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WIC Operations Manual (WOM)

WIC Operations Manual (WOM) Definitions

USDA Definitions and Justifications

USDA Definitions and Justifications for WIC Risk Criteria

View Definitions

WIC Operations Manual (WOM) Definitions

Term	Definition
Abortion	Termination of pregnancy prior to the 20th week of gestation; described as spontaneous abortion (SAB) or a miscarriage or as an induced abortion (also called elective) or therapeutic.
Addition	An individual who has been certified eligible for the program and is being entered into the system, usually for the first time. An addition may also be done after a break in participation of two years or longer or for each subsequent pregnancy.
Administrative costs	Those direct and indirect costs, exclusive of food costs, as defined in CFR 246.14 (c) which the state and local agency determines to be necessary and allowable to support program operations. Not all administrative costs will be reimbursable due to limited funding. Also shown in text as program service costs.
Adolescent female	Refers to female greater than 10 years of age but less than 17 years of age.
Appellant	A participant, local agency or vendor who has requested a fair hearing or an administrative appeal from the State agency.
Applicants	Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants, and children who are applying to receive WIC benefits, and the breastfed infants of applicant breastfeeding women. Applicants include individuals who are currently participating in the program but are re-applying because their certification period is about to expire.
Application date	The date that a person visits a local agency to request program services, or the date a written request for services is made.
Assessment	The procedures to determine if a person is eligible for the WIC program.
Authorized supplemental foods	Those supplemental foods authorized by the State or local agency for issuance to a particular participant.
BF	symbol for breastfeeding woman.
B	Symbol for postpartum breastfeeding woman.
Bi-monthly	The process of participant(s) receiving services once every two months.
Birth	Complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of a fetus, irrespective of whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached.
Bloodwork date	The date the hemoglobin or hematocrit was taken if not done on the same day that the rest of the health assessment information was gathered.
Breastfeeding	The practice of feeding a mother's breast milk to her infant(s) on the average of at least once per day.
Breastfeeding woman	A woman or teenager fully or partially breastfeeding to any degree, up to one year postpartum. This includes women who have re-lactated or induced lactation.
Breastfeeding coordinator	Responsible for the development and implementation of all breastfeeding services provided to participants by the local WIC provider.
Breastfeeding peer counselor	A paraprofessional who is a peer from the community that gives basic breastfeeding information, support, and encouragement to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and serves as a role model for breastfeeding women.
Breastfeeding peer counselor coordinator	A professional, usually a nutritionist, dietitian, nurse, or lactation consultant, that manages the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program at the local level.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program	A statewide breastfeeding program offered through the local WIC provider to assist prenatal and breastfeeding mothers with basic education and support as well as assistance throughout the duration of breastfeeding.
Budget	A plan of financial operation with an itemized estimate of expected income and expenses for a given period in the future.
Can	Optional action.
Caregiver or caretaker	The individual who takes care of the needs of an infant or a child on a regular basis.
Categorical eligibility	Persons who meet the definitions of pregnant, breastfeeding or nonbreastfeeding woman, infant or child who has not yet reached his/her fifth birthday.
Cash value benefits (CVB)	Amount issued for fruits and vegetables.
Categorical ineligibility	Persons who do not meet the definitions of pregnant, breastfeeding or nonbreastfeeding woman, infant, or child.
Category	Either pregnant, breastfeeding or nonbreastfeeding woman, infant or child who has not yet reached his/her fifth birthday.
Certification	The implementation of criteria and procedures to assess and document each applicant's eligibility for the program.
Certification Date	The date that a local agency determines an individual is eligible for program benefits.
Certification Period	The length of time that an eligible individual is entitled to receive program benefits.
Child	A person who has had his/her first birthday but has not yet reached his/her fifth birthday.
Child abuse	Any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child's care, custody, and control except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse. A child, in this instance, is defined as any person, regardless of physical or mental condition, less than eighteen years of age.
Client	See participant.
Clinic	A facility where applicants are certified and/or receive program benefits.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)	Federal regulations written to carry out the purpose of a law as enacted by Congress.
Competent professional authority (CPA)	An individual authorized to determine nutritional risk and prescribe supplemental foods. Included are physicians, nutritionists (see definition of nutritionist), registered dietitians, dietetic technicians (registered or eligible for registration through The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); a dietetic technician must work under the direct supervision of an RD), and registered nurses. Also shown in text as health professional.
Compliance buy	A covert, on-site investigation in which a representative of the Program poses as a participant, parent or caretaker of an infant or child participant, or proxy, transacts one or more food instruments, and does not reveal during the visit that he or she is a program representative.
Complementary feeding	Complementary feeding is the gradual addition of foods and beverages to the diet of the infant and young child.
Contract services	A line item on the "WIC Invoice" used to report fees paid from a local WIC agency to another agency to provide services or deliverables. Often used to pay a third party that provides certification of eligibility for the local agency. Also used to pay a third party that provides vendor services.
Current income	Income received by the family in the month prior to application.
Cycle code	The code determines a monthly participant (1), a bi-monthly participant (2), or a tri-monthly participant (3).
Days	Calendar days.
Department or DHSS	The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Department client number (DCN)	A unique number, which identifies an individual in the Missouri State database.
Dietetic technician	An individual who is registered or eligible for registration through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Must work under the direct supervision of an RD.
Dietitian	see Registered Dietitian.
Direct service costs	Those costs incurred because of some identifiable action related to serving WIC participants. These include both clinic and non-clinic time spent with participants, time spent on vendor-related issues and the overall program, as well as other allowable items that can be directly related to WIC participant service.
Disqualification	The act of ending the program participation of a participant, authorized vendor, or authorized local agency, whether as a punitive sanction or for administrative reasons.
District Nutritionist	State agency nutritionist that is located in a district health office.
District WIC Technical Assistance Team	A technical assistance team composed of a State agency nutritionist and health program representative located in a district health office.
District Health Program Representative	State agency health program representative located in a district health office.
Documentation	The presentation of written documents, which substantiate statements made by an applicant or participant or a person applying on behalf of an applicant.
Drug	A beverage containing alcohol; a controlled substance; a controlled substance analogue.
Dual participation	Simultaneous participation in the program in more than one WIC clinic. Receiving program benefits from two or more local WIC agencies within the same clinic cycle.
Economic unit	A person or group of persons, related or not, who usually live together and who share income and consume goods in common.
EDC	Estimated date of confinement.
Electronic benefit transfer (EBT)	A food delivery system that provides benefits using a card that permits electronic access to WIC Program benefits.
Educational buy	A vendor monitoring and training technique in which the monitor or trainer identifies herself/himself, uses one or more WIC food instruments to purchase foods, and discusses the process with the store personnel immediately after.
Eligibility date	The date the applicant is told they are (or are not) eligible to receive WIC benefits as determined by income and health assessment outcomes.
Equipment	Any non-expendable item purchased by a local agency that costs $500 or more and has a useable life of two years or more.
Exclusive breastfeeding	Defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an infant's consumption of only breastmilk with no supplementation of any type (including infant formula, cow's milk, juice, infant food and water) except for vitamins, minerals, and medications.
Exempt infant formula	An infant formula that is intended and labeled for use by infants who have inborn errors of metabolism or low birth weight, or who otherwise have unusual medical or dietary problems [the definition of exempt infant formula in Section 412(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 USC 350a(h)]; formerly known as "special formula".
Fair hearing	The process followed when an appeal of a state or local agency decision is requested.
Family	A group of individuals, related or not, living together as one economic unit (but not residents of an institution). For adjunct income eligibility only-all persons living together.
Fetal death	When none of the signs indicated in the "live birth" definition is present at or after birth.
Food and Formula Reference Guide (FFRG)	A reference guide for issuing formula and supplemental food.
FIPS code	Three-digit code that corresponds with the county where the participant lives.
Fiscal Year	For WIC, a period of twelve calendar months beginning October 1 of any year and ending September 30 of the following year.
Family Nutrition Education Program Educator (FNEP)	A Paraprofessional Nutrition Educator, also referred to as Nutrition Program Associate (NPA) in the University of Missouri Extension EFNEP and Food and Nutrition Program (FNP) programs, whose job is to teach basic nutrition, food safety and physical activity concepts in group settings only to low-income Missourians.
FNS	Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Services Instructions (FNS Instr.)	Federal policy statements issued by FNS in memorandum form and sent to the state agency.
Food costs	The costs of purchasing supplemental food through the use of the WIC food instrument.
Food instrument	A voucher, check, electronic benefits transfer card (EBT), coupon or other document which is used to obtain supplemental foods.
Food instrument reconciliation	The process of matching the status of a food instrument from the State agency to the final status of it as reported by the local agency or submitted by the vendor for redemption. A one to one match of food instruments. Also shown in text as reconciliation.
Formula trial	The use of more than one formula with adverse reactions as indicated by a physician.
Fully breastfeeding	Infant consumes only breastmilk with the addition of complimentary foods and liquids, but does not consume any infant formula.
Gravidity	The total number of times a person has been pregnant (including present pregnancy if pregnant) regardless of the pregnancy outcome.
Gross income	Income received before any deductions are made for income taxes, social security taxes, insurance, bonds, retirement, garnishments, etc.
Guardian	The adult responsible for an infant or child participant. See Head of Household.
HANDS	Health Agency Network Data System.
Head of household	The adult participant or the non-participating parent or guardian of an infant or child on the program.
Health assessment date	The date that the data used to determine medical and nutritional eligibility of an applicant was gathered.
Health care professional	A trained local agency staff which can be either a health professional assistant (HPA), WIC certifier or competent professional authority (CPA) who is involved in obtaining the health and/or nutrition assessment for the purpose of certifying WIC applicants or participants.
Health professional	See Competent Professional Authority.
Health professional assistant (HPA)	An individual who is trained to assist the competent professional authority or WIC certifier by performing specific functions or duties.
Health services	On-going, routine pediatric and obstetric care (such as infant, child, prenatal and postpartum care) or referral for treatment.
HHS	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HNAH	Health and Nutrition Assessment Handbook.
High-risk nutrition care plan	A plan of action for monitoring and/or improving the health and nutritional status of a high-risk participant.
High-risk participant	A participant who has one or more of the high-risk risk factors assigned to him/her during the certification process.
High-risk retailer	A retailer identified as having a high probability of committing a retailer violation through application of the criteria established in CFR 246.12(j)(3) and any additional criteria established by the state agency.
Homeless facility	The following types of facilities which provide meal service. A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter (including a welfare hotel or congregate shelter) designed to provide temporary living accommodations; a facility that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or a public or private place not designed for, or normally used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Homeless individual	A woman, infant or child who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter (including a welfare hotel, a congregate shelter, or a shelter for victims of domestic violence) designated to provide temporary living accommodation.
Income	Gross cash received before deductions for income taxes, employee social security taxes, insurance, premiums, bonds, etc.
Income assessment date	The date when the applicant or participant was determined to be income eligible for the program.
Income guidelines	The current poverty income guidelines prescribed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Indirect costs	Costs incurred to make an activity possible, but not incurred only for the single activity. Indirect costs is a rate of reimbursement established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for certain organizations.
Infant	A person under 1 year of age.
Infant formula	A food which is intended to be for special dietary use solely as a food for infants by reason of its simulation of human milk or its suitability as a complete or partial substitute for human milk [the definition of an infant formula in Section 201(z) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [21 USC 321(z)].
Infant quality check (follow-up visit)	The process of assessing an infant's growth at or after six months of age.
Institutionalized person	A person who resides in an institution. Considered homeless for purposes of receiving WIC program benefits.
Institutions	Any residential accommodation which provides meal services except private residences and homeless facilities.
Inventory audit	The examination of food invoices or other proofs of purchase to determine whether a vendor has purchased sufficient quantities of supplemental foods to provide participants the quantities specified on the food instruments redeemed by the vendor during a given period of time.
Issued	The first date that a policy or procedure was in effect.
ITSD	Information Technology Services Division.
Live birth	Whenever the infant at or after birth breathes spontaneously or shows any other signs of life such as heart beat or definite spontaneous movement of voluntary muscles.
Local agency (LA)	A contracted public or private, nonprofit health or human service agency in Missouri which provides WIC services to eligible participants in accordance with CFR 246.5.
Local election authority	Offices of county clerks/election officials in each county, Kansas City and City of St. Louis that process completed voter registration applications.
Main food instrument	The first food instrument of a full set or the #1 food instrument.
Mandatory disqualification	Engaging in activities that result in termination from the program.
May	Optional action.
Medicaid/MC+	See Mo HealthNet.
Medical data date	See health assessment date.
MICR	Magnetic Ink Character Recognition.
MICR line	The information encoded on the bottom of a check, by the check printer, and further by the bank of first deposit, to create identification and payment information needed to process through the banking system under Federal Reserve Bank regulations.
Migrant	An individual whose principal employment is in agriculture on a seasonal basis, who has been so employed within the last 24 months, and who has established a temporary place to live in order to be near to the area where he/she is employed.
Miscarriage	A spontaneous abortion.
Mo HealthNet (formerly Medicaid)	Health care program administered through DFS. Abbreviated as MOHN.
MOWINS	Missouri WIC Information Network Systems.
Must	Mandatory action.
N	Symbol for postpartum non-breastfeeding woman and teenagers.
Neonatal death	Early neonatal death refers to the death of a live-born infant during the first 7 days of life. Late neonatal death refers to death after 7 but before 29 days of life.
Net income	Gross receipts less operating (business) expenses but not personal or family expenses.
No-show rate	The number of persons eligible for food instruments for the month, but failed to pick-up food instruments, expressed as a ratio or percent.
Non-breastfeeding woman (N)	A woman who is not breastfeeding, but who is eligible for services up to six months after the termination of pregnancy.
Non-contract brand formula	All formulas, including exempt formulas and low-iron formulas that are not covered by the infant formula cost containment contract awarded by the Department.
Non-participating head of household	A parent or guardian of a participating infant or child when the parent or guardian does not receive program benefits.
Nonfat dry milk	A wholesome dairy product made from fresh milk and only the cream and water are removed. It is reconstituted in water. Nonfat dry milk still contains calcium and other minerals, vitamins, natural sugar and high quality protein that are in liquid milk.
Nonprofit agency	A private agency which is exempt from income tax under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
NTM	Nutrition Training Manual.
Nutrition education	An individual or group education session which provides information and educational materials designed to improve health status, achieve positive change in dietary and physical activity habits, and emphasize relationships between nutrition, physical activity, and health, all in keeping with the individual's personal and cultural preferences.
Nutrition educator	An individual other than the nutritionist who is authorized to provide nutrition education. Included are individuals who have: graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree in Home Economics, Dietetics, or closely related field including or supplemented by at least 12 hours of human nutrition and foods; an associate degree (two years) in an approved dietetic technician program that includes course work to meet The American Dietetic Association Standards of Education and Supervised Practice Requirements for dietetic technicians.
Nutritional risk	Detrimental or abnormal nutritional conditions detectable by biochemical or anthropometric measurements; (b) other documented nutritionally related medical conditions; (c) dietary deficiencies that impair or endanger health; (d) conditions that predispose persons to inadequate nutritional patterns or nutritionally related medical conditions.
Nutritionist	An individual with at least 15 hours of foods and nutrition including at least one course in diet therapy and one course in community nutrition, plus one of the following four-year degrees: B.S., B.A., or M.S. in Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, Home Economics or other closely related field; or an individual who has completed an undergraduate curriculum accredited or approved by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (registration or current eligibility for registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)).
Other harmful substances	Other substances such as tobacco, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications that can be harmful to the health of the WIC population, especially the pregnant woman and her fetus.
Out-of-state eligible	An individual with an unexpired verification of certification from another state who shall be served when the local agency of new residence has an opening available, regardless of risk, priority or sub-priority.
Outreach	A campaign, either on-going or for a set period of time, to increase participation and/or program awareness or to improve the image of the program.
P	Symbol for prenatal woman.
Pamphlet	Any written nutrition education information given to a participant or caretaker of a participant.
Paraprofessional	Same as HPA (Health Professional Assistant), FNEP Educator, or WIC Certifier.
Participant	Pregnant, breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding woman, infant or child who is receiving program benefits. Most, but not all, receive supplemental foods or food instruments under the program. Also shown in text as client, recipient or patient.
Participant suspension	Denial or withholding of a food package for one or more months.
Participation	The number of persons who have received food instruments or supplemental foods during the reporting period plus the number of partial breastfeeding women and fully breastfed infants participating but not receiving food instruments or supplemental foods.
Postpartum	Occurring in the period after childbirth. May be either breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding.
Pregnant woman	A woman determined to have one or more fetuses in utero. Also shown in text as prenatal.
Premature	An infant born less than or equal to 37 weeks of gestation. Also shown in text as preterm.
Prenatal	See pregnant woman.
Preterm	See premature.
Price adjustment	An adjustment made by the State agency, in accordance with the vendor agreement, to the purchase price on a food instrument after it has been submitted by a vendor for redemption to ensure that the payment to the vendor for the food instrument complies with the State agency's price limitations.
Primary contract infant formula	The specific infant formula for which manufacturers submit a bid to the State agency in response to a rebate solicitation under Section 203(a)(3) of the Reauthorization Act amending Section 17(b) of the CNA and for which a contract is awarded by the State agency as a result of that bid.
Priority	The number assigned to a participant based on category and risk factor(s). Determines who is served when funding is limited.
Priority system	A system in which participant categories and risk factors are divided into groups to assure that those at the greatest nutritional risk continue to receive services when funding is limited.
Program	The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), authorized by 42 USC 1786, Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 7 CFR 246 as amended.
Program benefits	Food instruments or supplemental foods, CVB, nutrition and breastfeeding education and referrals received as part of program eligibility.
Program violation	Any intentional act of a participant, authorized representative or proxy that violates federal or state statutes, regulations, rules, policies or procedures governing the WIC program.
Prorated food package	Part of the normal monthly food package for a participant. Calculated number of days between the actual first date to use and last date to use for the current set of checks. Issuance of certain foods on a one-fourth, one-half or three-fourths basis.
Proxy	Any person designated by a woman participant, or by a parent or caretaker of an infant or child participant to obtain and transact food instruments and cash value benefit/voucher or to obtain supplemental foods on behalf of a participant. The proxy must be designated consistent with the State agency's procedures established pursuant to CFR 246.12(r)(l). Parents or caretakers applying on behalf of child and infant participants are not proxies.
Recertification	The process of determining if a participant continues to meet eligibility requirements for the program at the end of a certification period.
Recertification date	The date when a participant will be reassessed again to determine if eligibility for program benefits will continue.
Recipient	See Participant.
Reconciliation	See Food Instrument Reconciliation.
Re-enrollment	See Recertification.
Referral	Any verbal or written instruction for a specific service outside of WIC needed by the individual participant.
Registered Dietitian "Registered Dietitian/Licensed Dietitian"	A person who: (a) Has completed a minimum of a baccalaureate degree granted by a United States regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent; (b) Completed the academic requirements of a didactic program in dietetics, as approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND); (c) Successfully completed the registration examination for dietitians; and (d) Accrued seventy-five hours of approved continuing professional units every five years, as determined by the committee on dietetic registration; and, is licensed in the state of Missouri to engage in the practice of dietetics or medical nutrition therapy.
Registered Dietetic Technician	Has successfully completed the course work requirements from an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)approved dietetic technician program and have successfully completed the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam; and has completed a minimum of 450 supervised practice hours through a Dietetic Technician Program as accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and complied with the Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) recertification requirements for DTR.
Retailer	A sole proprietorship, partnership, cooperative association, corporation or other business entity operating one or more stores authorized by the state agency to provide authorized supplemental foods to participants under a retail food delivery system. Each store operated by a business entity constitutes a separate vendor and must be authorized separately from other stores operated by the business entity. Each store must have a single, fixed location, except when the authorization of mobile stores is necessary to meet the special needs described in the state agency's state plan in accordance with CFR 246.4(a)(14)(xiv).
Retailer abuse	Improper redemption of food instruments, program fraud, misrepresentation, etc.
Retailer authorization	The process by which the State agency assesses, selects and enters into agreements with stores that apply or subsequently re-apply to be authorized as vendors.
Retailer limiting criteria	Criteria established by the State agency to determine the maximum number and distribution of vendors it authorizes pursuant to CFR 246.12(g)(2).
Retailer overcharge	Intentionally or unintentionally charging the State agency more for authorized supplemental foods than is permitted under the vendor agreement. It is not a vendor overcharge when a vendor submits a food instrument for redemption and the State agency makes a price adjustment to the food instrument.
Retailer selection criteria	The criteria established by the State agency to select individual vendors for authorization consistent with the requirements in CFR 246.12.
Retailer suspension	An interruption of the contract, denying the opportunity to redeem food instruments for a specified length of time.
Retailer violation	Any intentional or unintentional action of a vendor's current owners, officers, managers, agents, or employees (with or without the knowledge of management) that violates the vendor agreement or Federal or State statutes, regulations, policies, or procedures governing the Program.
Revised	The most recent date a change was made in a policy or procedure.
Risk factor	A statement describing a nutritional or medical condition, which causes a person to be at nutritional risk. Also called risk criteria. Also used when referring to the specific risk factor number assigned to the risk factor statement.
Routine monitoring	Overt, on-site monitoring during which program representatives identify themselves to vendor personnel.
Sanction	Adverse action taken against a participant or a vendor. Can include suspension, warning, probation or other appropriate action.
Screening	The process through which a person is determined to be eligible or ineligible for WIC; financial and health information are assessed. See Assessment.
Self-employed	A person who is in business for him/herself.
Shall	Mandatory action.
Should	Strongly recommended action.
SNAP	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - formerly the Food Stamps Program.
SOAP	Subjective data, objective data, assessment and plan. A format used for patient/WIC high risk participant charting.
Special formula	Any exempt infant formula or medical food designed for special medical conditions.
Staff	Any person (paid or volunteer) assisting in the state WIC office and the local agency WIC program.
State	State of Missouri.
State agency	Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services.
WIC state agency	Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Community and Public Health, Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services.
State plan	A plan of Program operation and administration that describes the manner in which the State agency intends to implement and operate all aspects of Program administration within its jurisdiction in accordance with Sec. 246.4.
Sub-priority	A division of a priority which further considers participant category, age and/or nutritional risk to assure that those at higher nutritional risk continue to receive services when funding is limited.
Supplemental foods	Those foods containing nutrients determined to be beneficial for pregnant women, postpartum breastfeeding women, postpartum non-breastfeeding women, infants and children, and foods that promote the health of the population served by the WIC program as indicated by relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns, as prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), in CFR 246.10.
Tailor	The procedure a local agency CPA follows when changing the default food package for a participant, either by type, form or quantity of food in accordance with established policy.
Teenager (teen)	A woman who conceived at 17 years of age or younger.
Temporary Assistance (TA)	Formerly Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Termination of pregnancy	Delivery of an infant, miscarriage, or therapeutic abortion.
Treatment	Medical or dietary intervention to improve a health condition.
Tri-monthly	The process of a participant receiving services once every three months.
USDA	United States Department of Agriculture.
VENA (Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment)	An initiative developed jointly by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and the National WIC Association (NWA), to improve nutrition services in the WIC Program by establishing standards for the assessment process used to determine WIC eligibility and to personalize nutrition education, referrals, and food package tailoring.
Verification of certification (VOC)	Proof of certification from any local WIC agency in Missouri or another state. Must include participant vital statistics, risks and date of next recertification to be valid.
Waiting list	The applicants who have requested program benefits but cannot be served within normal timeframes because the local agency caseload has reached or exceeded contracted levels.
WIC	The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children authorized by 42 USC 1786, Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 7 CFR 246 as amended.
WIC certifier	A paraprofessional who is trained to certify participants for eligibility into the WIC Program, including assignment of risk factor(s), provide initial nutrition education, and prescribe default food packages. A WIC certifier may have formal education, but must have a high school degree or a GED and have successfully completed the state required training.
WIC conference	A statewide training event which provides education on a wide variety of topics pertinent to the Missouri WIC Program.
WIC-eligible medical foods	Certain enteral products that are specifically formulated to provide nutritional support for individuals with a diagnosed medical condition, when the use of conventional foods is precluded, restricted or inadequate. Such WIC-eligible medical foods may be nutritionally complete or incomplete, but they must serve the purpose of a food, i.e, provide a source of calories and one or more nutrients, and be designed for enteral digestion via an oral or tube feeding.
Will	Mandatory action.