Interested in growing your caseload?
If so, consider being a pilot agency and participate in the MNbenefits and WIC rollout. A few months ago, we began having conversations with Department of Human Services (DHS) about strategies to enhance connections with WIC and MNbenefits.
If your agency chooses to be a pilot, the following strategies will be turned on in your community:
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Application prompts will be integrated in the MNbenefits application flow for applicants to consider other programs and resources like WIC.
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Recommended follow-ups – After the MNbenefits application completion, text messages will prompt applicants to consider WIC program participation.
- Specific applicants will be targeted by using existing questions in the MNbenefits flow to identify and display WIC messaging to households that have:
- A household member who is pregnant.
- A child under the age of 5 (including newborns).
What this means for local WIC agencies that agree to pilot:
- The strategies indicated above will be started in your community.
- More WIC eligible families will be directed to the WIC online application in your county.
- MDH WIC will work with you and evaluate the number of additional WIC applications your agency receives from MNbenefits.
- Help provide feedback on this new WIC application route prior to expanding in the state.
- We anticipate that the pilot will begin in October. We hope to recruit pilot WIC agencies in September.
If your agency is interested in being a pilot agency, please contact your state WIC consultant.
Minnesota WIC logo merchandise
If you missed the August 31 deadline but are still 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. 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. Items cannot be used for participant incentives. Shipping and delivery fees will be applied, and items will be shipped directly to you. The online store will be available until October 15. If you have additional questions reach out to tina.breitenbach@state.mn.us.
Military family resources – new
USDA created a webpage Military Family Resources for continuing education credit opportunities, learning opportunities, and other resources to help support military families.
You will find this link stored on our Additional Support for WIC Families webpage.
Free webinar - breastfeeding and pasteurized donor human milk
Free webinar now available on counseling Muslim families about breastfeeding and pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM)
“Talking with Families of the Islamic Faith about Pasteurized Donor Human Milk” discusses the research and subsequent community collaboration that led to a recent Islamic fatwa on the use of PDHM. The one-hour session covers the importance of PDHM, especially in the NICU setting, and an overview of the processes that ensure the quality and safety of PDHM. The webinar introduces resources developed by the collaboration, including videos explaining the fatwa in English, Somali, and Arabic, patient handouts, and FAQs about the fatwa and about PDHM. The webinar concludes with suggestions for counseling families on PDHM and more generally on breastfeeding.
The Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition, in order to make this information as widely available as possible, is providing access to the webinar, the videos, and the customizable handouts free of charge. Those who wish to receive 1 L-CERP for viewing can register online, Talking with Families of the Islamic Faith about Pasteurized Donor Human Milk, and pay a small fee to receive a copy of the slides, a post-test and a certificate.
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 September WIC 50th Anniversary Partner Toolkit (PDF)is ready and includes a Enhancing Impact: Technology Innovation video, 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 is Laurel Wilson, IBCLC, RLC, INHC, CLE, CCCE, CLD. Laurel is presenting Up in Smoke: The Potential Health Impact of Cannabis Use During Pregnancy and Lactation on the Baby during the conference.
Laurel Wilson, IBCLC, RLC, BSc, INHC, CLSP, CPPI has thirty plus years of experience working with families in the childbearing year and perinatal professional and travels the world (when not experiencing a pandemic) speaking about the importance of human milk and attachment. She is co-author of best-selling books The Greatest Pregnancy Ever: The Keys to the MotherBaby Bond and The Attachment Pregnancy: The Ultimate Guide to Bonding with Your Baby, original Editor of the CAPPA Lactation Educator Manual, and contributing author to Round the Circle: Doulas Talk About Themselves. Laurel is a board-certified lactation consultant, childbirth educator, labor doula, lactation educator, lactation support provider, integrative nutrition health coach, Prenatal ParentingTM.
Registration for the conference is closed. See the MN WIC 2024 Training Conference webpage for all the conference details. If you have a new staff member that did not get to register, email Carole.Kelnhofer@state.mn.us.
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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:
- Benton County Public Health Public Health Nurse
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
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