Food Package Job Aid for

Local Agencies

WIC WISE

11.25.2019

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DEFAULT FOOD PACKAGES

WIC WISE generates default food packages based on food maximums defined by federal regulations

7 CFR §246.10 for WIC participant type, age, and breastfeeding amount. Each food package is assigned a

participant category and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) number.

Category Description Food Package Name in WIC WISE

Infants

Infant Breastfeeding Fully (IBF) IBF, 0 – 5 mos., FNS I

IBF, 6 – 8 mos., FNS II A

IBF, 9 – 11 mos., FNS II B

Infant Breastfeeding Partially, mostly (IBPm) IBPm, 0 – 1 mo., FNS I

IBPm, 1 – 3 mos., FNS I

IBPm, 4 – 5 mos., FNS I

IBPm, 6 – 8 mos., FNS II A

IBPm, 9 – 11 mos., FNS II B

Infant Non Breastfeeding (INB) or Infant Breastfeeding Partially, some (IBPs)

INB or IBPs, 0 – 3 mos., FNS I

INB or IBPs, 4 – 5 mos, FNS I

INB or IBPs, 6 – 8 mos, FNS II A

INB or IBPs, 9 – 11 mos, FNS II B

Children

Child 1, 2, 3, or 4 years old C1, 12 – 23 mos., FNS IV

C2-3-4, 24 – 60 mos., FNS IV

Women

Pregnant (single fetus) or Breastfeeding Partially, mostly (single infant)

PG or BPm, FNS V

Non Breastfeeding or Breastfeeding Partially, some (single fetus)

NB or BPs, FNS VI

Breastfed Partially, some (single infant), second six months

BPs, > 6 mos. No Foods

Breastfeeding Fully (single infant), Breastfeeding Partially, mostly (2 or more infants), Pregnant (2 or more fetuses), Pregnant (currently BF or mostly BF one infant)

BF or PG Multiples, FNS VII

Breastfeeding Fully (2 or more infants), Pregnant while Breastfeeding (currently BF 2 or more infants); generated from questions on BF Status Change Screen

BF 2 or more infants, PG + BF 2 or more infants, FNS VII x 1.5

Homeless packages are available for children and women. When the Homeless checkbox is marked on the Screening or Family Information screen, a homeless package will be made available.

Therapeutic formula can be assigned to food packages as appropriate on the “Food Prescription” screen.

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TAILORING The default food package includes the most common food items for participants. WIC staff may tailor the default food package based on the participant’s preferences. On the “Food Prescription” screen, the Preferences box will display any previous modifications. In the Flags box, any food allergies will display in red. Removing foods from the package must be done manually by WIC staff in consultation with the participant. In the grid, the Food Items Selected displays the foods that make up the food package. The Prescription Max (Units) is the maximum amount allowed for each Food Item Selected. The Food Item Selected displays a description of the food items that make up the food package. The Quantity is the amount to be assigned in the food package for each food item. The Physical Form shows the unit of measure. Examples include CTR (container), OZ (ounces), GAL (gallon), DOZ (dozen), and $$$ (Cash Value Benefit, or CVB, for fruits and vegetables).

The Group Max Box is helpful when tailoring food items within a similar food category or group. This box will help WIC staff correctly calculate adjustments while staying within the maximum amount allowed. The Dairy/Tofu group includes milk and milk substitutes, cheese, yogurt, and tofu. When the Food Item Selected is changed using the dropdown menu, the new item selected Quantity will update to the Prescription Max value. Click on the Quantity value in the row you have updated to view this value. As you add or change cheese, yogurt, or tofu, you must reduce or increase the quantity of milk. See Table 1 for Dairy/Tofu conversions. The Fruit/Vegetables group includes the CVB and the infant jarred fruits and vegetables. Formula and Juice are other options (but the Juice option is not applicable for California). When tailoring a food package, select the group from the Group Max dropdown. Type in the desired Quantity for the Food Item Selected without going over the Prescription Max. The Group Max Box displays the Maximum, Allocated, and Remaining amounts. When tailoring results in the same amount of food within the selected group, the Remaining amount will display as zero in black. If tailoring results in more than the allocated amount or over issuance, a negative number will display in red; WIC WISE will not allow a food package with an over issuance to be saved and a pop up will appear. If tailoring results in less than the allocated amount or under issuance, a number will display in green; WIC WISE will allow under issuance but will require a comment. Additionally, USDA requires that the CPA verbally inform the participant that she/he will be under-issued. Some tailoring combinations will not evenly zero out and that is okay. An example comment might read “Ppt ok with slight under issuance d/t wants soy milk.” When tailoring, please note the following: Milk

Children 12 to 23 months of age receive whole milk. The only time they may receive 2% milk is when their weight for length is ≥ 97.7 percentile. In this case, click on the “Assign Therapeutic Formula/Foods” button, type “%” or “milk” in the field, click “Search” and select “Reduced Fat Milk 2%” from the list.

Children two to five years of age receive lower fat milk (1% or nonfat milk).

Participants can get more milk and no cheese and more milk and no yogurt, but not the other way around (refer to the Prescription Max column for each food item).

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Tofu

To substitute tofu for cheese, change the Quantity of cheese to zero. Select tofu from the Food Item Selected dropdown and enter the desired Quantity in 16 ounce increments. There are two rows for the Cheese or Tofu Food Category for when a participant wants both tofu and cheese. See Table 1 below for tofu substitutions.

Soy beverage

Children and Women may be issued soy beverage as a substitution for up to the maximum amount of fluid milk in their respective food packages.

Infant jarred fruits and vegetables

For mostly breastfed, some breastfed, and non-breastfed infants 9 – 11 months old, the Family Rep/Caregiver may request the $4 CVB instead of 16 containers (a portion of total 32 containers) of infant jarred fruits and vegetables.

For fully breastfeeding infants 9 – 11 months old, the Family Rep/Caregiver may request the $8 CVB instead of 32 containers (a portion of the total 64 containers) of infant jarred fruits and vegetables.

For children with a prescription and qualifying medical condition, the Family Rep/Caregiver may request 32 containers of infant jarred fruits and vegetables instead of the $9 CVB for that child. Enter zero in the quantity for “Fruits and Vegetables – Cash Value Benefit”. Then access the infant jarred fruits and vegetables for a child from the “Assign Therapeutic Formula/Foods” button. Type “%” in the field and click “Search” to select “Infant Fruits and Vegetables” from the list.

Formula

For infants with a prescription, increased formula may be provided if all baby foods are zeroed out.

Refer to the Prescription Max in the grid or the Formula Job Aid for the increased formula amounts

(equivalent to the amounts available to 4 – 5 month olds).

For food packages with formula, replace the Formula Placeholder by selecting the desired formula from the

dropdown list. Enter a quantity (note the Prescription Max will automatically display). The Prescription Max

for formula for the Mostly and Some Breastfeeding infant food packages varies based on the formula type.

Important: Even though the Prescription Max displays, the CPA must issue the minimum amount of

formula to meet the infant’s nutritional needs based on an infant feeding assessment.

For formula amounts, refer to the Prescription Max amount in the grid or refer to the Formula Job Aid on

the Local Agency SharePoint Site (LASS) under the Food Package Resources tile, then under Food Package

MIS Resources.

WIC WISE Amount of Powder Formula (for most formula types)*

Age Infant Breastfeeding Partially mostly (IBPm)

Infant Breastfeeding Partially some (IBPs)

Birth - 1 month (1st 30 days) 1 can 2-9 cans

1 - 3 months 1-4 cans 5-9 cans

4-5 months 1-5 cans 6-10 cans

6-11 months 1-4 cans 5-7 cans *Refer to Formula Job Aid for # of cans for each Formula type

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Therapeutic Formula

To select therapeutic formula, click on the “Assign Therapeutic Formula/Foods” button. Type “%” in the

field and click “Search” for the list of available options.

If the prescribed therapeutic formula is not on this list, it cannot be issued on the WIC Card and it must be ordered through CDPH/ WIC using the same process as is currently used for local agencies on WIC MIS. If the participant is receiving therapeutic formula from another provider, click on the “Assign Therapeutic Formula/Foods” button. Type “%” in the field and click “Search” and select “Specialty Formula Provided Thru a Non-WIC Program”.

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Table 1. Dairy/Tofu Food Group Substitution Conversion Chart

Substitution Food Item Equivalent to Milk

16 oz Cheese 0.75 Gal Milk*

32 oz Yogurt 0.25 Gal Milk*

0.25 Gal Soy* 0.25 Gal Milk*

16 oz Tofu** 0.25 Gal Milk*

5 (12 oz) Cans Evaporated Milk*** 1 Gal Milk

8 (12 oz) Cans Evaporated Milk*** 1.5 Gal Milk

2 (9.6 oz) Powdered Dry Milk or 19 oz 1.5 Gal Milk

25.6 oz Powdered Dry Milk or 26 oz 2 Gal Milk

*Soy beverage may be purchased in quarts. Fluid cow’s milk may only be purchased in gallon or half gallon containers. Milk in half gallon containers may only be purchased if it is in their benefit, if they are a homeless participant, or that is all the store has on the shelves. If a monthly benefit states 3.25 Gal Milk, for example, then WIC WISE will alternate, giving 3.5 Gal in month 1 and 3 Gal in month 2. WIC staff may tailor the Dairy/Tofu group so that 0.25 and 0.75 Gal are avoided if the participant does not want alternating amounts of cow’s milk. It is okay to issue a small number of evaporated milk cans to get as close as possible to an equal substitution; if just short of the maximum allowed, staff must inform the participant and enter a comment.

**Tofu substitutions for milk allowed per food package:

C1 and C2-3-4 may receive up to 2 – 16 oz containers of tofu

FNS IV, V, VI and VII for women may receive up to 4 – 16 oz containers of tofu

***Evaporated Milk actual equivalent amount is slightly less than listed in the table. The equivalents have been rounded up.

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Default Food Package Contents

1. INFANTS

a. Infant Breastfeeding Fully (IBF)

i. IBF, 0-5 Months, FNS I*

*Empty package and important for participation credit.

ii. IBF, 6-8 Months, FNS II A

iii. IBF, 9-11 Months, FNS II B

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b. Infant Breastfeeding Partially, mostly (IBPm)*

i. IBPm, 0 – 1 Month, FNS I

*Note: According to federal regulation, only 1 can of powdered formula may be issued in the first month after birth in the IBPm package. It is recommended that staff only issue one month of benefits and schedule a follow up appointment in one month to reassess breastfeeding status.

ii. IBPm, 1 – 3 Months, FNS I

iii. IBPm, 4 – 5 Months, FNS I

iv. IBPm, 6 – 8 Months, FNS II A

v. IBPm, 9 – 11 Months, FNS II B

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c. Infant Non-Breastfed (INB) or Infant Breastfed Partially, some (IBPs)*

i. INB or IBPs, 0-3 Months, FNS I

*Note: For the IBPs package for month 0-1, 2-9 cans may be issued. It is recommended that staff only issue one month of benefits and schedule a follow up appointment in one month to reassess breastfeeding status.

ii. INB or IBPs, 4 – 5 Months, FNS I

iii. INB or IBPs, 6 – 8 Months, FNS II A

iv. INB or IBPs, 9 – 11 Months, FNS II B

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2. CHILDREN a. C1, 12 – 23 Months, FNS IV

b. C2-3-4, 24 – 60 Months, FNS IV

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3. WOMEN

a. PG or BPm, FNS V

b. NB or BPs, FNS VI

c. BPs, > 6 Months, No Food*

*Empty package and important for participation credit.

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d. BF or PG Multiples, FNS VII

e. BF – 2 or more infants, PG + BF 2 or more infants, FNS VII x 1.5* *WIC WISE will automatically alternate the amounts of these foods from Month 1 to Month 2.

Month 1: Food Category Prescription Max Food item selected Quantity Physical Form

Cheese 32 Cheese 32 OZ

Tofu 16 Tofu 16 OZ

Eggs 3 Eggs 3 Doz

Breakfast Cereal 54 Breakfast cereal – whole and non-whole grain

54 OZ

Peanut Butter 2 Peanut butter 2 CTR

Legumes 2 Dry beans, peas or lentils

2 CTR

Fish 45 Canned fish 45 OZ

Whole Grains 32 Whole grains 32 OZ

Fruits & Vegetables CVB

16.5 Fruits & vegetables CVB 16.5 $$$

Yogurt 32 Yogurt 32 OZ

Milk 8.5 Nonfat or Lowfat 1% Milk

8.5 GAL

Juice 240 Juice 240 OZ

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Month 2: Food Category Prescription Max Food item selected Quantity Physical Form

Cheese 16 Cheese 16 OZ

Tofu 0 Tofu 0 OZ

Eggs 3 Eggs 3 Doz

Breakfast Cereal 54 Breakfast cereal – whole and non-whole grain

54 OZ

Peanut Butter 1 Peanut butter 1 CTR

Legumes 1 Dry beans, peas or lentils

1 CTR

Fish 45 Canned fish 45 OZ

Whole Grains 16 Whole grains 16 OZ

Fruits & Vegetables CVB

16.5 Fruits & vegetables CVB

16.5 $$$

Yogurt 32 Yogurt 32 OZ

Milk 8 Nonfat or Lowfat 1% Milk

8 GAL

Juice 192 Juice 192 OZ

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Homeless Food Package Contents

1. C1, Homeless, FNS IV H

2. C2-3-4, Homeless, FNS IV H

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3. PG or BPm, Homeless, FNS V H

4. NB or BPs, Homeless, FNS VI H

5. BF or PG Multiples, Homeless, FNS VII H

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6. BF – 2 or more infants, PG + BF 2 or more infants, Homeless, FNS VII x 1.5* *WIC WISE will automatically alternate the amounts of these foods from Month 1 to Month 2. See below.

Month 1:

Month 2:

Food Category Prescription Max (Units)

Food Items Selected Quantity Physical Form

Cheese 16.00 Cheese 16.00 OZ

Tofu 0.00 OZ

Breakfast Cereal - Whole and Non-Whole Grain

36.00 Breakfast Cereal - Whole and Non-Whole Grain

36.00 OZ

Legumes 1.00 Peanut Butter 1.00 CTR

Legumes 10.00 Canned Beans 10.00 CAN

Canned Fish 45.00 Canned Fish 45.00 OZ

Whole Grains 16.00 Whole Grains 16.00 OZ

Fruits and Vegetables - Cash Value Benefit

16.50 Fruits and Vegetables - Cash Value Benefit 16.50 $$$

Yogurt - Lowfat/Nonfat 32.00 Yogurt - Lowfat/Nonfat 32.00 OZ

Milk Fat Reduced 8.00 Nonfat and Lowfat 1% Milk 8.00 GAL

Milk Fat Reduced

Milk Fat Reduced

Juice - All Categories 192.00 Juice - All Categories 192 OZ