July 30, 2009
Child Nutrition Information and Payment System Implementation for Summer Food Service Program Year-round Sponsors
Dear Summer Food Service Program Year-Round Sponsor:
The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is committed to keeping you informed of the most current progress in implementing the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). The purpose of this correspondence is to: 1) provide an update on the status of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) module; 2) provide you with information regarding training; and (3) inform you of important information to prepare you for using this automated system.
Status
The NSD is performing user acceptance testing on the CNIPS to ensure that the system operates as designed. We are on track to complete the testing of the application functions and the training for the NSD staff during July and early August. By September 2009, you will be able to review and modify (in the CNIPS) your agency and site information for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. You will begin submitting your claims for reimbursement in the CNIPS with your October 2009 claim.
Training for the Year-round Sponsor
The CNIPS is an easy-to-use system that does not require extensive training prior to implementation. Therefore, your agency’s participation in any CNIPS sponsor training is strongly encouraged but optional. Beginning in August, the NSD will offer the following CNIPS training options for year-round SFSP sponsors:
- CNIPS User Manual (posted on the CNIPS Web page)
- Integrated help feature within the CNIPS application
- Recorded online software simulation (after September 2009)
- One-on-one application completion assistance with your designated SFSP specialist
- Online Web-based training sessions in mid August (i.e. Webinar)
Please find the Desktop Webinar Training Registration Form attached. Review the registration form and select the Webinar presentation that works best for you by following the registration procedures included on the registration form.
The CDE will begin calling our year-round agencies around September 1, 2009, to check that you have received your User ID and password, and to complete training for the application process.
Implementation
In our previous communication to you sent in April 2009, the CDE requested that you designate an SFSP Authorized Representative on the Management Plan Addendum form. This person will act as the CNIPS administrator. By the middle of August 2009, the CDE will mail the CNIPS User ID and password to this designated SFSP Authorized Representative. Subsequently, the CNIPS administrator can then assign additional User ID’s and passwords to staff within the agency. If you have not notified the CDE of your SFSP Authorized Representative, please do so no later than August 3, 2009.
Once we finish inputting the agency data into the CNIPS, the system’s online application component will be available to sponsors. An SFSP Specialist will contact your agency’s Authorized Representative for one-on-one application completion assistance once your agency’s records are ready to access. Year-round sponsors will have their applications approved in the online system by October 1, 2009, and will be able to submit their October 2009 reimbursement claim online through the CNIPS in November.
Instructions on how to log onto the new Web-based system will be provided when you receive the User ID and password. You can also call the CNIPS Help Desk for additional assistance related to logging into the CNIPS. You can contact the CNIPS Help Desk by dialing 1-800-952-5609 and selecting option 6 from the menu. Please direct program operation questions to your assigned SFSP specialist at 1-800-952-5609.
In summary, prior to using the CNIPS you will need to:
- Determine your need for training and select your preferred Webinar training date.
- Receive your CNIPS User ID and password from the CDE in August 2009.
- Create User IDs and passwords for each of your staff that will use the CNIPS.
- After your SFSP specialist contacts you, verify sponsor and site application data when you go online in the CNIPS.
- Submit your October 2009 claim for reimbursement before the December 2009 50 day limit.
Please view the CNIPS Project Information Page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cn for information regarding the SFSP module updates. We are very excited about the improvements in customer service and access to data that this Web-based system will provide.
The CDE looks forward to the months ahead when the SFSP sponsors will operate CNIPS with the same ease as sponsors of the National School Lunch Program. If you have any questions, please contact Dennis Arena, SFSP Specialist, Nutrition Services Division, at 916-327-2220, or by e-mail at darena@cde.ca.gov. You may also contact Melissa Garza, SFSP Specialist, at 916-322-5885, or by e-mail at mgarza@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Bramson-Paul, Director
Nutrition Services Division
PBP: da
Attachment
Desktop Webinar Training Registration Form (DOC; 36KB; 1p.)
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814