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Civil Rights Complaint - WIC Investigative Checklist

EO Guidance Document #
FNS-GD-2020-0142
Resource type
Training and Outreach
Guidance Documents

What is USDA-FNCS’s role in Civil Rights Investigations?

USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Service (FNCS) is responsible for ensuring compliance with civil rights laws and regulations in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from FNCS. This includes ensuring civil rights complaints are properly investigated and resolved.

What is this Document?

This document provides authorized state agencies with a basic checklist for conducting investigations into complaints of prohibited discrimination involving the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC), WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP), and the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (WIC SFMNP). It is intended only to provide a working tool for state agencies participating in these programs and authorized by FNCS to conduct first-line complaint processing.

This checklist is not intended as a substitute for state-level procedures, or an explanation of federal complaint processing requirements. For instance, it does not explain the requirement to submit decisions to FNCS for review and concurrence before issuing a final decision, processing timeframes, or the obligation to maintain an appropriate, confidential system for tracking civil rights complaints.

Where can I find Additional Information?

For additional information on a state agencies’ civil rights compliance and enforcement obligations, please see FNS Instruction 113-1, “Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement – Nutrition Programs and Activities”, or contact the FNCS Civil Rights Division.

Page updated: May 11, 2022

The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.