NC CACFP Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene: Waiver Request Form

Participation in these waivers begins October 3, 2024 and ends November 1, 2024.

The North Carolina (NC) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) has been granted eight waivers by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to provide CACFP operators the maximum flexibility following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in NC. Please complete the waiver request form below to request one or more waivers for your institution and/or facility(ies). Each waiver request form must be approved by the State agency prior to the institution implementing any or all the flexibilities listed below.

The following list of waivers provided to the NC CACFP are available to request for all participating CACFP institutions and sponsoring organizations that are currently in good standing with the State Agency (SA).
  • Non-Congregate Meal Service
  • Parent and Guardian Meal Pick-Up
  • Meal Service Time Flexibility
  • Meal Pattern Flexibility
  • Record Retention Exemption 
  • Claim Deadline Extension
  • Sponsoring Organizations Review Requirements
  • Disbursement Timeline Requirements for Sponsoring Organizations
Institutions MUST apply and be approved for each waiver they would like to use, on behalf of the institution and/or facility(ies). 
 
Sponsoring Organizations can list up to 10 facilities on one waiver request form. If waiver requests are needed for more than 10 facilities, please submit this form again for the additional facilities.
Institution Type *
Confirm your contact information in NC CACFP CONNECTS is accurate: *
Please complete the below email address field(s) IF the institution would like for copies of the email notifications about this Waiver Reqest to go to any of the below contacts the institution has listed in NC CACFP CONNECTS. Please note that this is optional. 
Which waiver(s) is/are the institution/facility(ies) requesting? (Select all that apply) *
Why is the institution applying for the waiver(s) selected above? *
 

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS
 
Sections 1-6 apply to all institutions. Sponsoring Organizations should list each facility and their respective county.  
 
Sections 7 & 8 are for Sponsoring Organizations ONLY. 

1. Non-Congregate Meal Service

This waiver allows institutions/facilities to serve meals in a non-congregate setting. 
What is the intended outcome of the facility being granted this waiver? (Select all that apply)
 
What meal options is the facility planning to offer? (Select all that apply)
 
What meal distribution delivery methods is the facility planning to use? (Select all that apply)
 
What meal counting methods is the facility planning to use? (Select all that apply)
 
IF APPROVED for this waiver, how does the facility anticipate the waiver will improve services to the facility/participants? (Select all that apply)
 

2. Parent and Guardian Meal Pick-Up

This waiver allows institutions/facilities to allow parents/guardians of enrolled participants to pick up meals.  Institutions must be able to maintain accountability and program integrity.  This includes putting in place processes to ensure that meals are distributed only to parent or guardians of eligible children, and that duplicate meals are not distributed to any child.
What is the intended outcome of the facility being granted this waiver?
 
What meal options is the facility planning to offer? (Select all that apply)
 
What meal distribution delivery methods is the facility planning to use? (Select all that apply)
 
What meal counting methods is the facility planning to use? (Select all that apply)
 
IF APPROVED for this waiver, how does the facility anticipate the waiver will improve services to the facility/participants? (Select all that apply)
 
I certify that if the institution and facility have processes in place to ensure that meals are distributed only to parent or guardians of eligible children, and that duplicate meals are not distributed to any child.

3. Meal Service Time Flexibility

This waiver allows institutions/facilities the ability to flex meal service times and serve meals outside the approved meal service times.

What is the intended outcome of the facility being granted this waiver?
 
IF APPROVED for this waiver, how does the facility anticipate the waiver will improve services to the facility/participants? (Select all that apply)
 

4. Meal Pattern Flexibility

FNS does not have the authority to waive meal pattern requirements.  NC DHHS plans to maximize the support and flexibility provided to CACFP institutions.  The State agency only approves waiver requests that are targeted and justified based on plans to support access to nutritious meals. FNS and the State agency expects and strongly encourages Program operators to maintain and meet the nutrition standards established for CACFP to the greatest extent possible. The institution should continually evaluate the necessity of the use of this waiver.
What is the intended outcome of the facility being granted this waiver?
 
IF APPROVED for this waiver, how does the facility anticipate the waiver will improve services to the facility/participants? (Select all that apply)
 

5. Record Retention Exemption

This waiver allows approved institutions to waive the requirements regarding document retention when all or part of the required documentation that been destroyed by this disaster event. 

1. Facility Info


2. Facility Info


3. Facility Info


4. Facility Info


5. Facility Info


6. Facility Info


7. Facility Info


8. Facility Info


9. Facility Info


10. Facility Info


What is the intended outcome of the institution/facility(ies) being granted this waiver?
 

6. Claim Deadline Extension

This waiver allows approved institutions/facilities to waive the 60-day claim submission requirement.  Institutions using this waiver will not have to use the one-time exception, in the event that claims for reimbursement are delayed due to extenuating circumstances related to Hurricane Helene. 
Which flexibility is the institution requesting?

7. Sponsoring Organization Review Requirements

This waiver allows sponsoring organizations to waiver review requirements including the pre-approval visit, 4-week review for new facilities, allow more than 6 months to elapse between reviews and regular onsite monitoring.
Which flexibility(ies) is/are the institution requesting? (Select all that apply)

8. Disbursement Timeline Requirements for Sponsoring Organizations

This waiver allows sponsoring organizations to waive the requirement of disbursing the full amount of reimbursement payments due to sponsored facilities within five working days of receipt from the State agency. 

Which flexibility is the institution requesting?

Verification and Submission

I understand that if the institution or facility is approved for one or more of the above waivers requested, the institution will be required to report on the impact of the waiver to the State agency no later than January 31, 2025. *