New Minnesota families outreach
As the state WIC office works to collaborate with community partners regarding new families coming to Minnesota, we wanted to share some reminders when working with new families. See the outreach communication below to go out to community partners. We will email WIC Coordinators specific details before the communication is sent.
Reminders for Local Agency staff:
- Applicants are expected to provide proof of ID, residence, and income. Staff should work with participants to find proofs that they can provide. Minnesota Operations Manual (MOM) Chapter 5 policies describe various options for proofs. IDs, visas, and other documentation from the participant’s country of origin are all acceptable for proof of ID.
- Do not document immigration status in the Information System.
- Personal documents should not be scanned into the Information System except in rare situations. See Section 1.18 Assuring Separation of Duties to Assure Program Integrity.
Communication to community partners:
The Minnesota Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) is a nutrition and breastfeeding program that helps eligible pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children up to age 5. WIC provides nutrition education, healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other services in the community. If you have new families coming to your area and need the support mentioned, use the following resources to help families connect with WIC.
Apply for WIC:
For more information:
Need Help? Contact your WIC Clinic or call 1-800-942-4030 to find a WIC Clinic near you.
New WIC outreach posters – ready to order from Brush Art
We have updated our Minnesota WIC outreach posters. They are similar in style and brand to our outreach brochures.
Poster details
- Size - 8 ½ X 11 with a slight heavy coating (not lamination).
- Added on WIC Materials – Brush Art.
- Available in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Karen.
- Each poster is two sided per language so you can flip them for variety as needed.
- WIC and Health Care Providers can find them WIC Outreach Materials Order Form.
You can visit our WIC Communications and Outreach webpage, under WIC outreach to find digital copies of both the outreach brochures and the outreach posters.
May local agency call minutes
Review the WIC Local Agency Conference Call (PDF) - May 15 minutes.
MN WIC recruitment news release
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) communications office distributed a news release May 21 highlighting the importance of the Minnesota WIC Program.
News Release: Minnesota families urged to join WIC to benefit from long-standing program offerings
This is part of the MDH communications efforts to proactively promote the important work being done across the state. There will be additional media promotion efforts later this year to focus on the 50th anniversary of WIC.
Please contact Megan Leonard, megan.leonard@state.mn.us, WIC communications coordinator for any media inquiry support.
New WIC Grocery Store Search webpage
The WIC Grocery Store Search page on the WIC website will be replaced with a new version of the grocery store list Thursday, May 22. It will be tableau based and can be viewable as a list or on a map when looking for WIC grocery stores. Navigate to the new page from the WIC Program home page and click WIC Grocery Store Search located below WIC Agency Directory.
Toxic Free Kids (TFK) Program
MDH is working to identify and communicate the potential for hazardous chemical exposures from consumer products that could be harmful to human health, particularly to sensitive populations such as pregnant people and children through the Toxic Free Kids (TFK) Program.
The TFK program began in 2009 after Minnesota passed legislation (Minnesota Statutes, sections 116.9401 to 116.9407) known as the Toxic Free Kids Act (Minnesota Statutes, 2021). The legislation directed MDH to create a Chemicals of High Concern list and a Priority Chemicals list. These lists focused on hazardous chemicals that could be found in consumer products with particular concern for hazardous chemicals found in children’s products.
TFK program responsibilities include:
- Identifying and communicating the potential for hazardous chemical exposure that could be harmful to human health, particularly children and pregnant people.
- Reviewing and updating the Chemicals of High Concern and Priority Chemical lists established by Minnesota statute.
- Nominating chemicals for development of health-based guidance values within other MDH programs.
Educational Material for the TKF program is available to access for free and you may sign-up for Toxic Free Kids email updates to keep informed of newly released materials and information.
Register now for the Level 4 Breastfeeding Curriculum in-person skills day
Join us in St. Cloud on August 15, for a full day of hands-on training!
- Date: Aug. 15
- Time: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Location: MDH St. Cloud Office 4140 Thielman Lane, Suite 101, St. Cloud, MN 56301
- Must complete a half day of online training on August 8.
- Registration and course information: mwrtrainings.com
Agenda is available on the WIC Lactation Continuing Education Page
Spaces are limited. Registration closes two weeks before the course date. Register early as courses are filling up.
Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
The Week Ahead
| Monday, May 27 |
Tuesday, May 28 |
Wednesday, May 29 |
Thursday, May 30 |
Friday, May 31 |
|
State Office Closed
|
|
WIC EC Regional Meeting 8:30-10:30 a.m.
WIC WC Regional Meeting 8:30-10:30 a.m.
|
WIC SW Regional Meeting (Contant consultant form time)
|
|
Check out upcoming trainings and meetings: Local Agency WIC Calendar
Find new job opportunities on the WIC Job Postings webpage. This week includes:
- Bloomington Public Health WIC Clerk/Interpreter-Spanish
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
|
