What’s New FNS Instruction 113-2, Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement—Nutrition Programs and Activities The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a new instruction for Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement. The purpose of this instruction is to establish and convey policy, and provide guidance and direction to Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and its recipients, and ensure compliance with and enforcement of the prohibition against discrimination in all FNS nutrition programs and activities, including those that are only partially federally funded.  This document became effective on November 8, 2005 and merges all of the previously independent instructions for civil rights compliance and enforcement into one document. Civil Rights Instruction (pdf) The New Food Buying Guide is here!  This helpful resource is being distributed to all participating CACFP self-prep centers during the 2003 Regional Training sessions.  If you were unable to attend one of the training sessions, the food buying guide is available to download from the internet at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/foodbuyingguide.html. New regulations The infant meal pattern final rule was published in the Federal Register (67 FR 36779) on May 28, 2002. The rule addresses comments to the Nov 15, 1999, interim rule, clarifies optional food components in the infant meal pattern, and makes a number of changes so that information about serving infants in the Child Nutrition Programs is more consistent and easier to read. It also adds a footnote about egg servings to the child care snack pattern.  The amendments become effective on June 27, 2002.   An interim rule, Implementing Legislative Reforms to Strengthen Program Integrity, was published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2002 to incorporate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations the changes mandated by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and the Grain Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000. These regulations are commonly being referred to as integrity regulations.  The effective date of this rule is July 29, 2002.  USDA is accepting comments on these regulations if the comments are received on or before December 24, 2002.    Income Guidelines for period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.   Feeding Infants, a guide for use in Child Nutrition Programs   Reimbursement Rates for period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. 08-09 Revised Dear Parent Letter for non-pricing 08-09 Dear Household Member Adult Participant Letter for non-Pricing   Center Staff Assignments