How To Request Training

The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) offers free group training on a broad range of topics for child nutrition professionals working in school nutrition and child care settings. In addition to training sessions at the Institute’s headquarters at The University of Mississippi, training may be requested free-of-charge for presentation at local sites throughout the country.

ICN Face-To-Face Group Training

Who may request free training?

Representatives of State agencies administering child nutrition programs, USDA regional offices, School Nutrition Association state affiliates, CACFP sponsors, and allied organizations (such as ASBO) may request.

What else should I know?

Trainings must be requested at least 8-10 weeks before the training date.
Training sessions must be a minimum of 4 hours in a single day.
The requesting person or agency must provide a training site and basic AV equipment, promote the training, and pre-register a minimum of 25 participants.
Arrangements for trainers are coordinated by the ICN Training Team.
Participants’ training materials are provided free-of-charge and shipped to the training site.

Now What?

Review the training topics listed below. If you want to know more, click on the links for a closer look at the training materials.

I’m ready to submit a request!

When you have decided on a topic, date, and location – you are ready to request a training. Scroll down to the green “Apply Now” button.

Face-to-Face Training Sessions Currently Offered

Training Sessions for School Nutrition Programs

Basic Culinary Math for School Nutrition Professionals (6 training hours)
Nutrition 101: A Taste of Food and Fitness, 4th Edition (8 training hours) This course qualifies for SNA core course certification level 1.
Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (4 1/2 training days)
Utilizing the Cafeteria as a Classroom (1 to 5 training hours)

Culinary Training

Menus of Flavor: East and Southeast Asian Fusion (4 Training Hours) – link to the materials – https://theicn.org/icn-resources-a-z/menus-of-flavor
Menus of Flavor: Latin American (4 Training Hours) – link to the materials – https://theicn.org/icn-resources-a-z/menus-of-flavor
Menus of Flavor: Mediterranean (4 Training Hours) – link to the materials – https://theicn.org/icn-resources-a-z/menus-of-flavor

Financial Management & Procurement

Buy American U.S. Agriculture Supporting Healthy School Meals (2 Training Hours)
Financial Management: A Course for School Nutrition Directors (8 or 12 training hours)
Financial Management: A Course for School Nutrition Managers (6 training hours)
Forecasting the Procurement of Foods (4 training hours)
Procurement of Foods: Cooperative Purchasing Groups (6 training hours)

Food Safety

Food Allergies for School Nutrition Managers and Staff (4 training hours)
Food Defense Tabletop Exercise (4 training hours)
Food Safety Basics (4 training hours)
Food Safety in Schools (formerly Serving It Safe) (8 training hours) *This course qualifies for SNA core course certification level 1.
Mock Health Inspection (4 training hours)
Norovirus for Schools (2 training hours)
Seguridad de alimentos en las escuelas (SPANISH VERSION – Food Safety in Schools) (8 training hours)
Writing a HACCP-Based Food Safety Plan for Schools Workshop – 2 1/2 Training Days

What happens next?

After you have entered the information on the Training Request Form, scroll to the bottom and press “Submit.” If your request is successfully transmitted to ICN, you will receive an electronic reply. If you do not receive a reply, please contact ICN.

Three Things to Remember:

ICN requires at least 8-10 weeks’ advance notice before the training date to schedule and plan a training session.
ICN Consultant Trainers must train a minimum of 4 hours in a single day.
A minimum of 25-30 participants is required for ICN to provide a training session.

Apply Now