Welcome 2026 WIC advisory group members
All our open representative positions have been filled except for the community health board administrator.
Here are the newest representatives that will serve over the next three years.
Regional representatives
- Southeast region: Krista Early, Goodhue County
- Metro region: Amanda Schuler, Washington County
Caseload representatives
- Group 2 (caseload 3,000-10,000) Katie Galloway, Dakota County
- Group 6 (caseload less than 500) Amber Converse, Dodge County
Tribal Agency
- Allison Lisburg, White Earth
Local Public Health Authority
- Amy Bowles, Beltrami County
You can find the updated 2026 WIC advisory group list on our WIC Advisory Group webpage.
The group meets quarterly so please connect with your regional and/or caseload representative if you would like to bring forward any agenda items throughout the year.
The first meeting will be held virtually on Monday, Jan. 26.
Updated guidance: LanguageLine voice of the customer
New guidance has been added to the Interpreters webpage under LanguageLine tools to improve submission success and reduce follow-up when completing LanguageLine’s Voice of the Customer form.
What’s changed
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Interpreter ID: While still not required, we are now encouraging documentation of the Interpreter ID when available to support efficient follow-up or recognition. We encourage you to document this number when you connect with an interpreter.
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Customer Account: enter MN WIC. Previously, we encouraged you to enter WIC and your location; save those details for the comments section.
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Account Number field: Enter the Client ID used for the call (no longer using Access code here). For video, note the general or medical Client ID that would be used by phone.
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Access Code required: Be sure to include your Access Code in the comments section so LanguageLine can locate the call.
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More detail = better follow-up: Providing more detail in the comments allows LanguageLine to more effectively investigate concerns or acknowledge positive feedback.
Important reminder
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Request a response: Please continue to check “Would you like an email response…” when submitting the form.
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Share responses with the state: Forward any replies received from LanguageLine to your Consultant so MDH WIC is aware of issues and can support follow-up.
If you have any questions or challenges with LanguageLine, please reach out to Jenny Skinner.
Champions calls discontinued
Our monthly champions calls concluded at the end of 2025. The calls were a space for staff to come together and practice participant centered services skills. We appreciate those who took the time to join and engage. We will now shift our focus to creating micro-training sessions that concentrate on participant centered services skill-building. What you can expect are short video clips that will highlight a skill, combined with an activity that supports staff in enhancing their skills through engagement with team members.
A message from Bernadette Flores, the facilitator of the participant centered services champions’ calls in 2025: “As the participant centered services champion's calls are concluding, I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who attended. Your presence and participation enriched our time together and provided valuable insights into best practices in participant centered services. Thank you for all you do!”
Watch for our first video, which is scheduled to be released in early 2026. Please reach out to Carole.Kelnhofer with questions.
WIC hardware transition reminder
WIC is transitioning to locally-owned hardware now that our Information System (WINNIE) is browser-based. Information about this transition was previously provided in the December 2025 WIC Hardware (PDF).
By July, all local agencies will need to decide to take over maintenance of their current state provided computers and hardware or to have transitioned to their own hardware.
Any state provided computers or hardware that will not be kept by your agency as part of this transition must be returned to Gainwell by Nov. 1. Refer to the WIC Hardware (PDF) for information about returning hardware.
You can use the Equipment/Supplies Request form to order universal port replicators or computers for your agency. A list of those available can be found in the WIC Hardware (PDF). Please submit this request before April 30.
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Staff burnout
Every day we help WIC families take steps toward healthier lives, yet we often forget to extend that same care to ourselves. Read this month’s topic for tips to help you and your coworkers take care of yourselves when the demands of work start to feel heavy: Staff Burnout (PDF)
Local agency staff should talk to their supervisor for approval before registering for training.
Refer to WIC Annual Required Trainings for staff training requirements.
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.
Minnesota infant safe sleep programs virtual listening sessions
Register by Friday, Jan. 16.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will host three virtual listening sessions to learn from hospitals/clinics, local public health agencies, and non-profit organizations about how they implement infant safe sleep programs in Minnesota. Through these listening sessions, MDH hopes to gather professionals working in these settings to learn about their experiences, successes and challenges related to the infant safe sleep programs in their organizations. The information gathered from the listening sessions will be used to inform the activities of the Minnesota Infant Safe Sleep Collaborative.
Event information:
Who: Professionals who work in infant safe sleep programs and in the following settings in Minnesota:
- Hospitals/clinics (Nurse, family doctor, social worker)
- Local public health agency (Public health nurse, program coordinator, program staff)
- Non-profit organizations (Program coordinator, program staff, community outreach, community health worker)
When: Participants can choose one of the dates to attend.
- Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 27, 8-9:30 a.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: The sessions will be on Zoom. After registering, a Zoom link will be shared via email closer to the date of the event.
Registration: If you are interested in participating, please select complete this RSVP link by Jan. 16.
Contact: For more information, please contact health.infantmortality@state.mn.us.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, made this project possible through NU58DP007698. Views expressed by speakers, moderators, and in writing may not reflect the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services. Mentions of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The listening sessions will be facilitated by Courageous Change Collective.
Monday, Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (state offices closed)
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