Minnesota WIC logo merchandise
If you are interested in purchasing any Minnesota WIC logo merchandise (t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, hats, vests, sweatpants, etc.) you can do so through this website. Twin Pines Imprinting. The idea came from a local agency and is meant to be a fun opportunity for individual purchases. Local agencies may purchase for clinic use (polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts). If your agency chooses to place an order, first check in with your consultant and share your proposed order total since there are some contract limitations. Also, these items cannot be used for participant incentives.
You can save any shipping and delivery fees by picking up items at the WIC conference on September 26 or you can ship directly to you for a fee. This online store will be available until August 31. If you have additional questions reach out to tina.breitenbach@state.mn.us.
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Grant opportunity
The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project (WIC CIAO) is part of the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) broader WIC Modernization efforts. Through these efforts, FNS seeks to increase participation through increased enrollment, retention of participants for the full length of their eligibility, and an improved participant experience, as well as increase redemption of benefits; and reduce disparities in program delivery, with a focus on underserved populations.
Local Agencies can apply for the WIC CIAO grant opportunity directly or they can partner with another organization to propose a project. To apply directly for the WIC CIAO grant, check out the funding announcement linked below. All WIC CIAO applications must include a letter of support from the state WIC agency. Please contact your state WIC consultant if you need a letter.
If your agency would like to collaborate with other Minnesota WIC agencies on the WIC CIAO grant and work in partnership, we will be connecting with Hunger Impact Partners regarding their interest in applying for this opportunity in Minnesota. They are looking for local agencies to partner with for this project. Hunger Impact Partners staff will take the lead on the application process. Let us know if you’d like to join forces on this exciting opportunity by contacting your State WIC Consultant, applications are due September 6!
Request for Applications: WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project
Second Harvest Heartland – resource for WIC families
Second Harvest Heartland now has a Care Center, which is a new hub where neighbors can call and reach a live person for SNAP application assistance, Commodity Supplemental Food Program enrollment, food resources, or to just ask questions.
They have navigators that speak several languages.
The Care Center can help with:
For more details visit their Care Center webpage.
Find the link for Second Harvest Heartland on our Additional Support for WIC Families.
New WIC Hemoglobin schedule guidance for health care providers
MN WIC partnered with Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) to create an informational WIC Hemoglobin schedule (PDF) document to help health care providers understand the measurement requirements for each program. The goal is to better coordinate with health care providers, so families can use their appointment measurements to meet requirements of both WIC and C&TC programs whenever possible.
This document is on the top of the WIC and Health Care Providers webpage.
WIC will share this email and link to the document with its health care provider contacts this week. We encourage local agencies share this email with health care providers in their community.
Subject: New Resource! WIC Hemoglobin schedule
Message:
Did you know that health care providers can provide height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements to WIC clinics? If a health care provider provides measurements to WIC, a family can usually be served remotely rather than in-person making it easy for families to participate.
You can send a participant’s measurements to their WIC clinic through the Minnesota WIC Referral Form.
The hemoglobin screening schedules for WIC and Child and Teen Checkups have some differences in timing and frequency. The new WIC Hemoglobin schedule (PDF) outlines these schedules and describes opportunities to adjust to meet requirements for both programs.
It’s linked at the top of the WIC and Health Care Providers webpage.
MDH WIC program job position opening
The MN WIC program is hiring for a peer breastfeeding coordinator. View and apply for the position on the careers in Minnesota state government website.
- Enter Job Opening ID 79231 in the search open positions section at the top of the webpage.
- Select on the job title to view the job posting.
- Select Apply for this Job to apply.
Visit the TPT Nursing Nest at the State Fair
Local agency spotlights for Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Awareness Month
Aitkin County: Lactation spaces and peer promotion
 Aitkin WIC partnered with Roth RV to provide a new camper for the mother infant rest area at the Aitkin County Fair. This space has been well utilized and appreciated by families with young children.
Through a partnership with SHIP, Aitkin County also has a lactation tent to use for breastfeeding families at community events. The tent houses 2 camping rocking chairs and a changing table for families to feed or pump.
Aitkin WIC used an Equity in Lactation grant to purchase lactation support items to promote peer breastfeeding services.
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The outreach and support items are distributed to participants to celebrate breastfeeding milestones and support duration of lactation.
Finally, for world breastfeeding week Aitkin mails out letters to local businesses with a Breastfeeding Welcome Here stickers and offering information on how to become a breastfeeding-friendly business.
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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 August WIC 50th Anniversary Partner Toolkit (PDF) is ready and includes a breastfeeding education video, and social media graphics, and sample social media post language.
Check out the WIC 50th Anniversary webpage for additional resources.
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WIC Training Conference – speaker spotlight
As we countdown the days until the MN WIC 2024 Training Conference on Sept. 26, we’re highlighting what attendees can expect from the knowledgeable speakers and their presentations.
This week’s speaker spotlight features Ashley Carter, MS, RD, LD and Jasmine Westbrooks, MS, RD, lDN, CDCES with EatWell Exchange. They are presenting Embracing Culture with WIC: Discovering Nutritious WIC Approved Cultural Foods during the conference.
EatWell Exchange Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in health outcomes by empowering communities to make positive, lifelong changes while honoring and preserving their cultural heritage.
As registered dietitians, they provide culinary nutrition classes to teach students how to eat healthier while learning how to cook their foods. They collaborate with communities in food-insecure areas, supporting local gardens to increase access to healthier food options in these underserved areas. We are committed to fostering positive change, one community at a time and we have educated over 39,500 people since 2017.
Register for the conference: 2024 Minnesota WIC Training Conference Registration
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Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
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:
- Dakota County Public Health Department Registered Dietitian
- Minnesota Department of Health WIC Program Peer Breastfeeding Coordinator
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
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