Citizen Potawatomi Nation WIC recently updated the computer system used to serve clients. The new program, Spirit, is a web based program and allows WIC counselors to see participant information and update participant benefits instantly.
“The new SPIRIT system allows us to see participants faster and provide better one on one nutrition education counseling,” said Shelley Schneider, WIC director. “We are also able to better serve our authorized vendors with the new SPIRIT system. With the old system, vendors would have to submit vouchers to our office for payment, which could take up to weeks to process a payment. With SPIRIT, vendors are able to deposit the WIC check just like a personal check, and thus vendors receive their payments faster.”
All WIC staff members attended week-long training and were trained in the areas of adding new participants, certifying of participants and creating food prescriptions for the participant. Federal law mandates that all WIC Programs are Electronic Benefit Transfer, ready by the year 2020.
“The new program means that we’re one step closer to being in compliance with the 2020 regulations,” added Schneider. “CPN WIC is part of the Oklahoma Indian Tribal Organization EBT consortium, which is in the process of submitting all the necessary documents to USDA Food and Nutrition Service to secure the funding to transfer to EBT.”
All women, who are either pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum, infants and children up to the age of five, are eligible to participant on WIC. All must meet the eligibility guidelines, which consist of income, categorically eligible and be at nutritional risk.
CPN has operated the WIC program for more than 34 years and currently serves a seven county area in central Oklahoma. The seven counties include Pottawatomie, Cleveland, Lincoln, Logan, Payne, Oklahoma, and Seminole counties. The monthly average service population includes 120 women, 309 infants, and 584 children.