In the event of a school closure because of a H1N1-related public health emergency, school food authorities (SFAs) and community organizations (COs) will be able to offer reimbursable meals in non-congregate settings under special provisions under a modified Summer Food Service Program or the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option. Since no duplication of coverage is allowed, SFAs and COs are encouraged to work together to ensure meals are provided to students in the event of an H1N1-related school closure. This special program allowance may be invoked only upon the declaration of a public health emergency.
Click here to read the Letter from Commissioner Todd Staples about the H1N1 provision.
Click here for a Fact Sheet about operating under the H1N1 provision.
Operating Under the H1N1 Provision
Any questions regarding operation under the H1N1 provision should be directed to H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov or 888-TEX-KIDS.
Documents referenced below must be submitted to TDA at the following address:
Texas Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Division
P.O. Box 12847
Austin, Texas 78711
SFAs must make a detailed plan about when, where, and how they will provide meals in a non-congregate setting targeting students eligible for free and reduced-priced meals in the event of a public health emergency. This presentation from USDA's H1N1 webinar provides excellent planning resources. If the SFA opts not to provide meals inthe event of an H1N1-related closure, TDA asks them to please suggest other potential providers in the community using this form.
SFAs and COs requesting to complete and Addendum and Waiver to provide meals during an H1N1-related school closure must reference the information below. For additional information, see USDA's instructions about who may submit a waiver request through this link.
SFAs that will provide meals during an H1N1-related school closure must complete and submit the following to TDA:
- Addendum to Texas Department of Agriculture School Food Authority Community Organization Agreement in order to participate in either the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO); and
- Form FND #129, Waiver Form for School Closure Due to H1N1. Instructions for completing the form are available here.
COs other than SFAs wanting to provide meals during an H1N1-related school closure must complete and submit the following to TDA:
- Summer Food Service Program Application for Participation During an H1N1 Flu Virus School Closure. Please contact TDA at H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov or 888-TEX-KIDS to request an application;
- Addendum to Texas Department of Agriculture School Food Authority Community Organization Agreement; and
- Form FND #129, Waiver Form for School Closure Due to H1N1. Instructions for completing the form are available here.
Serving Meals Under the H1N1 Provision
To begin serving meals under the H1N1 provision, SFAs and COs that are approved to provide meals during an H1N1-related school closure must notify TDA at H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov that a public health emergency is declared. That notification should include:
- List of schools in their area that are closed due to a declared public health emergency,
- List of the sites operating under this provision, and
- Start date of meal service.
When schools resume normal National School Lunch Program operations, they must notify TDA at H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov with an H1N1-service end date to resume their normal claiming procedures.
Please contact TDA at H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov or 888-TEX-KIDS with any questions regarding serving reimbursable meals during an H1N1-related school closure.
Accommodating Special Diets and H1N1
School Food Authorities (SFAs) are required to provide meals to students who have documented special diets during an H1N1-related school closure. This information was not included on the Form FND-129, Waiver Form for School Closure due to H1N1. SFAs that have not yet submitted Form FND-129 must include information describing how they will accommodate special diets. If you have received an approval letter of your waiver requests to serve meals during an H1N1-related school closure, you must submit a written plan to TDA when your school(s) close and you begin meal service. The plan must describe how the SFA will accommodate special diets during the emergency feeding.
The U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Education and the Centers for Disease Control have issued new guidance for schools that are dealing with an outbreak of the H1N1 flu. The information is available at http://flu.gov/plan/school/. More information about procedures for schools dealing with the threat of an H1N1 outbreak will be posted here as it becomes available.
On September 22, USDA issued further clarification about providing school meals during an H1N1-related school closing. The memo, titled "School Dismissals for H1N1 Outbreaks: Questions and Answers Edition #2" is available at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2009/SP_42-2009_os.pdf for download.
On August 25, the School Nutrition Foundation held a webinar called "Providing Meals to Needy Children During an H1N1-Related School Dismissal." Please see www.schoolnutrition.org/uploadedFiles/School_Nutrition/104_CareerEducation/ContinuingEducation/WebinarWednesdays/Webinars/H1N1_Webinar_Slides.pdf?n=5923 to see the presentation slides.
Read the August 10 press release noting Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples' role in ensuring Texas schools can continue to provide meals in the event of a H1N1-related closure at www.texasagriculture.gov/agr/media/media_render/0,1460,1848_17053_32807_0,00.html.
On August 10, the U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Education jointly issued a letter to schools about providing meals to at-risk children during school dismissals. That letter is available here www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/pandemic/usda-ed_letter.pdf.
On July 31, USDA issued a memo titled "School Closings for H1N1 Outbreaks: Questions and Answers," which is available at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2009/SP_33-2009_os.pdf for download.
On July 23, USDA issued a memo titled "School Responding to School Closings for H1N1 Outbreaks," which is available at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2009/SP_31-2009_os.pdf for download.
Please refer to the Texas Department of State Health Services' Web page at www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/ for current information about the outbreak.
Information about school operations during the threat of H1N1 is available from the Texas Education Agency at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/swineflu/.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health officials are investigating H1N1 influenza cases. Please go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ for the current guidance from the CDC related to H1N1.
Please go to www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/pandemic/ for the current guidance from USDA related to human pandemics.
