Division of Community Nutrition
Subject: WIC Shopping Options Policy: VEN 05.0 Reference: N / A Effective: August 12, 2013 Supersedes: August 1, 2008
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I. Policy:
Local agency personnel shall fairly and consistently present shopping alternatives to participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies.
II. Procedure:
A. Local agency personnel shall provide to participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies a current listing of authorized retail stores based upon the participants, parents / legal guardians, caretaker and proxies preference at certification or subsequent certification. Conversely, for participants that have access to the internet, local agency personnel can offer as an alternative to receiving a paper listing the web address for using the Authorized Store Locator application to identify authorized stores.
1) This preference can be based upon: a. Store location; b. Zip code; c. Product availability; d. Type of store (i.e., Commissary)
2) The listing shall be provided to participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies without any personal preference and / or bias towards any authorized store location.
B. Local agency personnel shall not encourage or discourage participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies to shop at one authorized retail store over another.
C. Local agency personnel shall not encourage or discourage participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies to shop at stores that have a eWIC integrated point of sales system versus stand beside devices being used for processing eWIC transactions.
D. Local agency personnel may inform participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies of limitations a retail store may have in carrying a full selection of optional contract and / or WIC approved special formulas.
E. Local agency personnel that abuse his / her role in objectively advising participants, parents / legal guardians, caretakers and proxies about his / her shopping choices may be subject to administrative disciplinary action from a State WIC Office investigation.