1. State Updates and New Initiatives
Phyllis M. Hodges | State Director | September 21, 2017

2. Objectives Provide Professional Standards update.
Showcase what’s next.
Provide hot topic updates.

3. Professional Standards
Modified the new supervisor certification process
Transparent
Attainable
Goal is to work with all districts for compliance
Allow hours obtained in June to count for previous year or upcoming year
Professional Standards module in TMAC fully functional

4. Compliance Administrative reviews for 2017-18 have been scheduled
Reviews conducted early in the year have been started
AR Academy to navigate the process
Additional training to ensure compliance
Findings and closeouts
Procurement reviews for
Not aligned to administrative reviews
Will be spread out over five years instead of three
Process improved in
Whistleblowers
As reported or needed

5. Communication Continue to streamline and improve weekly updates
Important to know—primary notification method
Training resources development
Let us know what you need
Phone system
How can we improve this service?

6. Data Repository
Streamline handling of waivers and agreements to provide better service to SFAs
Establishing internal standard operating procedures
Improved turnaround time
Organized internal repository
Accessible by all state agency
Contingency procedures in place

7. TMAC Maintenance New SFA module Procurement review module
Discussion board notification
Streamline professional standards module
Enhanced security features
Continuing improvement of data analytics
Exploring distribution of funds module
Examining Direct Certification options

8. State Website
Focus group to discuss navigation and suggest improvements
Continual process of updating materials and resources as they change or are developed
Survey of other state websites for ideas
Open line of communication for suggestions

9. Data Mining
Continually reviewing process to determine most efficient way to collect and synthesize data
Sharing data with other partners such as “Share our Strength”
Utilizing data to support program within the department
Making data available to SFAs

10. Training Training calendar (coming up soon) TNT SAS schedule
Pilots that are now scheduled
Emphasis on sharing information from:
best practices,
mentor/mentee models,
focus groups, and
train the trainer concepts.
Delivering as much training to district as possible

11. Learning Management Short term/long term goal
Time needed to get it right
Emphasis on quality and ease of use
Needs assessments
Think tank—focus group
Development of materials
Development of system to house materials
Integration
Delivery to district level

12. Site Visits and Technical Assistance
Primary responsibility of External Branch with assistance from all state agency staff
Routine, scheduled as well as upon request
Needs assessment
New SFAs
Administrative review casualties
Financially struggling SFAs
New supervisors
District administration requests
Emphasis on improving our service to our customers

13. TeamUP Year two Looking at ways to expand the Skilled Helper concept
Focus on food safety and menu planning
Eight mentees
Five mentors
Six returning mentees and one returning mentor
Looking at ways to expand the Skilled Helper concept
Looking at other programs to utilize TeamUP concepts

14. TeamUP (Cont’d.)

15. Continuing Financial Focus
Continued focus on Tier 1 and Tier 2 districts
May include a team approach after the initial consultant review
Continued training on financial tracking and financial management
Tier district assistance
New supervisors
Requested assistance
Mentor/mentee approach

16. Auxiliary Programs HUSSC: SL focus continues
FFVP support for full fund utilization
Resources developed
Constant tracking
Best Practice Awards
Early communication
Support for new initiatives at district level
Afterschool Snack Program
Requested joint training from USDA for the Tennessee departments of Education and Human Services
Farm to School
Apple Crunch—flyer distributed—October 27, 2017
Know your farmer statewide meetings

17. Auxiliary Programs (Cont’d.)
Seamless Summer Option
Debriefing meeting
Kickoff meeting
Mandatory training
Additional best practice modeling and support
Support from Healthy Meals Consortium
Turnip the Beet Award
Berry Special Seamless Summer Award
Dietetic internship rotations
Working with Vanderbilt in the Nashville area
Site-based support for HUSSC: SL

18. Auxiliary Programs (Cont’d.)
Culinary training
Train the trainer model—open to all districts by application
Basic culinary training
Two afternoons
Mosaic menu planning
Support extended till June 2019
Workshop conducted September 13, 2017
Additional workshops can be scheduled if interest is present and space is provided

19. Equipment Grant New funding for 2017 $598,230
New application will be available soon
Web meeting will be scheduled to walk through application process
Emphasis on helping districts complete application correctly
Funding to be spent by September 2019

20. Hot Topics

21. Phyllis Hodges
State Director

22. Mission Statement
Develop extraordinary school nutrition professionals and provide strategies to increase consumption of healthy school meals.

24. Nondiscrimination Statement
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To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
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