Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (10.557)
Program
10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
Federal Agency
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Authorization
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, Section 17, 42 U.S.C. 1786.
Program Number
10.557
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide, low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children to age five determined to be at nutritional risk, at no cost, supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care providers.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants are made to State health departments or comparable agencies, Indian tribes, bands, or intertribal councils, or groups recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, or the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies distribute funds to participating local public or nonprofit private health or welfare agencies. Funds are expended to pay for supplemental foods, nutrition education and health care referrals for participants, as well as specified administrative costs, including certification services. State agencies are provided Federal funds according to legislative and regulatory formulas. Only local agencies qualifying under State agency applications with formal agreements may operate WIC programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
A local agency is eligible to apply to locally deliver the services of the WIC Program provided: 1) it serves a population of low-income women, infants, and children at nutritional risk; and 2) it is a public or private nonprofit health or human service agency. All local agencies must apply through the responsible State or U.S. Territory agency.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to 5 years of age are eligible if: 1) they are individually determined by a competent professional to be in need of the special supplemental foods supplied by the program because of nutritional risk; and 2) meet an income standard, or receive or have certain family members that receive benefits under the Food Stamp, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. They must also reside in the State in which benefits are received.
Credentials/Documentation
Individuals are certified as meeting an income standard, or as participating in certain other means-tested Federal programs. Certification regarding nutritional need for supplemental foods is determined by local level professionals. As of April 1999, all State agencies were using uniform criteria to determine nutrition risk. Costs are determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. The State designated official responsible for ensuring that the program is operated in accordance with program requirements must sign the State plan and Federal-State agreement pursuant to program regulations.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Application is made through sub- mission of a "State Plan of Program Operation and Administration," as required by legislation. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by FNS and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, as implemented by 7 CFR part 3016, must be used for this program by State and local agencies.
Application Procedure
Local agencies must apply to the State agency in writing. Individual participants apply for WIC benefits at an approved local agency.
Award Procedure
Funds are awarded by the Department on the basis of funding formulas to State agencies for distribution to approved local agencies subject to available funds.
Deadlines
A State plan for the next fiscal year is required by August 15. Only substantive changes to the currently approved State plan must be submitted.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Local agency or food vendor appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal procedure for a food vendor or local agency adversely affected by certain State or local agency actions. The adverse action may be postponed until a hearing decision is reached. Participant appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal procedure for any individual that receives a State or local agency action that results in a claim for repayment of the cash value of improperly issued benefits, denial of participation, or disqualification from the WIC Program.
Renewals
The program is authorized through September 30, 2003; it presently operates under the authority of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Grants are allocated on the basis of formulas determined by the Department of Agriculture which allocate funds for food benefits, and nutrition services and administration costs. No matching funds are required, but some States contribute nonfederal funds in support of a larger WIC Program in their State.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are released for the fiscal year using an electronic transfer system. State agencies may withdraw funds only as needed.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Monthly report of participation, value of food or food instruments issued, operating expenses, and funds withdrawn from the Federal letter of credit.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," State and local governments and Nonprofit organizations that expend a total amount of Federal awards equal to or in excess of $300,000 in any fiscal year shall have either a single audit or (in certain cases stated in the Circular) a program-specific audit made for such fiscal year. Audit rules provided by OMB Circular A-133 must be applied for audits of grantee and subgrantee fiscal years that began on or after July 1, 1996. Authority to conduct such audits less frequently than annually is limited to: 1) State or local governments required by constitution or statute, in effect on January 1, 1987, to undergo audits less frequently than annually; and 2) nonprofit organizations that had biennial audits for all biennial periods ending between July 1, 1992 and January 1, 1995. If a biennial audit is authorized, the audit must cover the two year period.
Records
Full and complete records concerning program operations including financial operations, food delivery systems, food instrument issuance and redemption, equipment purchases and inventory, certification, nutrition education, civil rights and fair hearing procedures.
Program Accomplishments
For fiscal year 2001, FNS approved the operation of the WIC Program in 88 State agencies. This figure includes 50 States, 33 Indian agencies, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the District of Columbia. As of September 2001, an average of approximately 7,196,766 women, infants and children received WIC benefits every month. Although food package costs varied widely among the States, the monthly average food package cost as of September 2001, was approximately $32.94 per person. For fiscal year 2001, the WIC Program realized over $1.4 billion in savings generated by infant formula rebates, which allowed over 2.0 million additional participants to be served with the WIC grant. As part of its efforts to revitalize quality nutrition services, FNS has taken several significant steps to increase training and technical assistance opportunities and facilitate communication among its partners. First, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Library-Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC), FNS established the WIC Works Resource System, an on-line system for WIC educators to talk, share successes, receive training on counseling strategies, find educational materials and tools for assessment, and review current research. Second, FNS in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) provided all State Nutrition Coordinators with a copy of Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition implementation guide as well as a training in service on this resource. This excellent resource provides comprehensive nutrition information in a unique framework. The Bright Futures approach has the potential to revitalize the way that nutrition services can be offered to WIC participants. FNS also sponsored a break-out session at the annual meeting of the National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD) in May 2001 highlighting State agency initiatives to revitalize quality nutrition services. In addition in October 2001 FNS in conjunction with NAWD, issued WIC Nutrition Services Standards to all WIC State agencies the standards describe quality nutrition standards of practice for State and local WIC programs.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3510-0-1-605.
Obligations
(Grants for food) FY 02 $2,973,003,100; FY 03 est $3,158,543,685; and FY 04 est $3,336,065,000. (Grants for Nutrition Services and Administration) FY 02 $1,135,724,613; FY 03 est $1,173,868,400; and FY 04 est $1,242,884,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$56,167 to $718,922,206. Average: $46,854,375 in fiscal year 2001 for the 88 State agencies.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR Part 246; "WIC State Plan Guidance" is available at no charge from FNS.
Related Programs
10.550, Food Donation; 10.551, Food Stamps; 10.556, Special Milk Program for Children; 10.565, Commodity Supplemental Food Program; 10.572, WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP); 93.246, Health Centers Grants for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers; 93.283, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention_Investigations and Technical Assistance; 93.600, Head Start.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Food and Nutrition Service regional offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA 22302. Contact: Patricia Daniels, Director. Telephone: (703) 305-2746. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
