Section 20. Purpose

A. The Virginia WIC Program serves women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or have just given birth; infants less than one year old; and children less than five years old. WIC participants must be Virginia residents and meet the financial and nutritional requirements.

B. The Virginia WIC Program provides special supplemental foods to eligible participants through a retailer delivery system (7 CFR 246.12). Food benefits are issued by local agencies to eligible participants using food instruments (7 CFR 246.10). Participants redeem their food instruments at any authorized retailer or entity. The state agency enters into an agreement with authorized retailers (7 CFR 246.12). This agreement identifies the obligations, rights and responsibilities of both the authorized retailers and the state agency. Retailers deposit these food instruments into their bank account. The state agency pays authorized retailers a reasonable dollar amount for the foods purchased, as listed on the deposited food instruments (7 CFR 246.12).

C. The state agency shall promulgate policies, guidelines, manuals and training resources to facilitate operations of the Virginia WIC Program in accordance with its contractual agreement with Food Nutrition Service (FNS) (7 CFR 246.3); the guidelines and instructions issued by FNS in policy letters; and management evaluations and audits and the WIC Program State Plan of Operations.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 24, Issue 19, eff. May 26, 2008; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 22, eff. July 6, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 12, eff. March 13, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia; 7 CFR Part 246.