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This report analyzes the COVID-19 waiver process for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) state agencies during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to COVID-19, USDA authorized several waivers to provide necessary flexibilities for WIC to continue operations in a safe and socially distant manner. Though rapid flexibility and consistent communication were paramount to this success, WIC agencies and other stakeholders lacked a consolidated database to quickly understand which waivers were being approved or denied. To respond to this critical, time-sensitive need, CPH tracked all WIC waivers, including submitted, approved, and denied waivers, in an easily sortable tracker from March 20 to June 30, 2020.

COVID-19 WIC waivers provided critical flexibilities by allowing WIC to continue serving millions of women, infants, and children during a global pandemic while protecting staff and their families. Key themes from the CPH WIC Waiver Tracker emerged. More detail is given in the report on how to meet these recommendations:

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