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WIC Crossroads Disaster Recovery Plan Modification Date: 07/10/2026

Page 3 of 3 Alternative Solutions

Due to the WIC Crossroads System design and the method in which information is communicated to the eWIC Service Provider, there is not an alternative solution that will allow eWIC information, such as the Electronic Benefit Account (EBA) information, eWIC card information, and eWIC benefits for all new and existing WIC families and participants to be communicated to the eWIC Service Provider without the use of the WIC Crossroads MIS and the real-time web service communications and batch processes between Crossroads and the eWIC Service Provider. In addition, batch communications are required for information such as redemption to be communicated from our eWIC Service Provider to our Crossroads MIS.

For an eWIC account to be created for new families or updated for existing families, the information must be keyed through the Crossroads system and interfaced to the eWIC Service Provider using real- time web services.

In addition, eWIC cards used for redeeming WIC food benefits must be issued to WIC families through the Crossroads system and interfaced to the eWIC Service Provider using real-time web services.

Alabama has two alternatives for issuing food benefits when unable to issue through our Crossroads MIS. However, both alternatives are limited to existing families with certified participants, an active EBA, and an active eWIC card. There is no alternative for issuing food benefits to families and individuals not actively certified in Crossroads or families that do not have an active EBA and eWIC card.

• WIC State Office Staff can manually issue eWIC Benefits from the WIC Connect Administrative Terminal. However, this process is used on a limited basis for exception cases only and can only be used to issue benefits for existing Crossroads families with an active EBA account. In order to issue benefits from the Administrative Terminal, WIC State Office Staff will need access to the Crossroads MIS to identify families, review individual prescriptions, and determine which benefits to manually issue. Any benefits issued through the Administrative Terminal are not interfaced back to Crossroads, resulting in limited reporting capabilities for benefit redemption, formula rebate, and individual participation.

• Alabama can utilize the Automated Issuance process established as an emergency alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic. This process will issue one month of benefits to some active WIC participants with an active EBA account based on their most recent prescription. However, this process requires our Crossroads Database, Crossroads batch server, and communication with our eWIC provider to be functional. Review of the Automated Issuance process with WIC and IT staff will be necessary before re-activating this process in a production environment to ensure functional changes are not required.