
Get ready for this attendee favorite where your questions take center stage. Whether you're looking for clarity on when a medical statement is required, how to handle meal modifications or anything else related to medical statements in the CACFP, we've got you covered. Come prepared to dive deep and get your questions answered in real time by a panel of experts.
Presented by:
Jami Rokala, MS, RDN, LD, CLC, Headwater Nutrition Counseling
Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Association
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 1
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Practical Strategies for Family Style Dining in CACFP
Family style dining is a meaningful way to support children’s development, promote healthy eating and create a sense of community at meal times. This session will guide you through the essentials of starting or enhancing family style dining in your program, with a focus on staying compliant with CACFP meal pattern requirements. We’ll look at how to build children’s independence, support staff in their role at the table and make meal times a learning experience that feels natural and engaging. You'll come away with practical tools and ideas you can use right away.
- Learn what family style dining is and how to successfully get started in your program.
- Identify common concerns from staff and explore effective strategies to support implementation.
- Understand how to meet CACFP meal pattern requirements while creating meaningful, child-centered meal time experiences.
Presented by:
Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
Molly Turnquist Butala, MPH, RDN, LD, Providers Choice
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Navigating the 9 Major Allergens with Confidence
Understanding how to identify and manage the 9 major food allergens is essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals with food allergies, as it involves recognizing allergen-containing ingredients, preventing cross-contact during food preparation, accurately reading food labels and implementing effective communication in both home and food service settings. Whether you're new to food allergies or looking to strengthen your knowledge, we’ll give you the tools to serve meals safely and responsibly.
- Identify the 9 major food allergens and how they commonly appear on food labels.
- Apply regulations and best practices on managing food allergens to ensure safe and compliant meal service.
- Learn how to implement food safety in the kitchen when handling food allergens.
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Coffee & Conversation: CACFP Meal Patterns
Grab your favorite beverage and join us for this must-attend discussion about the CACFP Meal Pattern. Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights during our live Q&A! Connect with the experts and gain a deeper understanding of the CACFP Meal Pattern.
Presented by:
Melinda Nguyen, MS, RD, LD, National CACFP Association
Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Association
Kate Abernathy, MS, RD, LD, CCNP, CMP, Providers Choice
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 2
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Sponsor Audits: Avoid Pitfalls, Stay Prepared and Succeed
Successfully prepare for the State audit of your sponsoring organization. What are the most common findings during an audit? How can you prepare for them to ensure a successful review? Learn how to identify potentially unexpected problems, streamline documentation and ensure program integrity with confidence so you can make it through a State Agency review like a pro.
- Review requirements for when audits are conducted.
- Discover what is commonly found by State agencies conducting audits.
- Receive best practice remedies for implementation to thrive during audits.
Presented by: Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 4
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Raising Healthy, Happy Eaters from Their First Bites
Are you prepared for the process of helping parents develop healthy eating patterns for children? Raising healthy eaters requires a deep understanding of feeding development milestones and necessary benchmark skills. From infants to toddlers, hear the latest recommendations on early feeding and safely introducing babies to family meals to assist in preventing picky eaters.
- Learn how to foster feeding skills at different developmental stages.
- Understand how to prevent picky eating behaviors by detecting feeding problems.
- Get resources to assist educators and parents in developing children’s eating habits.
Presented by: Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, The Dr. Yum Project
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 21, 2025
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | CACFP Policy Newsroom
Join the NCA Policy team for the latest legislative updates, regulatory changes, research insights and advocacy efforts. Don't miss the opportunity to get the facts, ask questions and stay on top of the CACFP landscape. Leave with the information you need to advocate for the CACFP.
Presented by:
Alexia Thex, MEd, National CACFP Association
McKenzie Brunner, MGPS, National CACFP Association
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 7
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | CNP Integrity Rule Best Practices
Want to ensure the oversight you provide is held to the highest standard? Get best practices to comply with state agency financial review requirements associated with the child nutrition program integrity final rule.
- Analyze the review of actual expenditures for sponsoring organizations of unaffiliated centers.
- Learn about the annual verification of bank activity.
- Hear about monitoring documentation of non-profit status for all institutions.
Presented by: Cherese Myree, CFE, MH Miles Company, CPA, PC
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 5
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Effective Communication in CACFP Food Service
Whether you're managing kitchen staff, supporting front-line team members or coordinating across CACFP sites, strong communication is key to building effective teams and a positive service environment. This session equips CACFP leaders and sponsors with practical strategies for handling tough conversations—like correcting performance issues, addressing conflicts and managing complaints. Attendees will explore real-world scenarios, learn proven communication techniques and leave with tools to strengthen relationships, boost morale and lead with confidence in a mission-driven setting.
- Identify common communication challenges in CACFP food service, including performance issues, conflict resolution and customer interactions.
- Apply effective strategies—like active listening, setting clear expectations and calmly de-escalating tense situations—to improve team dynamics and service quality.
- Build leadership skills through real-world examples that promote empathy, professionalism and clarity in difficult conversations.
Presented by: Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, Amy Goodson RD Courses
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 6
ON DEMAND
CACFP Professional Certification Program Overview
Interested in learning more about how to earn your CACFP Management Professional or the CACFP Child Nutrition Professional designation? Join us for an overview of the program, learn what the qualifications are and hear how it has impacted CACFP professionals who value these credentials.
Presented by: Jennifer Basey, MEd, National CACFP Association
Watch for email confirmations and event access instructions in early August. Add nca@cacfp.org to your safe email sender list so our communications don't get lost in your spam or junk filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
