GEORGIA WIC PROGRAM PROCEDURES MANUAL NS Nutrition Services Plan Policy No. NS- 200.05 Effective date: October 1, 2016

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Policy

Each District shall develop, implement, and maintain an approved Nutrition Services Plan (NSP) consistent with Georgia WIC Program’s State Plan and in accordance with federal guidelines. Purpose To provide each participant with quality nutrition education at required intervals. Procedures

I. Districts shall submit a NSP work plan every three years and annual updates according to instructions from the State Agency (SA) by the designated dates as identified in the instructions. A copy of the completed NSP shall be kept on file at the local agency and be submitted to the SA.

II. The SA communication and review process of the NSP work plan and annual updates consists of:

A. Written or oral requests for revisions or additions B. Electronic notification of approval to the LA. The LA shall keep the e- notification on file with their NSP.

III. NSP may include: A. The provision of secondary nutrition education to participants and nutrition education for high risk participants. B. Breastfeeding promotion. C. Communication and program outreach. D. Staff development skills related to Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessments (See VENA) and Participant Centered Education (See PCE). E. Special targeted nutrition, breastfeeding, physical activity and other related health behaviors that foster the integration of services within public health for the benefit of WIC Participants. This may include partnerships and collaborations. When these integrated plans are included in the Nutrition Services Plan, they must show evidence how the primary focus areas of WIC related to nutrition, physical activity and breastfeeding education are met.

GEORGIA WIC PROGRAM PROCEDURES MANUAL NS Nutrition Services Plan Policy No. NS- 200.05 Effective date: October 1, 2016

No. of Pages: 2

Page 2 of 2

Authority 7 CFR § 246.11(b), (d), (e) WIC Nutrition Services Standards: Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/wicworks//Learning_Center/VENA/VENA_Guidance.pdf

Definitions/Supporting Information PCE - is a systems approach designed to focus on education that is relevant to the participant. This approach puts the participant’s needs and the goal of healthy behaviors at the core of WIC Service delivery, and focuses on a person’s capacities, strengths and developmental needs, not solely on the problems, risk or negative behaviors. VENA - is an initiative, developed jointly by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the National WIC Association (NWA), to improve nutrition services in the WIC Program by establishing standards for the assessment process used to determine WIC eligibility and to personalize nutrition education, referrals, and food package tailoring. VENA is part of the larger process known as Revitalizing Quality Nutrition Services (RQNS) in WIC.