WIC Weekly Update

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November 27, 2024

IMPORTANT

Infoview Report Revisions and Corrections

We have added a webpage,  Infoview Report Revisions and Corrections, that lists all revised and corrected Infoview reports on the MDH WIC website. Reports are listed alphabetically by the folder they are found in and includes the most recent revision date and brief details about the revisions/corrections. A link to this page can be found on the Infoview webpage as well as on the Local Agency >> Staff Resources >> Information System dropdown.

We will continue to list any Infoview reports that have been revised to ensure new SPIRIT Web IDs do not display in their output, as well as any reports that have been corrected, in the Weekly Update. If a report has been corrected and you use this report, you should delete your current version and save the corrected version to your My Favorites folder.

The following reports have been revised/corrected:

• NO RECORD OF SPECIFIED REFERRALS (Referrals folder) – updated the staff ID to staff name; changed certifier to person who started the certification instead of the person whose signature was collected; corrected queries identifying new certs and recerts.
• CULTURAL IDENTITY – NEW PARTICIPANTS (State Use Questions >> #6 – Cultural Identity) – title was changed from STATE USE QUESTION #6 – NEW PARTICIPANTS since there are no longer “positions” (such as 6) associated with the question in WINNIE; revised queries to pull State Use responses from a different table where they are now stored in WINNIE; updated the staff ID to staff name; changed certifier to person who started the certification instead of the person whose signature was collected; corrected queries identifying new certs; changed the Prescreen date from when the record was created to the Application Date; corrected the WIC Type – changed from current to the WIC Type at certification.

Temporary help needed

Do you work part-time in WIC or plan to retire soon? Local WIC agencies experiencing temporary staff leaves or transitions could use your help! Most competent professional authority (CPA) temporary work is done remotely. 

Minnesota WIC maintains a list of staff who may be available to fill temporary CPA openings. If you are a CPA who wishes to be added to the list, contact your state WIC consultant or health.WIC@state.mn.us. The temporary CPA Staff list is shared with local agencies when requested. All terms of employment and compensation are negotiated between the temporary CPA and the local agency.    

HOLIDAYS

Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29 - Thanksgiving (State office closed) 

Wednesday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day (State office closed)

Wednesday, Jan. 1 - New Year's Day (State office closed) 

IN THIS ISSUE

• Stay in the know
• 50 years of WIC
• Training opportunities
• State and local agency career corner
• RESOURCES

Stay in the know

November Local Agency Call Minutes

Review the WIC Local Agency Conference Call (PDF) – November 20, 2024, minutes.

For more details on the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) and answers to questions, please refer to MIIC Program (PDF).

New podcast – Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health With support from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health has launched a new podcast for the Cultural Providers Network aimed at providing new perspectives, learnings, and opportunities for diverse mental health providers in Minnesota. The mission of the podcast is to reach diverse audiences and communities to promote policies, practices, standards, and research that improve the health of children and their families with a focus on culturally responsive care.  The podcast features interviews with 10 providers from diverse cultural backgrounds as they share how they prioritize humble, authentic support for all people seeking to optimize their mental health journeys, while promoting their individual wellbeing and sustainability in the field as professionals. View the podcasts on the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health website.

National WIC Association (NWA) recipe books - extra

We have approximately 615 NWA WIC cookbooks available in English and 60 in Spanish leftover. 

If interested, please reach out to nadia.anderson@state.mn.us.  Please include how many and a shipping address.  They will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Outreach grant project summaries available

There are two documents available on the Additional Funding for Local WIC Agencies webpage summarizing the 2023 and 2024 outreach grant projects.

• 2024 Outreach Grant Projects (PDF)
• 2023 Outreach Grant Projects (PDF)

Local agencies may use these ideas to further their outreach efforts and for inspiration for future grant opportunities.

50 years of WIC

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 November WIC 50th Anniversary Partner Toolkit (PDF) is ready and includes a Life Changing Support (YouTube) video, social media graphics, and sample social media post language.] Check out the WIC 50th Anniversary webpage for additional resources.

Training opportunities

Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.

Minnesota PCS Champions webinar #2

Register to join Bernadette Flores in part two of the Participant Centered Services (PCS) Champions series. Building on the webinar held in October, we will further develop our PCS skills and explore techniques to help you in assisting other WIC staff in their skill development. Please consider attending even if you didn’t make it to the first webinar!

Date: Jan. 30, 2025

Time: 9- 10 a.m.

Registration link: Minnesota PCS Champions webinar #2

Topics:

• Identify novel techniques to effectively perform WIC assessments and counseling.
• List resources available for PCS Champions.
• Practice PCS skills.
• Ask question and get answers live!

This webinar is appropriate for staff that have been working in WIC for six or more months.

For questions, reach out to your State WIC consultant.  

Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar Register for the November 2024 Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar "Beyond the Red Tape: Assessment in Private Practice" presented by Erika Dudley, IBCLC, CBS. Registration opens November 19, 2024, to watch whenever and wherever. Approved for one L-CERP, one nurse’s contact hour, one social work CE hour, one community health worker CEU, one certified health education specialist CECH, and one CME until November 18, 2025. Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars can be viewed on Michigan Breastfeeding Network’s learning management system. Visit glbw.thinkific.com and make an account/log into existing account to view new and existing webinars.

The week ahead

Check out upcoming trainings and meetings: Local Agency WIC Calendar

State and local agency career corner

Find new job opportunities on the WIC Job Postings webpage. 

Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.

RESOURCES

WIC Agency Materials Order Form

Medical Formulas Available at Local Agencies

WIC New Staff Training

WIC Information System Training

WIC Weekly Updates (View current and past information by date or topic.)

Local Agency Photo Sharing

Reminder: Local agencies should use WIC grant funds to pay for NWA membership and claim the expense on their monthly claim form/invoice. Log in or set up your account at National WIC Association to access resources and materials. Contact Emily Gilcher at egilcher@nwica.org if you need additional information about setting up your NWA account.

Questions? Email health.wic@state.mn.us.

Feedback? Submit Question and Feedback for the Minnesota WIC Program using the online form. Select Local Agency, followed by the WIC Update topic.

Need to add staff to the WIC Weekly Update distribution list? Subscribe to Minnesota WIC Updates.

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