January 6, 2022

January's curated content for WIC professionals

VENA Training Videos and Discussion Guides

These newly released introductory training videos accompany the recently updated Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) Guidance. These videos and discussion guides introduce the role VENA plays when conducting a WIC nutrition assessment. In 2022, FNS will begin releasing supplementary targeted trainings, informed by Regional Office and State agency feedback.

New Year, New WIC Works Feature!

Are you looking to inspire WIC participants to use more of their food benefits? Follow the new What Do I Do With... series all year long and share recipe ideas using WIC-eligible foods that may be unfamiliar to WIC participants, such as beans, tofu, and other foods. 

This month's recipes focus on beans, rich in folate and other important nutrients. 

Find recipes and more information about folate at Meals of the Month and Eye on Nutrition.

New Interactive Quiz

Are You an Infant Feeding Skills Expert?

The development of infant feeding skills during the first year of a baby's life is important for proper nutrition and growth. Test your expertise on this topic by trying out this new ten-question quiz. 

Social Media
Message of the Month

Now is a good time to invite everyone to share their breastfeeding resolutions on their favorite sites using this month's featured message (also in Spanish)! 

Healthy Moms, Babies, and Communities

Help spread the word during National Birth Defects Awareness Month about the importance of making healthy choices - before, during, and after pregnancy.

Find handouts, videos, podcasts, an interactive quiz and more.

New! 

Developmental Resources 

The Developmental Milestone Checklist Program for WIC, developed through a collaboration with WIC State programs and CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program, helps WIC providers engage parents in monitoring their children’s development and support them with referrals when concerns are identified.

Breastfeeding Goal Setting

This January, help WIC moms set or review breastfeeding goals. Share month-by-month milestones and a customizable goal-setting worksheet to guide her journey.

Five Steps to Build Healthy Habits in the New Year

Share this infographic to help participants step into the new year with healthy habits.

Look Ahead to February 

American Heart Month

WIC staff can encourage healthy eating during and after pregnancy, and during childhood, share handouts, videos, and other materials with moms and caregivers, and help them make the most of their WIC foods with recipes from the WIC MOM series (including the Honing in on Heart Health edition), Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes, and our new series What Do I Do With...

Children's Dental Health Month

February's a great time to promote the benefits of good oral health because developing good dental health habits early on helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. We've put together a one-stop-shop with links to handouts, recipes, a children's book, a webinar, and training resources just for you.

ICYMI

Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health

Learn more about the action plan which applies a “life course” approach aimed at impacting maternal morbidity and mortality. Also, read about the new Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity aimed at improving outcomes for parents and infants.

Toxic Metals in Baby Food

Are you getting food-related questions about arsenic, mercury and other metals? Learn more about the FDA plan to help reduce toxic metals in foods eaten by babies and young children and find food safety and infant feeding resources.

Infant Formula Preparation 

Brush up on your infant formula preparation knowledge with these WIC Works pages: Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formula, Powdered Infant Formula Preparation and Storage and Infant Feeding: Tips for Food Safety.