Risk Factor Updates
The following risk factors have been updated:
-
WIC 211 Elevated Blood Lead Levels- The blood lead level cut-off value for children has decreased. HuBERT will continue to assign the risk factor for all categories of participants with a recorded Blood Lead Level of > 5 µg/deciliter within the past 12 months. NOTE: CPA must manually assign this risk factor for children with a recorded Blood Lead Level of 3.5-4.9 µg/deciliter within the past 12 months.
-
WIC 361 Mental Illnesses - The risk factor has been expanded to include more mental illnesses and can now be assigned to children; it was formally called Maternal Depression.
-
WIC 371 Nicotine and Tobacco Use – The risk factor has been expanded to include the use of any product that contains nicotine and/or tobacco. NOTE: CPA must manually assign this risk factor for nicotine and/or tobacco use other than cigarettes.
-
WIC 201, 358, and 360 have also been updated.
Please refer to Nutrition Risk Factor Updates for a more complete summary.
With the updates to these Risk Factors, MN Operations Manual (MOM) Exhibit 5-T: MN WIC Risk Criteria, Exhibit 5-V: Nutrition Risk and Priority Assignment Table, and Exhibit 6-A: High Risk and Medical Referral Criteria have also been updated.
Formula Substitutions Ending - App Notification
All formula substitutions, including medical formula, end this month. August 27 is the last day for participants to use their WIC benefits for any substitute formulas.
We will send the following My MN WIC App notification to participants Saturday, Aug. 19:
Subject: Formula Substitutions End
Message: IMPORTANT! Aug. 27 is the last day to use your WIC benefits for any substitute formulas. After that, you will need to purchase the formula and can size listed on your benefits. This includes medical formula.
Link: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/formulachange.html
We are working to update website content to reflect the changes and will share more ahead of August 27.
Updated Outreach Brochures Available to Order
The You & Your Child Brochures will be replaced with a new and updated outreach brochure titled MN WIC Works. They can be ordered through Brush Art (Materials) immediately.
 |
|
Main Changes:
- Updated brochure aligns with the style and colors of the Nutrition Education Cards.
- Updated content and photos.
- QR codes on front cover for WIC application and income QR code inside brochure. This eliminates the need to recycle and reprint brochures each year when income guidelines change.
- Each brochure is printed with English on one side and then either Spanish, Somali, Hmong, or Karen on the other.
- Ordering through Brush Art just like Nutrition Education Cards. You will find a new quick link titled outreach.
- We plan to put digital versions on our website.
|
Save the Date! MN WIC 2024 Training Conference
 Step into the Future of WIC Thursday, September 26, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington-Minneapolis South 7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55439
We are excited to announce our 2024 state WIC conference. This will be a one-day, fully in-person event. We have already started planning to bring you a day full of exciting speakers. We hope to see you all there!
WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum Level 4 DBE training– Register now!
The final live Breastfeeding Curriculum training is coming up in September. Level 4 is required for Designated Breastfeeding Experts, and anyone interested in advanced lactation concepts.
Join us for 3 half-day sessions Tuesday, September 12; Thursday, September 14; and Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. each day.
WIC staff must complete levels 1-3 before the level 4 training:
Find more information refer to: WIC Lactation Continuing Education.
Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition (MBC) Annual Conference
Registration is now open for MBC’s Annual Conference. Join fellow lactation supporters for a 2-day in-person conference on October 12-13, 2023, in St. Cloud, MN. Learn more about Hot Topics in Lactation featuring keynote presentations by Nekisha Killings, MPH, IBCLC, Dr. Jenny Thomas, MD, MPH, IBCLC, and Dr. Anne Eglash, MD, IBCLC.
Coffective Highlight: Nourishing Newborns in Nicollet County
Nicollet County WIC developed and hosted their first Nourishing Newborns support group in August. Somali and Spanish speaking CHW's and WIC facilitate the group to increase equitable access to care. Funds were used to purchase supplies to give to attendees, promotional postcards for outreach, banners, flyers, and logo creation to encourage participation.
 |
|
Learn more about this project and many others at the Coffective Community Collaborative Sharing Call September 14.
During this call, five local WIC agencies will share the projects they have been working on to increase lactation support and access to services in their communities.
All Minnesota WIC agencies and staff are invited to attend. The call is a great opportunity to learn from others across your state, share resources, and maybe be inspired to start your own projects! There will be an opportunity for Q&A during the call.
|
Register for the Zoom call using this link MN WIC Sharing Call: Coffective Community Partnership Collaborative Initiative. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Make sure to save the information in your calendar.
Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar: Human Milk and Cannabis Series: Support Not Stigma: Supporting Families who have Relationship to Cannabis
Register for the August 15, 2023, Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar "Human Milk and Cannabis Series: Support Not Stigma: Supporting Families who have Relationship to Cannabis” presented by Raeanne Madison, MPH. Registration opens at 8:00 am EST (7:00 am CT) to watch whenever and wherever. This webinar is approved for continuing education credits.
Topic of the Month Update
The Electronic Cigarettes & Vaping Topic of the Month has been updated to include new information and resources. Check out this and other Topic of the Month articles on our WIC Local Agencies home page under the Nutrition heading. Have a suggestion for a topic? Email Carole.Kelnhofer@state.mn.us
The Week Ahead
Check out upcoming trainings and meetings: Local Agency WIC Calendar
Find new job opportunities on the WIC Job Postings webpage.
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
|
