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Updated Nondiscrimination Statement for WIC State Agencies

EO Guidance Document #
FNS-GD-2015-0051
FNS Document #
2016-2
Resource type
Policy Memos
Guidance Documents
DATE: October 26, 2015
SUBJECT: WIC Program Policy Memorandum #2016-2 Updated Nondiscrimination Statement for WIC Materials
TO: Regional Directors
Special Nutrition Programs
All Regions
WIC State Agency Directors
All Regions

This policy memorandum transmits changes from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights regarding the appropriate nondiscrimination statement to use on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) materials. This policy memorandum supersedes Civil Rights Memorandum, USDA Nondiscrimination Statement Update, dated, May 24, 2013, and the last issued WIC Policy Memorandum 2010-7 dated April 15, 2010.

Per WIC Regulations §248.6 (a), the state agency shall comply with the requirements of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Department of Agriculture regulations on nondiscrimination (7 CFR parts 15, 15a and 15b), and FNS instructions to ensure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under the Program.  Compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and regulations and instructions issued thereunder shall include, but not be limited to: notification to the public of the nondiscrimination policy and complaint rights of participants and potentially eligible persons.

WIC state agencies are required to update WIC related materials by the dates indicated in the attached memo. 

State agencies with questions regarding the attached memo should contact their respective regional Civil Rights director.

DEBRA R. WHITFORD
Director
Supplemental Food Programs Division

Page updated: December 09, 2021

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.