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WIC MOM Updates
The following changes have been made to MOM in the past 6 months.
6/2024 - Exhibit 5-A: Minnesota WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines
Clarification: Updated Income Eligibility Guidelines for MN Health Care Programs/Insurance Affordability Programs (Medical Assistance /Medicaid with 2024-2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Exhibit 5-C: Identification Requirements by WIC Contact Type
Clarification: New Exhibit created as a desk top reference to help local agencies determine acceptable forms of participant and proxy identification for each contact type (new certification, recertification, nutrition ed visit, etc.).
Section 5.2.3: Identity
Clarification: Updated policy to clarify ID requirements during the certification process. Added guidance for handling situations in which the parent/guardian or proxy lacks necessary identification. Added reference to new Exhibit 5-C. Requirements for verbal verification of identity have been strengthened. Additionally, Known to Staff and WIC Card are no longer acceptable forms of ID for an Authorized representative/proxy at any contact type.
Section 5.2.2: Residency, Section 5.2.4: Income, and Section 5.2.3: Identity
Clarification: revised definition of migrant farmworker families in waiver allowances and procedures in handling waivers.
- Section 5.2 Certification Procedures was updated with revised 5.2 sections.
Section 8.3: Issuing WIC Cards
Clarification: revised content to focus on initial MN WIC card issuance only. References to verbal verification of ID were removed from this policy. Added reference to Exhibit 5-C for acceptable forms of ID at this contact type. Clarified guidance regarding assisting participants in the Safe at Home program.
Section 8.4: Issuing Food Benefits
Clarification: emphasized the requirement to verify ID whenever issuing benefits. Removed references to verifying ID via the WIC card; the WIC card is no longer an acceptable proof of ID for mid-certifications, Nutrition Education visits, or benefit issuance. Added guidance for how to designate a proxy by phone.
Section 8.5: Replacing WIC Cards
Clarification: specified the requirement to obtain the primary card holder's signature upon issuing a WIC card. Added a reference to Exhibit 5-C for guidance on verifying ID.
4/2024 - Exhibit 5-A Minnesota WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines (PDF)
Clarification: Updated the Standard WIC income guidelines with 2024-2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines
3/2024 - Staffing Roles Grid for Nutrition Services (PDF)
Clarification: Content was updated to match recent current staffing policies. Updated staffing qualifications for Breastfeeding Coordinator to match Section 4.4: Breastfeeding Coordinator.
Section 6.6: High Risk Individual Nutrition Care Plans (PDF)
Clarification:
- High Risk Criteria Section:
- Clarified that staff must discuss a medical referral Staff must discuss a medical referral with the participant before sending to a Health Care Provider. A participant may decline a referral.
- Added note about resolving High Risk designation.
- Providing High Risk Following-up Section:
- Emphasized the need for follow up to be determined based on the individual participant’s condition and needs and the CPA’s professional discretion.
- Clarified that the method of follow-up (in person or remote) should be based on the high risk indicators and the CPA’s discretion on how to best manage or resolve the high risk condition.
- Added high risk follow-up examples (including breastfeeding follow-up example).
- Resolving High Risk Designation Section:
- Specified circumstances which may be appropriate to resolve high risk designation.
- Added examples of risk codes that may potentially be resolved based on the circumstance.
- Added note about medical referrals.
- Added subsection that includes instructions for resolving the high risk designation in the Information System.
Section 6.9: Nutrition Education Materials (PDF)
Clarification:
- Better describes the role of state office in developing and evaluating educational materials for use by local agencies.
- Better describes expectations for local agency developed materials.
- Provides current recommendations for developing and evaluating nutrition education materials in the guidance section of this policy.
Exhibit 6-A: High Risk and Medical Referral Criteria (PDF)
Clarification: Correction to Risk Code 113 Obese (Children 2-5 years). Criteria was corrected to child is ≥ 95% BMI-for-age or has gained ≥ 5 pounds in the past 6 months.
Removed outdated exhibits: Exhibit 6-D1- cover and Exhibit 6D2 - Guide to Evaluating Written Nutrition Education Materials (Pertinent information has been incorporated into updated Section 6.9: Nutrition Education Materials)
Section 1.15: Electronic Signatures (PDF)
Clarification: New policy that outlines when a WIC participant or authorized representative can use an electronic signature to sign forms necessary for participation in the WIC Program. The policy identifies acceptable methods for capturing electronic signatures and outlines criteria for acceptance of electronic signatures.
2/2024 - Section 7.4: Supporting Breastfeeding with the WIC Food Package (PDF)
Clarification: updated and streamlined the policy with more targeted information to include additional details to support assessment and documentation of breastfeeding issues and concerns. Food package and formula amount charts support tailoring the food package to meet infant's needs while supporting breastfeeding goals.
Exhibit 1-R: Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA) Survey (New Policy) (WORD)
Clarification: New form that must be completed when a Local Agency is making a change in location- such as opening, closing, or moving a clinic- that might impact a protected class. This form is designed to facilitate discussion between a local agency’s program manager and their State Consultant to help them advocate for a space suitable for running a WIC program, to ensure Local Agencies are providing a safe and accessible space for our participants.
Section 1.10: Civil Rights (PDF)
Clarification: Added instructions about how and when to use the CRIA survey. Removed mention of 1-P and replaced it with the link to the Spanish USDA discrimination complaint form (AD-3027). Provided some guidance on using the NDS and some other minor updates on wording to add clarification.
Clarification: WIC is required to use the FNS Nondiscrimination Statement listed under “for all other FNS nutrition assistance programs”.
Section 5.9: Clinic Environment (PDF)
Clarification: Added information about the CRIA survey. Added some details on how to create an optimal WIC environment. Added considerations on providing high quality Customer Service.
Exhibit 7-J: Mom and Baby WIC Food Packages (PDF)
Clarification: Updated the standard contract formula, Enfamil Infant, and the standard CVB to $12.
Exhibit 7-K: Standard Food Packages at a Glance - Children and Women (PDF)
Clarification: Updated the standard CVB values to $10/$12/$18.
Removal of Exhibit 1-P: Discrimination Complaint form (Spanish & English)
Clarification: The USDA has a very accessible form available from their website that we link on our Rights and Responsibilities and Nondiscrimination Statement (U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form and Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA) Formulario de Denuncia por Discriminación del Programa del USDA), which makes this exhibit unnecessary.
1/2024 - Section 6.8: Nutrition Education Documentation (PDF)
Clarification:
- Removed references to any paper documentation. Removed information that is no longer relevant.
- Better description of the functionality of the Nutrition Education Page and Notes in the Information System. Describe when it is appropriate to use each type of documentation function.
- Added information about continuity of care.
- Added WIC Nutrition Education Documentation resource that describes best practices for documentation.
Clarification:
- specified the nipple shield issuance plan components
- Added inclusive language
- Clarified that lactation supplies include things like flanges, pump parts, etc.
Exhibit 6-G: Breast Pump and Supplies Issuance and Inventory Log (WORD) replaces Exhibits 6-G1: Log of WIC Breastpump Issuance and Inventory and 6-G2: Log of Breastpump Issuance.
Clarification:
- This is an example of a pump and lactation supplies inventory and tracking sheet for agencies to use to track ordering and issuing of pumps and lactation aids. It should be downloaded and modified to match the local agency’s needs.
Exhibit 1K: Your Rights and Responsibilities- Karen (PDF)
Clarification: revised with the 2022 Nondiscrimination Statement.
The following has been removed from MOM:
- Exhibit 6-E: Suggested Infant Education and Contact Schedule since it is no longer referenced in any policies.
12/2023 - Section 5.3.3: Health and Nutrition Information (PDF)
Clarification: Section 5.3.3 was revised to strengthen the screening process and documentation expectations. This includes providing directions on how to screen a child’s status for blood lead testing and immunizations by current recommendations. Added documentation requirements if the infant/child is not up to date for age by current recommendations for blood lead testing or immunizations. This update was added to the full Section 5.3: Nutrition Risk Assessment (All sections)
Section 5.7: Referrals
Clarification: Section 5.7 was revised to strengthen documentation expectations for all types of referrals. Requirements to document referrals to blood lead testing and immunizations were added.