Information Collection: WIC Nutrition Assessment and Tailoring Study-In-Person Data Collection

This collection is a revision of the currently approved collection for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Assessment and Tailoring Study (WIC NATS) [OMB Control Number 0584-0663]. The revision adds data collection from in-person site visits, where the data collection activities planned for the currently approved remote site visits will be replicated for use with 30 WIC clinic sites for in-person site visits once WIC clinic sites safely resume in-person operations.

Abstract: 

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and other social services to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk. As part of the certification and recertification process, WIC staff perform a comprehensive nutrition risk assessment with each participant to screen for certain nutrition risks and collect other relevant dietary and health information.

Based on the nutrition risk assessment, WIC staff can individualize the food package benefits, nutrition education, and referrals the participant receives to meet their unique nutritional needs. While guidelines for conducting a quality nutrition risk assessment are described in the Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) guidance, there is flexibility in how WIC staff conduct the nutrition risk assessment, and specifics of the process may vary by WIC state agency (SA) and by WIC local agency (LA).

Through this study, FNS seeks to better understand the nutrition services process as it transpires at WIC clinics, and WIC staff and participants' satisfaction with the process. The findings from this study will be used to develop guidance for WIC staff to enhance service delivery to improve program satisfaction, retention, and participant health and nutrition outcomes.