Aug. 13-14 & Aug. 20-21 on Zoom
Earn up to 16.5 hours of Continuing Education!
*Registration includes on-demand viewing through August 29, 2024.*
Member Pricing:
$TBD Standard Registration
$TBD Late Registration from August 14, 2024
Non-Member Pricing:
$TBD Standard Registration
$TBD Late Registration from August 14, 2024
The scholarship application for this year's Summit will open soon.
2025 Downloadable Flyer Coming Soon
Check out information from last year's Virtual Summit below.
SCHEDULE
Schedule presented in the Eastern time zone.
DAY ONE | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14, 2024Â
11:00 am – 11:30 am | Exploring the Power of the Food Program
11:40 am – 12:40 pm | USDA Program Updates & Resources
12:50 pm – 1:50 pm | Menu Essentials: Planning for Success
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Finding the Leader In You
DAY TWO | THURSDAY, AUG. 15, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Coffee & Conversation: Head Start CACFP
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | Creating a Community: Family Style Meal Service in Child Care
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Who’s At the Door? Field Monitoring & Site Visits
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Recruitment Outreach: Enrolling Providers, Engaging Families
DAY THREE | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Coffee & Conversation: CACFP Meal Patterns
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | The Joys of the Garden Classroom
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Motivating Children to Eat Healthy Foods
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | CACFP Newsroom: Policy, Advocacy, Stories and the Hill
DAY FOUR | THURSDAY, AUG. 22, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | CACFP Expense Detective: What's Allowed?Â
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | Great Grains! Taking the Guess Work Out of What’s Creditable
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Communicating with Impact
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Summit Wrap-Up: Ask Us Anything
ON DEMAND
CACFP Overview
Creditable Tools & Resources
CN Labels & Product Formulation Statements: Hands-On Practice
SPEAKERS & BIOS
Kate Abernathy, MS, RDN, LDN, CMP, CCNP, Chief Executive Officer, Providers Choice
Kate’s work focuses on expanding participation of CACFP healthy meals and snacks to children across Minnesota. Providers Choice sponsors over 3,000 homes and 60 centers. Kate is passionate about child nutrition. Kate’s in-depth nutrition expertise and leadership supports providers with managing special diets, creating resources to simplify the CACFP and overall program support to child care providers. Kate has a BA from the College of Saint Benedict and her MS from Eastern Michigan University.Â
Denise Andrews, CMP, CCNP, CEO & Director, For the Children
Denise helped establish For the Children, a nonprofit CACFP sponsor for licensed child care homes in Oklahoma, in 2000. In her position at FTC, Denise strives to develop cooperative working relationships with other sponsors and child care providers and hopes to do the same at a national level.
Melissa Diagle-Katz, MPH, Lead Program Analyst, USDA Food and Nutrition Services
Melissa supports schools and childcare organizations in growing strong farm to school programs. Before joining farm to school, Melissa worked in Child and Adult Care and Summer Food Service Program policy and in SNAP, building accessibility for regular and disaster benefits. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in clinical nutrition from the University of Texas Southwestern and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California Berkeley.Â
Deborah Gillison-Wilison, CMP, CCNP, Executive Director, Georgia Nutritional Services, Inc.
Deborah has over 20 years of experience working with CACFP and has been a CACFP sponsor since 1996. She has led over 40 annual CACFP and Civil Rights trainings and has an overwhelming internal library of knowledge of CACFP. Under her directive, GNSI exists to improve and maintain sound nutritional health of children and adults by promoting the development of good eating habits for participants enrolled in their clients’ facilities.
Jordan George, SPHR, LDCP, sHRBP, Vice President, Curium Solutions
Jordan is an award-winning culture transformation leader whose ambition is to change the way the world works for the better. He has invested more than 16,000 hours over the last 20 years helping businesses shape their organizational culture, lead through change, and foster a dynamic, high-impact workforce. With his help, teams ranging from regional non-profits to global Fortune 500 companies have transformed the way they work for the better. He is a graduate of Rollins College.Â
Kim Johnson, MSW, President & CEO, Florida Impact
Kim has spent the last 33 years working on the front lines of underserved communities in Central Florida helping to improve the lives of children, youth, and families. Her experience includes years of management, program development, training, teaching, grant writing and community engagement in social service, schools, university and nonprofit settings. She is currently board chair of UCF United Methodist Church Wesley Ministry and board member of National Education & Empowerment Coalition. She is a graduate of Adelphi University.Â
Rhonda Kobylecky, CMP, CCNP, Director of Food Services, Acelero Learning
In addition to her role with a multi-state Head Start organization that serves over 5,000 children, Rhonda consults for Acelero’s sister program, Shine Implement. Rhonda enjoys training and sharing her CACFP, SERV Safe and Head Start knowledge with others. She currently serves as the chair for the NCA Board of Directors. Rhonda received her degree from the College of Southern Nevada.Â
Jill Ladd, MPH, RD, LD, Nutritionist, USDA Food and Nutrition ServiceÂ
Prior to joining USDA, Jill served for over a decade in Child Nutrition Program administration at the Kansas State Department of Education. She first discovered her passion for child nutrition while volunteering at a summer food service site in high school. Jill is a Registered Dietitian and has a Master of Public Health from Creighton University.Â
Lisa Mack, President & CEO, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
Lisa works with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the long-term operating plan to ensure the growth and success of the National CACFP Sponsors Association. Central to that plan is managing member relationships, resource and product development, training and conference programming, and partnership development. She has a BBA from Pace University.Â
Cherese Myree, CFE, Vice President, MH Miles Company, CPA, PCÂ
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, consultant and training engagements across the United States. Cherese is a graduate of Clark University.
Erica Nelson, Program Analyst, USDA Food and Nutrition Services
Erica spent a decade at the DC state agency providing compliance and oversight of federal child care programs, including the CACFP. She is passionate about program integrity and community partnerships and is committed to expanding program impact.Â
Kaylyn Padovani, MBA, RD, LDN, Lead Program Analyst, USDA Food and Nutrition ServiceÂ
Kaylyn is part of the team developing nutrition education and promotion resources for children and families participating in Child Nutrition Programs in English and Spanish languages. She presents and helps coordinate different webinars and national conference sessions. Kaylyn is a bilingual Registered Dietitian and a Spanish native speaker, originally from Puerto Rico.Â
Shauna Payne, Nutrition Manager, Tallatoona Community Action Partnership, Inc.Â
Shauna operates and maintains compliance in the CACFP to ensure the nutritional needs of each child in the Head Start program are met. Tallatoona serves 611 children ages 3-5 with seven HS centers in Northwest Georgia. Shauna has an Associates of Applied Science degree in culinary arts, has been in the food-service industry for over 20 years, and has cooked professionally and managed departments in a variety of food-service sectors.Â
Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LDN, Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Sponsors Association
Isabel develops nutrition education materials and provides informational webinars on nutrition to support stronger program operations. She has a strong background and passion in working with low-income communities of various cultural backgrounds, while working on graduate research projects and working in the nonprofit, food banking environment for eight years. Isabel has an MS in Nutritional Sciences and is a registered dietitian and nutritionist.
Jami Rokala, MS, RDN, LD, CLC, CMP, CCNP, Founder & Owner, Headwaters Nutrition Counseling
Jami has worked as a child nutrition professional for the state of ND as a Child Nutrition Specialist and as Child Nutrition Manager for Head Starts/Early Head Starts and Migrant and Seasonal Head Starts throughout the state of MN and ND. Currently, she contracts with Head Start agencies as the RDN and has a focus on 0-18 year old’s struggling with anxious, avoidant, or selective eating and nutrition concerns. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota.Â
Alexia Thex, MEd, Director of Policy and Partnerships, National CACFP Sponsors Association
Alexia is charged with expanding NCA’s advocacy on policy matters and advancing the mission and interests of association members and stakeholders while forming mutually long-term, beneficial partnerships with corporations and organizations fitting the mission of NCA. Through her career in development, Alexia has also raised funds for Downtown Houston YMCA, the Holocaust Museum Houston and schools her children attend. She has a MEd in Exercise Physiology from the University of Texas.Â
Sheila Tompkins-Hess, Program Officer, Department of Child and Family ServicesÂ
Sheila has been a supporter of Head Start for much of her life. She attended Head Start as a child and then worked as a teacher, a director and a supervisor for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Sheila loves working with children and helping staff to increase their skills with the children they support. Sheila has been a trainer at NAEYC, state conferences and ECE trainings in Las Vegas. She attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.Â
Brittany Uribe, Virtual Event Specialist, National CACFP Sponsors 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.
Andrea Zoppo, Founder, Follow Ladybug
Andrea Zoppo possesses the gift of teaching and the ability to empower children to confidently care for our world. With nearly 20 years of experience, she has laid a foundation for the Farm-to-Early Care and Education program at Little Ones Early Learning Center. Andrea’s passion for nature and her unique talent for making every child feel important set her apart. She excels in teaching, curriculum planning, and fostering lifelong learning among her students and colleagues.
PROGRAMMING
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14, 2024Â
11:00 am – 11:30 am | Exploring the Power of the Food ProgramÂ
It’s no secret that learning the ins and outs of the CACFP can be a journey that spans years. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or are new to child nutrition, we are here for you! Learn about the history of the CACFP, discover where to find training opportunities, share your motivation, celebrate the important work you do every day, and embrace the Power of the Food Program.
Presented by:Â Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 7Â
11:40 am – 12:40 pm | USDA Program Updates & ResourcesÂ
Hear from USDA as they present an overview of policy guidance and share a state-of-the-program update for CACFP. Learn what valuable resources are available to help you enhance the quality and efficiency of your CACFP operations.
Presented by: Melissa Daigle-Katz, MPH, USDA Food and Nutrition Services; Jill Ladd, MPH, RD, LD, USDA Food and Nutrition Services; Erica Nelson, USDA Food and Nutrition Services; Kaylyn Padovani, MBA, RD, LDN, USDA Food and Nutrition Services
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 7Â
12:50 pm – 1:50 pm | Menu Essentials: Planning for Success
Receive insight in the menu planning process, from brainstorming creative dishes to ensuring CACFP creditable food components and practical execution. Discover how to infuse your menus with excitement and flavor while meeting the needs of diverse palates and dietary preferences. Whether you're a seasoned chef or an enthusiastic home cook, this talk promises to equip you with the essential skills to plan menus that can be used time and time again.
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2Â
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Finding the Leader In You
Are you ready to become a successful leader? Explore key concepts and strategies to develop leadership skills and qualities within yourself. Identify and recognize your personal leadership strengths and areas for growth to unlock your full potential.
Presented by:Â Kim Johnson, MSW, Florida ImpactÂ
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 6Â
THURSDAY, AUG. 15, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Coffee & Conversation: Head Start CACFP
Get ready for this attendee-favorite where your questions take center stage. Whether you're curious about best practices, compliance, or anything else related to CACFP for Head Start, we've got you covered. Come prepared to dive deep and have your questions answered in real-time.Â
Presented by: Rhonda Kobylecky, CCNP, CMP, Acelero Learning; Shauna Payne, Tallatoona Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Jami Rokala, MS, LN, CCNP, CFPM, CLC, Headwaters Nutrition Counseling; Sheila Tompkins-Hess, Department of Child and Family Services Â
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2Â
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | Creating a Community: Family Style Meal Service in Child Care
Transform mealtime into a joyful and shared experience with family style meal service! Discover practical tips and creative strategies for implementing this approach, fostering social skills, independence, and healthy eating habits in children. Gain expert insights on crafting a warm, inclusive mealtime atmosphere that delights both children and caregivers.Â
Presented by:Â Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2Â
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Who’s At the Door? Field Monitoring & Site Visits
CACFP sponsors, state agencies, and operators alike are all partners in providing healthy foods to children and adults in care. Training and technical assistance, demonstrating compliance with program regulations, and an opportunity for sharing the impact of the food program are all part of a site visit. Learn the requirements, what to expect at a review, and how to handle uncommon situations.
Presented by: Denise Andrews, CMP, CCNP, For the Children; Deborah Gillison-Wilson, CMP, CCNP, Georgia Nutritional Services, Inc.; Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 4
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Recruitment Outreach: Enrolling Providers, Engaging Families
Looking to promote the CACFP to new providers and centers who aren't on the food program? Trying to figure out how to let parents know how your participation in CACFP means their children are getting a healthy start in life? Learn why it's important to add regular outreach activities to your to-do list and what steps you can take to improve your recruitment efforts.
Presented by:Â Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 6
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Coffee & Conversation: CACFP Meal Patterns
Grab your favorite beverage and join us for this must-attend discussion about the CACFP Meal Pattern. You won't want to miss out on the valuable insights and lively interactions during this live Q&A. Connect with the experts and gain a deeper understanding of the CACFP Meal Pattern. Â
Presented by: Kate Abernathy, MS, RDN, LDN, CMP, CCNP, Providers Choice; Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association; Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2Â
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | The Joys of the Garden Classroom
Learn how to move through the seasons with practical, hands-on learning activities designed to captivate and inspire early learners. Discover creative and innovative ways to transform the garden and outdoors into a living classroom, providing endless opportunities to bridge subjects in a meaningful context. Energize your teaching approach and delight your students with engaging methods to explore and appreciate the beauty of our natural world.Â
Presented by: Andrea Zoppo, Follow LadybugÂ
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Motivating Children to Eat Healthy FoodsÂ
Getting children to choose healthy food options can be a challenge. Learn imaginative ways to involve them with foods to foster healthy eating habits. Through interactive discussions, tweaking CACFP creditable recipes and encouraging creative food explorations, CACFP operators can help children discover the excitement of making nutritious choices.
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1Â
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | CACFP Newsroom: Policy, Advocacy, Stories and the Hill
Get the latest news! We’ll discuss policy updates, advocacy efforts, and share the most recent happenings in the CACFP. Whether you're a provider, sponsor, or advocate, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate and influence to promote the mission of the CACFP. Stay informed and inspired to make a difference in your community. Â
Presented by: Alexia Thex, MEd, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 7Â
THURSDAY, AUG. 22, 2024Â
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | CACFP Expense Detective: What's Allowed?Â
Unsure how to distinguish between allowable and unallowable costs in the CACFP? Join us as we clearly define the differences to help you understand how to use CACFP funds effectively. Learn how to ensure all your purchases support and enhance your CACFP operations. Gain valuable insights to maximize your program’s potential while staying compliant with CACFP guidelines.Â
Presented by: Cherese Myree, CFE, CPA, MH Miles Company, PC
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 5
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm | Great Grains! Taking the Guess Work Out of What’s Creditable
Serving whole grain-rich grains once per day, when grains are served, in ounce equivalents is a requirement in the CACFP. Explore various types of whole grains like amaranth, sorghum, and millet to expand your menu planning options. Learn how to determine ounce equivalency, how to identify whole grains, how to modify meals using these great grains, and how to prepare these for CACFP creditable recipes.
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1Â
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm | Communicating with Impact
Your brain processes nearly 80 GB of data in a single day. That’s about as much as watching 16 movies in a row! It's no wonder we often feel overwhelmed by the idea of having to hold difficult conversations with our coworkers. Learn about a series of tools that can help you improve your communication and feedback competency, equipping you with a means for having more impactful conversations.
Presented by:Â Jordan George, SPHR, LDCP, sHRBP, Curium SolutionsÂ
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 6Â
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Summit Wrap-Up: Ask Us Anything
Didn’t get the information you were looking for this week? Now’s the time to join us for our speed round of Q&A. We’ll get through as many questions as we can, ask for your feedback, and share what’s coming up next at NCA.Â
Presented by:Â Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association; Alexia Thex, Med, National CACFP Sponsors Association; Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 2
ON DEMANDÂ
CACFP Overview
You’re new-ish to the food program and concepts in the CACFP may not be as foreign to you, but you’d love to really explore the important areas in the CACFP. Join us as we review the meal patterns, identify basic program administration requirements, and get a refresher on how reimbursement works in the CACFP.Â
Presented by: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 2
CACFP Creditable Tools & Resources
Learn about the nutrition education resources which are available free-of-charge, including the guides for identifying whole-grain-rich, determining sugar content in cereals and yogurt, and which milk to serve in the CACFP. Â
Presented by:Â Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors AssociationÂ
CEU: 0.5 | Specialty: 3Â
CN Labels & Product Formulation Statements: Hands-On Practice
When should you request a CN Label or PFS? Is the crediting documentation for your product acceptable? Get clarity on common issues related to inaccurate or misleading product documentation. USDA will provide guidance on accepting documentation for meal pattern requirements and share sample Product Formulation Statements and CN Labels. Learn how to assess crediting documentation using sample CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements.
Presented by:Â Nutrition and Technical Assistance Branch USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Kaushalya Heendeniya, MS, RD
Anne Garceau, MS, RDN
CEU: 1.0 | Specialty: 1Â
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
