Minnesota Health Equity Networks
The Minnesota Health Equity Networks work to connect, strengthen, and amplify health equity efforts and community issues using a regional and relational approach. The networks are a community of support for local public health, tribal public health, and community organizations to address long-standing health equity issues.
Visit their website to learn more about their core functions, regional gatherings, and resources.
Topic of the Month – added sugar
Sugar is a part of our daily diet. Whether naturally occurring or added, many experts believe we consume too much added sugar, and it is putting our health at risk. A diet high in added sugar is associated with high weight gain, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and tooth decay. This month read Added Sugar, Topic of the Month (PDF) to learn about the recommendations, how to find hidden sugar, and how to offer tips when working with families.
Hemoglobin schedule and coverage FAQs
The WIC ARPA waivers provide increased flexibility for using hemoglobin measurements from the health care provider in place of screening at the WIC clinic. With these flexibilities comes questions about the timing of hemoglobin testing by health care providers and medical coverage of those tests. Refer to Hemoglobin Schedule and Coverage FAQs (PDF) to help provide clarification on hemoglobin testing schedules and medical coverage. MDH WIC will be sharing information from this memo with health care providers in the coming weeks.
Cannabis educational resources
The Minnesota Department of Health will be developing information campaigns related to the risks of Cannabis use for youth, during pregnancy, and during lactation. MDH WIC will develop educational tools for WIC participants to coordinate with these informational campaigns. We anticipate a new Cannabis nutrition education card will be available later 2024. In the interim, local WIC agency staff are encouraged to use the resources found on the MDH website Cannabis and Your Health. And from Dakota County, the printable handout Facts about Marijuana and THC Products addresses risk during pregnancy and lactation and promotes child safety.
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 June toolkit has not yet been released, NWA will share content on their website when it is available, and we'll share an update next week.
Check out the WIC 50th Anniversary webpage for additional resources.
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Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM): A Nutritional Update from the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies Webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 26: 12 – 1 pm
Description: This webinar will be about the nutritional value of human milk in general and about the nutritional content of PDHM in particular. Milk banks are now providing labels showing more detail about the various milks they produce.
Presenters:
- Linda Dech, MPH, IBCLC - Executive Director, Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies
- Nancy Fahim, MD, IBCLC - Medical Director, Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies, Assistant Professor, Division of Neonatology and Faculty, Department of Pediatrics - University of Minnesota Medical School; Neonatologist, M Health Fairview
PDHM registration
Cost: $30 general admission, $20 for Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition members
Prerecorded Improving the Health of WIC Participants through the Nutrition Assessment: Practical Applications
Description: In this presentation, our speaker, Melissa Nelson, MPH, RD, LD, discussed the valuable role accurate and thorough nutrition assessments play in empowering WIC staff to fulfill the mission of the WIC program to improve the health and well-being of women, infants, and children by addressing their nutritional needs comprehensively and proactively. Attendees will gain insight into using efficient assessment techniques, tailoring assessment questions to meet the unique needs to each participant, and effectively using the tools available. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and make a meaningful impact in the lives of the participants you serve!
Objectives:
- Describe the purpose of the WIC nutrition assessment and its significance.
- Explain how to use open-ended questions to thoughtfully conduct a strength-based nutrition assessment.
- Effectively use tools available to conduct quality nutrition assessments.
- Understand how the nutrition assessment tools help set the stage for the assessment, assure a weight inclusive approach, and assess for food insecurity.
- Combine information gathered in the nutrition assessment to develop a plan for nutrition education and referrals.
Registration: Log into the Minnesota Department of Health Learning Center and search for “Prerecorded Improving the Health of WIC Participants through the Nutrition Assessment: Practical Applications”.
Previous viewer comments:
- Really appreciate the presentation. I learned a lot today, especially appreciated the tools that were highlighted. I have not reviewed all of them before, I plan to go back and review what was shared.
- It was nice to have a refresher on this topic and hearing the importance that a well-done nutrition assessment can have on a family. It served as a good reminder, especially since we are seeing a lot of our clients in person again!
- I've been a Coordinator for almost 10 years and a CPA for 15 years, so the Nutrition Assessment is something that I'm very familiar with. Melissa had some great suggestions and clarifications that will be useful for my work in WIC and in the Program Management oversight function of the coordinator role.
The Week Ahead
Check out upcoming trainings and meetings: Local Agency WIC Calendar
Find new job opportunities on the WIC Job Postings webpage. This week includes:
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
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