DC WIC POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL

Policy 2.007 1 | P a g e Title: Nutrition Education Choice Category: Nutrition and Breastfeeding Education CFR Reference: 246.11 Policy Number: 2.007 Effective Date: 8/15/23 Revised Date: 8/15/23

POLICY STATEMENT Nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, must be available to all participants through either individual or group sessions appropriate to the individual participant’s nutritional risks, needs, and interests. Contacts must be designed to meet the cultural and language needs of Program participants. The Local Agency must offer at least two delivery methods of secondary nutrition education in accordance with DC WIC policy 2.005 Nutrition Education Overview. PROCEDURE The Local Agency must establish delivery methods for participants eligible for secondary nutrition education. Delivery methods may be in-person, by phone, or online. Criteria for delivery methods are outlined in the table below. Delivery method of nutrition education Risk level Participant category Individual: in-person High risk (by CPA) Low risk All categories Individual: phone High risk (by CPA) Low risk All categories Individual: telehealth/video call High risk (by CPA) Low risk All categories Individual: self-paced online or in-person Low risk All child categories All pregnant and postpartum categories Infants between 6-12 months Group: online or in- person Low risk All categories

Individual In-person: The participant or authorized representative must come to the WIC clinic to receive this delivery method. Telephone: WIC staff engage the participant and maintain confidentiality. WIC staff should offer to send reinforcements (e.g., handouts, website links, etc.) to the participant in their preferred format (electronic, text message, mail). Telehealth/video call: WIC staff engage the participant and maintain confidentiality. The Local Agency must ensure a quiet space to conduct the telehealth/video call. WIC staff should offer to send reinforcements (e.g., handouts, website links, etc.) to the participant in their preferred format (electronic, text message, mail).

DC WIC POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL

Policy 2.007 2 | P a g e Self-paced online nutrition education platform: Online, self-paced, and interactive nutrition education modules/lessons are an appropriate format for participants to complete secondary nutrition education. The Local Agency should ensure procedures for reviewing module completion and contacting participants for benefit issuance. Allowable online platforms are specified by the State Agency. Group In-person: The participant or authorized representative must come to the WIC clinic to receive this delivery method. The Local Agency must ensure a private and large enough space to host a group education session. Online: WIC staff engage the participant and maintain confidentiality. WIC staff should offer to send reinforcements to the participant in their preferred format. The Local Agency must ensure a quiet and private space to conduct the group education session. The Local Agency should ensure procedures that allow for timely documentation and benefit issuance to all attendees. Missed Nutrition Education Appointments and Non-Denial of WIC Benefits The Local Agency must make a reasonable effort to provide nutrition education to each participant. The Local Agency must set guidelines for what constitutes a reasonable effort. Participants cannot be denied program benefits for failure to attend an educational activity or for lack of willingness, readiness, or ability to participate in the activity. If a participant does not attend or participate in a scheduled nutrition education contact, the Local Agency must ensure staff document all attempts to contact in the MIS. REFERENCES 7 CFR 246.11 FNS WIC Nutrition Service Standard # 7, # 14 DC WIC policy 2.005 Nutrition Education Overview ATTACHMENTS & FORMS DC WIC State Agency-provided hand-outs