PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Policy and Procedure Number: 6.04 WIC State Agency USDA Approval Date: September 30, 2015 State Effective Date: January 27, 2016

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL

6. OUTREACH/REFERRAL

6.04. Outreach in Hospitals

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A. POLICY:

PA WIC shall assure that potential program candidates receiving care as hospital in- patients and/or out-patients receive education about the benefits of WIC, as well as the opportunity for authorization and certification.

B. PROCEDURE:

1. If a local agency operates the WIC Program in a hospital or has a cooperative agreement with a hospital to certify WIC applicants, the local agency shall:

a. Inform potentially eligible individuals that receive inpatient or outpatient prenatal, maternity, or postpartum services, or that accompany a child under the age of five who receives well-child services, of the availability of WIC Program services; and

b. To the extent feasible, provide an opportunity for individuals who may be eligible for the WIC Program to be certified within the hospital.

2. The local agency and the hospital jointly determine the following:

a. How Program information will be provided to potentially eligible individuals;

b. Who will provide the Program information; and

c. The degree to which WIC staff will have access to inpatients in order to expedite their enrollment.

3. State Agency recommends that the local agency outreach coordinator contact the local hospitals and request that the WIC outreach materials be provided to new parents in the “New Moms” packets distributed by the hospitals.

Reference(s): 1. WIC Regulations: 7 CFR Part 246.6(f)(1)(2).

Policy and Procedure Status: 1. This P&P supersedes P&P Number 6.04, dated July 1, 2003.