USDA secretary visits St. Paul - Ramsey County WIC clinic
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited a St. Paul – Ramsey County WIC clinic Feb. 1, to discuss the importance of the Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (MN WIC) with state and local leaders and families.
"Tremendous work being done here," Secretary Vilsack said after he toured the clinic and heard from staff and families.
MN WIC, and WIC programs nationwide, are operating on a temporary federal budget. Secretary Vilsack is urging Congress to provide full funding for WIC, because the current funding levels will not cover all eligible participants.
St. Paul – Ramsey County staff worked hard to make this visit possible. You can watch the entire press conference with Secretary Vilsack at the Ramsey County WIC clinic on YouTube.
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January Advisory Group meeting notes
Review the January 22, 2024, Advisory Group Meeting for agenda notes. Reach out to your Advisory Group Representative if you have any questions.
Storage cabinet available
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Ramsey County WIC has a wardrobe storage cabinet available.
Dimensions:
- 23.5" deep
- 23.5” wide
- 66” high
Interested agencies can reach out to Valeesha Halmon at valeesha.halmon@co.ramsey.mn.us by February 26.
Agencies will need to plan to pick-up of the wardrobe storage cabinet.
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TodaysBaby programs and research studies support breastfeeding and safe infant sleep
Minnesota WIC will be partnering with researchers at Boston University, The University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis, to provide pregnant participants with the opportunity to participate in the TodaysBaby Programs and Research Studies.
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- Participants are eligible if they are 18 years of age or older and less than 32 weeks pregnant at time of enrollment.
- English and Spanish speaking participants will be able to learn more about the TodaysBaby opportunity and sign-up to participate via a link on WIC Breastfeeding Resources.
- App messages will be sent later in February.
TodaysBaby are free video-based education programs delivered through text message and private Facebook groups. The programs are aimed at promoting adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for breastfeeding and safe infant sleep. The programs have been developed specifically for pregnant WIC participants with input from WIC families and staff and are designed to augment the education that clients receive at their local WIC programs.
TodaysBaby Programs includes:
- Free infant care educational videos and text messages throughout pregnancy and until participant’s baby is 6 months old.
- Participants who sign up for TodaysBaby will be asked to complete surveys at various times throughout the program, as well as answer questions over text messages about their baby care plans and practices.
- Participants will be compensated for their time and will receive up to $50 in electronic gift cards for their participation.
- Participants will also be eligible to participate in a monthly lottery for a $100 gift card throughout their participation.
If you are interested in learning more about the TodaysBaby programs and research study and/or would like TodaysBaby flyers and posters for your office, please contact Fiona Rice, study coordinator at Boston University, by phone 617-206-6149 or by email at fionar@bu.edu.
Information will be posted on the WIC Breastfeeding Resources page.
Gluten-free diets: topic of the month
Gluten is a protein composite found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye. It can also be found in some other lesser-known grains and may be added to many processed foods. Learn more about gluten-free diets and gluten concerns in Gluten-Free Diets: Topic of the Month.
We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Since the opening of the first clinic in 1974, WIC has been committed to improving maternal and child outcomes.
The February WIC 50th Anniversary Partner toolkit is ready and includes a video on Why WIC Matters, social media graphics, and sample social media post language.
Check out the Celebrating 50 years of WIC webpage for additional resources.
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Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
Save the date: 2024 National Maternal Nutrition Intensive Course
The 2024 National Maternal Nutrition Intensive Course is July 30-July 31. Registration will begin in May. The course will continue to have the live virtual option, as well as an online, self-paced option.
This continuing education program focuses on the improvement of maternal and infant health through the delivery of risk-appropriate high-quality nutrition services. The program is designed for dietitians, nutritionists, certified nurse midwives, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, physicians and public health professionals who serve preconceptual, pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, children and families.
For questions contact: School of Public Health Continuing Education cpheo@umn.edu
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.
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