March 7, 2025

WIC Funding and Benefits

WIC is currently in a funding continuing resolution until March 14^th. If the government does not pass a funding bill, Montana WIC will continue to provide services. There is enough funding to continue all Montana WIC services.

At this time, we are asking that no WIC benefits be issued past May. Once we have confirmation regarding our budget, Lacy will send communication out to all local agency staff.

If you have questions, please contact Lacy.

Upcoming NWA Webinars: WIC CEU-Eligible

Enhancing Breastfeeding Support with Technology in WIC Programs

📅 March 13, 2025 | 3:00 PM ET

Learn how the Morrisania WIC Program has transformed breastfeeding support with innovative tech solutions. From a custom database to engaging group discussions, and now, AI training for professionals discover how we’re making a difference for WIC families.

Register Here! [default.salsalabs.org]

Exploring the Value of WIC: Value of the WIC Food Package

📅 Thursday, March 27 | 3:00pm ET

This webinar will focus on underscoring the value of WIC, with a focus on the economic value of food packages and what that means for states and participants. Learn about how “value” has been explored previously, an understanding of value from a state WIC program perspective, and current work in the field that helps us all know the economic impact that food packages have on WIC families and other stakeholder groups. Join us to learn more about the value of WIC food packages!

Register Here! [default.salsalabs.org]

WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Landscape Scan Report Findings

📅 Apr 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM 

This webinar will present the findings of the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Landscape Scan Report conducted under the Increasing Access to Healthy Food through Farmers Markets grant. The presentation will expand upon findings in the Landscape Scan Survey administered to WIC State Agencies in Spring 2024 and in-depth interviews with WIC participants and farmers market staff conducted in Fall 2024 regarding FMNP practices across the nation. Learn about successes and challenges to implementation and redemption of FMNP benefits!

Register Here! [default.salsalabs.org]

Montana Pediatrics

Our guest speaker was Chani Knight (cknight@montanapediatrics.org) from the Montana Pediatrics. She discussed some flyers: informational study flyer for youth [montanapediatrics.org] and the informational study flyer for parents [montanapediatrics.org].

National WIC Association

The National WIC Association has a ‘Take Action’ regarding WIC funding. If you or any staff want to learn more please visit NWA or if you would like to participate, you can Take Action Today. Please feel free to share with partners and stakeholders if appropriate.

Email Update for Staff

Nicole has had an email update. Her new email address is Nicole.Bulik@mt.gov.

Vendor Update

Did you know you can look up UPC information in SOAR or see if a UPC is authorized on the WIC website?

If you want to look up a UPC to see it it’s authorized, or what the current max price is, you can do an UPC search function in SOAR or search the APL table on the website dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/wic/retailers.

If you want to see if (or where) a UPC is selling, you can use the Family Vendor Activity Data report, and search by UPC, vendor, cardholder, or city.

In Soar, under the Montana eWIC dropdown, select Reports and Queries.

• Under the Data Queries headline, select Family Vendor Activity Data.
• From here, you can enter the 12-digit UPC or 4–5 digit PLU and download the CSV.

• The date range automatically sets to the last 30 days but can be changed.
• You can search just for your city, if desired.

Update: WIC Order Form

Please use the most recent order form for supplies and outreach materials, as some items may be out of stock. This form is also located in eLearn.

Weekly Risk Code Highlight

Risk Code 342: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Defined as: Diseases and/or conditions that interfere with the intake or absorption of nutrients (GERD, post-bariatric surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, short bowel syndrome, liver disease, and biliary tract disease).

Gastrointestinal disorders increase nutritional risk in several ways, including restricted food intake, abnormal deglutition, impaired digestion of food in the intestinal lumen, generalized or specific nutrient malabsorption, or excessive gastrointestinal losses of endogenous fluids and nutrients. Frequent loss of nutrients through vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption, or infections can result in malnourishment and lowered disease resistance. Nutrition management plays a prominent role in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Example: This risk code must be added when a special formula Rx is approved due to Malabsorption or GERD.

What WIC Can Do:

• Provide counseling to support the medical nutrition therapy given by clinical dietitians and monitor compliance with therapeutic dietary regimens.

• Offer breastfeeding support and refer to the WIC Designated Breastfeeding expert, or other professional breastfeeding support when needed.
• Provide education to caregivers on age-appropriate feeding practices for infants, which may include proper use of bottles, food safety, proper formula preparation and proper storage of formula/human milk.
• Monitor growth to ensure healthy weight gain.

• Review and provide WIC-approved medical foods or formulas prescribed by healthcare providers.