New nutrition education plan - available July 7
The nutrition education plan for fiscal year 2026-2027 will be distributed Monday, July 7.
The nutrition education plan encompasses all nutrition education activities planned for the next two fiscal years (Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2027).
Goals for the nutrition education plan
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Nutrition goal: Enhance WIC staff assessment and counseling skills for common nutrition risks.
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Breastfeeding goal: Increase breastfeeding exclusivity, decrease early cessation of breastfeeding, and improve breastfeeding rates for all Minnesota WIC participants.
The designated person for your agency will receive five emails from health.wic@state.mn.us on Monday, July 7. If you have a question about the designated person for your agency, check with your state consultant.
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First email - includes instructions and the timeline for completing and submitting the nutrition education plan.
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Additional four emails - the nutrition education plan has four sections, each of the remaining four emails will include a link to a section.
- If the designated person for your agency does not receive the five emails as anticipated, please check the junk folder in your email. Contact health.wic@state.mn.us if you are unable to locate the emails by end of day July 7.
Questions about completing the nutrition education plan? Contact your state consultant.
National WIC Association participant satisfaction survey
Minnesota WIC is participating in the multi-state National WIC Association’s WIC participant satisfaction survey. The survey is available for all WIC participants to take between June 30 and September 2.
WIC will promote the survey directly to participants using the MN WIC App. The first message is scheduled to go out on July 8. We will continue sending out app messages based on survey completion rates.
Subject: WIC Survey
We would like to hear from you about your recent experiences with WIC. Please complete a brief survey on your phone, tablet or computer: WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey
Nos gustaría saber sobre sus experiencias recientes con WIC. Si está interesado en completar una breve encuesta, use su teléfono, tableta o computadora: WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey
The survey is available in English and Spanish.
Please use the WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey webpage to share with participants at your clinic and encourage they complete the survey.
Please contact megan.leonard@state.mn.us if you would like a flyer with a QR code promoting the survey to print and use in your local agency.
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Quarterly medical assistance and SNAP texting reminder - August
Minnesota WIC sends quarterly text messages promoting the program to Medical Assistance (MA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, who qualify for WIC.
For the balance of 2025, texts will go out the first Monday in August, and November.
WIC uses lists of new MA and SNAP recipients who are younger than five, are pregnant or are six months postpartum for the text outreach efforts. We carefully review the data to make sure outreach texts go to potential WIC participants, not current participants.
- The texts are sent to recipients over five weeks.
- The texts are available in English, Spanish, and Somali.
- There will be two versions of the MA text message, one tailored for pregnant MA enrollees and one for all other MA enrollees. There will be one version of the SNAP text message.
For more details, refer to our quarterly medical assistance and SNAP texting on our WIC Communications and Outreach webpage.
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No topic of the month for July
This month, take a look at some of our older topics within the Topic of the Month webpage. Many past memos have been updated either to correct broken links, update the format, or revise content where need.
Have an idea for a future topic? Contact Carole.Kelnhofer@state.mn.us.
Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
Refer to WIC Annual Required Trainings for staff training requirements.
Upcoming trainings
Participant Centered Services regional workshops
Register for one of the eight participant-centered services (PCS) regional training workshops before the registration date closes. These workshops are designed for CPA staff. Peers are welcome to attend but not required.
Registration: 2025 PCS Regional Workshops
Registration close dates:
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Registration closes July 7 for workshops on
- July 22 (Fergus Falls)
- July 23 (Bemidji)
Please check your junk and spam mail if you have not received a confirmation email after registering. If you registered and cannot find a confirmation email, contact your state consultant.
On demand trainings
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Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar
Register for the June 2025 Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar "Breaking the Cycle: Addressing the Roots of Addiction and Supporting Fathers in Recovery and Parenting" presented by Shanta N Smith MS, BSW, CCS, CADC. New and existing Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars can be viewed on-demand at glbw.thinkific.com.
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The week ahead
Check out upcoming trainings and meetings: Local Agency WIC Calendar
Find new job opportunities on the WIC Job Postings webpage.
Submit job postings using the WIC Job Postings survey.
Resource for parents
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) encourages parents and caregivers to join a monthly 30-minute conversation that will focus on one practical skill each month to help build on their relationship with their child. Participants will receive a brief introduction to the skill of the month, be offered hands-on practice, and be provided supportive resources.
Registration: Lunchbox Talks
Dates and topics:
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Wed, July 9: De-escalating Intense Emotions
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Wed, Aug 6: Accepting the Way Things Are
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Wed, Sept 3: Building Family Wellness
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Wed, Oct 1: Supporting Kids Struggling with Executive Functioning
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Wed, Nov 5: Don’t Forget About Self-compassion
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Wed, Dec 3: Building your Team
Time: Each 30-minute conversation is held 12 – 12:30 p.m.
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Friday, July 4 (State office closed)
Holiday schedule for formula companies
Remember to consider holiday schedules when placing any medical formula orders.
Abbott:
Closed - Thursday, July 3 - Friday, July 4
Mead Johnson:
Closed – Friday, July 4
Nestle:
Closed – Friday, July 4
Nutricia:
Closed – Friday, July 4
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