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October 6, 2026
IMPORTANT
Updates to the no WIC formula/foods issued item - now available for women
The no WIC formula/foods issued non-contract formula food item allows agencies to count participants receiving nutrition services but not food benefits. Previously, this option was only available for infants and children. However, to support consistent statewide practice, this option is now also available for women categories (pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding) in WINNIE.
Refer to Updates to the no WIC formula/food issued item (PDF) for more details.
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Text Messaging Consent Q and A
On Oct. 1, a new state use question, Text Message Release Documentation, started displaying on the Demographics page in WINNIE. This is a required field specific to obtaining permission for the WIC Program (all local agencies and the state office) to communicate with a household using text messages. This field was added to standardize the way all local agencies collect text message communication consent. It allows households to sign only one consent and can be used by the State WIC Office and other WIC local agencies should the household transfer.
We added the new state use question at this time to coincide with the roll-out of the Group Text Messages in Mobile Management (PDF) feature accessed within Mobile Management. Unlike individual texting available in Mobile Management, where the mobile app user opts in on their phone, using the Group Text Messages feature requires a signed consent for communication.
A memo, New Text Messaging Documentation (PDF), providing information about this new requirement was sent in the Sept. 23 Weekly Update, as well as discussed on the WIC Local Agency Conference Call (PDF) - Sept.16 and during the July 27, 2026, Advisory Group Meeting. Also, a list of some things that agencies can do now was sent in an email on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and was included in the WINNIE the Scoop! Newsletter for October.
We have added a Text Messaging Questions and Answers page to the MDH WIC website that provides clarifications based on paraphrased questions sent by Local Agencies to their State Consultants. We’ve organized them within the following topics: transition, state use question, text messaging, forms, and DocuSign.
If you need further clarification or have a question that hasn’t already been addressed, please send it to your state consultant and we’ll add the questions and its answer to the Text Messaging Questions and Answers webpage.
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CVB annual inflation adjustment
Due to WIC regulations, CVB amounts require annual inflation adjustments.
On Oct. 19, default food packages for the following participants will be increased by $1 (no other CVB amounts are impacted by this adjustment).
- Children: $26 to $27
- Pregnant with multiples: $52 to $53
- Mostly-breastfeeding (MBF), MBF multiple infants, and pregnant and MBF: $52 to $53
- Fully breastfeeding (FBF) and pregnant and FBF: $52 to $53
- Fully breastfeeding multiple infants: $78 to $79.50
Beginning Oct. 19, CPAs must create a new default food package with the increased CVB amounts for the participants listed above when issuing benefits. These changes can be made over time when CPAs next meet with participants. Agencies are NOT required to void and reissue benefits that have already been issued.
For future food packages, you can either manually edit the CVB amount or delete the food package and add a new default food package.
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WIC and CSFP service awards – reminder
WIC Coordinators
Please fill out the WIC and CSFP Service Award Survey 2027 for your staff.
The WIC and CSFP service year awards honor individuals with significant years of service working in WIC and/or CSFP to improve the nutrition status and health of mothers, infants, and children, and seniors.
Additional notes
- This award is for service of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 years by Dec. 31, 2027.
- Please include any retirees you would like to honor.
- Each survey can hold up to 20 staff names per agency. If you have more than 20 staff receiving service awards, please complete a second survey.
- Staff names will be announced and pins given at the 2027 Minnesota WIC Conference.
This survey should be completed by every agency, even if no staff have reached a milestone. Staff may decline a service pin if desired.
Please complete by Tuesday, Dec. 15.
If you have questions or would like to see your agency’s staff list from the last conference, please reach out to Tina Breitenbach.
November - next round
Minnesota WIC sends quarterly text messages promoting the program to Medical Assistance (MA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, who qualify for WIC.
Few reminders:
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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WIC interactive data is moving to a new platform
Over the coming months, the local agency portal and public webpages will look and function a little differently as we transition from data visualizations using Tableau to Microsoft Power BI Reports.
If you have local agency portal access, you can see, and play with, the first new reports under Monthly Participation and Breastfeeding reports.
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Welcoming a new peer breastfeeding counselor?
The next live orientation for peer counselors is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Please contact Kristen Bricko with the name and email address of your new peer to be added to the list. A TEAMS meeting invite will be sent to the peer directly, a few days prior to the orientation date.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Bricko.
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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
Lessons in WIC: Case Studies
Join our upcoming session, Addressing Picky Childhood Eating, to discover why timing your education boosts caregiver engagement. Master the art of probing questions for thorough nutrition assessments, identify feeding practices that impact a child's appetite, and learn practical, participant-centered strategies to address caregiver concerns effectively.
Join link: Lessons in WIC: Case Studies
Training will be held on the third Thursday of every month from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
No registration is required. Sessions will not be recorded.
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Oct. - Dec. 2026: Picky Eating Case Study
NOTE: If you plan to bring this training back to your team, we recommend that at least one member of your staff attend the live presentation to support a train-the-trainer approach.
Please see our Lessons in WIC: Case Studies webpage for more information.
Questions? Contact Carole Kelnhofer.
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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.
Wednesday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day (state offices closed)
Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving (state offices closed)
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