WIC Information for Vendors: Department of Health

Vendor Unit:
DOH.WicVendorSupport@health.ri.gov
Michelle Freites 222-5939
Sherrie Blanchette 222-4630
Preet Kaur 222-4633
Stephanie Pontes 222-4637
Client Services:
Denise Tamburro 222-4642
Emma Reynoso 222-4623 (Spanish)
Breastfeeding Services: Erin Bertoldi 222-5919
Nuitrition Services: Sarah Marotto 222-4605

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WIC Information for WIC-Approved Vendors

WIC Vendors are an important part of the WIC Program, ensuring that participants buy WIC-approved foods.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) WIC Program has moved from a paper-based method of WIC benefits issuance (checks) to a plastic EBT card method known as eWIC. The Rhode Island WIC Program began the pilot for eWIC in January 2020 and went statewide in September 2020. Currently, all WIC transactions statewide are completed using eWIC cards.

Apply to be a WIC Vendor and/or Register for Vendor Training

Log into the Vendor Portal to apply to be a WIC vendor, register for training, submit price surveys, and more.

Please contact the Rhode Island WIC Vendor Unit at 401-222-4637, 401-222-5939, 401-222-4630, or 401-222-4633, or email us at DOH.WICVendorSupport@Health.ri.gov for more information.

What WIC Vendors Should Do

Explain that the WIC Program requires that only approved foods can be purchased.
Explain that the new eWIC system only permits purchases of WIC-approved items currently available to the participant.
Offer to help the shopper find approved foods.
If a food is not eWIC approved, but seems like it should be approved, submit a request to have the food item added to the Approved Product List using the WIC Vendor Product Approval Form or the WIC Shopper app.

Remain calm and explain the situation politely.
Contact the store manager for support.
Contact WIC Vendor Support and we will discuss the situation with the WIC participant.

Instruct them to call the phone number on the back of their card to update their PIN number

Allow the participant another brand at the approved price.

Contact WIC Vendor Support for assistance. (You may not change prices until approved by the WIC Program.)

If your store accepts these for other customers, you must also accept them for WIC participants.
WIC shoppers are entitled to any free promotions offered to other store customers (e.g., "buy one get one free").
Do not refund money back to shopper.

Key Publications

WIC Information for WIC-Approved Vendors

JIF Peanut Butter Recall Information

Abbott Recall Information

Apply to be a WIC Vendor and/or Register for Vendor Training

What WIC Vendors Should Do

Resources/Publications

Advisories, Alerts, Notices

Agreement

Brochures

Forms

Guidances, Recommendations

Instructions, Manuals, Procedures

Lists

Policy, Protocols, Requirements

Requirements