CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-13 Subject: Eligibility Requirement Item: Determining Nutritional Risk - Dietary

Revised Oct 1, 2021 California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 1 of 2 PURPOSE: To provide local agencies (LA) standardized procedures for determining dietary nutritional risk(s) when certifying applicants. POLICY: I. A Competent Professional Authority (CPA) must assess whether a dietary nutritional risk exists at each certification and recertification using self-reported information and CDPH/WIC-approved tools as part of a complete nutrition assessment. PROCEDURE(S): I. Dietary Assessment A. To assess the presence of dietary risk(s), the CPA must: 1. Collect dietary assessment information. a. Ask the nutrition assessment questions contained in the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE). b. As needed, ask other probing questions tailored to the applicant to obtain and clarify relevant dietary information. c. Use participant-centered techniques throughout the assessment. 2. Review and assess WIC WISE generated dietary risk factor(s), the applicant’s dietary status, and feeding patterns. 3. Assign any other dietary risk factor(s) manually, if identified, and properly document a brief explanation, if applicable, in the Care Plan. II. Presumed Dietary Risks A. The CPA must assign a presumed dietary risk if both the following conditions apply: 1. No nutritional risk (anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, and/or other) has been identified after conducting a complete nutrition assessment. 2. No Inappropriate Nutrition Practices dietary risk(s) for the appropriate category has been identified after the assessment: a. Risk #411 series – Inappropriate Nutrition Practices for Infants. b. Risk #425 series – Inappropriate Nutrition Practices for Children. c. Risk #427 series – Inappropriate Nutrition Practices for Women.

CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-13 Subject: Eligibility Requirement Item: Determining Nutritional Risk - Dietary

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 2 of 2 Oct 1, 2021 B. If II.A. applies, the CPA must assign the appropriate presumed dietary risk based on category: 1. Risk #428 – Dietary Risk Associated with Complementary Feeding Practices (for infants 4 months or older and children up to two years of age). 2. Risk #401 – Failure to Meet Dietary Guidelines (for children 2 years or older and pregnant or postpartum individuals). C. Presumed dietary risks are not applicable to infants under 4 months of age. If an infant under 4 months has no risk identified (anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, and/or other), the CPA must review the information collected and assess if an appropriate risk can be assigned, such as: 1. Risk #701 – Infant Up to 6 Months Old of WIC Mother or of a Woman Who. Would Have Been Eligible During Pregnancy. 2. Risk #702 – Breastfeeding Infant of Woman at Nutritional Risk. 3. Risk #903 – Foster Care. AUTHORITY: 7 CFR §246.7(e) USDA WIC Policy Memorandum 2006-05: VENA – A WIC Nutrition Assessment Policy USDA WIC Policy Memorandum 2011-5. WIC Nutrition Risk Criteria. Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) CROSS REFERENCE: WPPM 210-09 Complete Nutrition Risk Assessment