CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-09 Subject: Eligibility Requirement Item: Complete Nutritional Risk Assessment

Revised Oct 1, 2021 California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 1 of 2 PURPOSE: To determine WIC program eligibility of an applicant by performing a comprehensive nutritional risk assessment that serves as the basis for initial certification, recertification, and all relevant WIC nutrition services. POLICY: I. Local agency (LA) staff must perform a complete nutritional risk assessment at every certification using a participant-centered approach to determine program eligibility. A. A Competent Professional Authority (CPA) must: 1. Complete a comprehensive nutrition assessment, which is required prior to providing counseling, nutrition education, and referrals during the certification process. 2. Use CDPH/WIC approved assessment tools when performing the complete nutritional risk assessment. 3. Identify at least one nutritional risk: anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, or other, for each income-eligible applicant in order to establish program eligibility. PROCEDURE(S): I. Performing a Complete Nutritional Risk Assessment A. A CPA must: 1. Conduct a complete nutritional risk assessment to determine the applicant’s nutritional risk based on the established criteria, a-d. below: a. Anthropometric (weight, height/length measurements). Refer to WPPM 210-10. b. Biochemical (hemoglobin/hematocrit test results). Refer to WPPM 210-11. c. Clinical (health history and current health/medical status). Refer to WPPM 210-12. d. Dietary (eating/feeding habits). Refer to WPPM 210-13. 2. Use a Participant-Centered Education (PCE) approach to conduct interviews and assign risks. Refer to the California WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA) Certification Training Manual. 3. Perform the following tasks:

CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-09 Subject: Eligibility Requirement Item: Complete Nutritional Risk Assessment

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 2 of 2 Oct 1, 2021 a. Collect all relevant information using equipment and tools correctly. b. Properly document the following in the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE): i. Reponses to risk assessment questions. ii. Pregnancy outcome information. iii. All nutritional risk factors identified during the assessment. c. Develop a Care Plan in conjunction with the participant and based on a completed assessment. d. Follow up on previous assessments, Care Plans, participant goals, and referrals. e. Conduct a nutritional risk assessment at the following intervals: i. Initial certification and recertification. ii. Mid-certification. Refer to WPPM 240-30. 4. Conduct breastfeeding assessments, as needed, to provide breastfeeding support and anticipatory guidance to the breastfeeding dyad using CDPH/WIC approved curricula. Refer to WPPM 600-10. AUTHORITY: 7 CFR §246.7 (e) Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) WIC Nutrition Services Standards, Standard 6. Nutrition Assessment CROSS-REFERENCE: WPPM 210-10 Determining Nutritional Risk – Anthropometric WPPM 210-11 Determining Nutritional Risk – Biochemical WPPM 210-12 Determining Nutritional Risk – Clinical/Health/Medical WPPM 210-13 Determining Nutritional Risk – Dietary WPPM 240-30 Mid-Certification Nutrition Assessment WPPM 600-10 Supporting Fully Breastfeeding for the First 30 Days WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA) Training Manual