Colorado WIC Program Policies and Procedures Section 1: Vendor and Farmer Management Revised: 10/01/2025

Vendor Coordination - Local Agencies Preparing WIC Families

Policy: Local Agency WIC staff must make WIC participants aware of authorized foods, penalties for improper actions, and the process for communicating store experiences.

Regulation: 7 CFR 246.12

Procedure/Additional Guidance:

● Authorized Foods It is important to prepare WIC families on the WIC foods and how to shop for them to provide the best chance for success. Participants are offered the Food Benefits List and a current Colorado WIC Food List and Shopping Guide. They are educated on the quantities they are authorized to purchase. When appropriate, use samples of the allowable foods to show the participant what to purchase. Participants should also be made aware of the important and valuable mobile application, WICShopper, that is also available to assist WIC families with their WIC shopping.

● Penalties for Improper Behavior Local agency WIC staff should discuss the consequences for participants who redeem benefits incorrectly, return WIC foods for cash, attempt to purchase unauthorized foods, or behave improperly in the store. Document incidences of improper behavior as discussed in Section 8, Certification, Eligibility and Coordination, Prevention and Management of Endorser/Participant Misuse.

● Participant Communications with WIC Staff Encourage WIC participants to relay what happens in stores, especially stores with previous complaints. While not required, participants should be told that WIC might be able to improve store service if we get enough information, such as dates, receipts and cashier names, to act upon.

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