Minnesota WIC Everyday Heroes
This award is intended to recognize and honor the great work and commitment of local WIC
staff – anyone and everyone who works in WIC: clerks, CPAs, Coordinators, receptionists, and
others who support local WIC operations. We want to acknowledge local staff who exemplify
the spirit of Participant Centered Services (PCS), and strive every day to make WIC a great
experience for participants. These staff see WIC service through the eyes of participants,
ensuring that people feel valued and respected. They are role models for others in their agency.
Award Frequency: The Everyday Heroes awards will be presented annually -- at WIC Regional
meetings or at the MN State WIC Conference (when scheduled).
Eligibility
• Any individuals who work at the local level in WIC are eligible.
• Local agencies may submit up to two nominations.
• Each region will select its own Everyday Hero.
• Regional WIC Advisory Group representatives will be responsible for overseeing the
selection of Everyday Heroes within their regions with assistance from the Minnesota
Department of Health (MDH) WIC staff.
• MDH WIC staff are not eligible for awards, may not submit nominations and are unable
to provide letters of support.
Selection Criteria: Individuals who….
• Embody the spirit of PCS, and are dedicated to WIC and its potential to touch hearts and
minds.
• Help people feel valued, understood and respected.
• Exhibit a strong work ethic, are efficient and effective.
• Are results-oriented, and solutions-driven - striving for continuous quality improvement.
• Are role models for their co-workers and understand the value of being a team player.
• Look to the future and imagine what could be, generating innovative ideas.
Who can submit a nomination?
• Anyone working in WIC at the local level -- WIC Coordinators, WIC co-workers (staff can
nominate each other), PCS mentors, Breastfeeding Peers, WIC Lactation Consultants,
etc.
• Leaders from local public health agencies and/or from local grantee organizations.
• Nominations must be approved by local agency WIC Coordinator on Nomination Form.
Nomination Procedures
• Notification that nominations are being accepted will be sent in the WIC Wednesday
Update and to Public Health Administrators.
• A deadline to receive nominations will be established each year that allows adequate
time for WIC Advisory Group member representing your region to gather nomination
materials and distribute to LA Coordinators for voting, in time to announce award
recipients at the conference or quarterly Regional meeting. (see Everyday Heroes
timeline)
• WIC Coordinators are encouraged to solicit nominations from their local agency and
may notify all candidates who are nominated. It does not have to be a secret process.
• Complete an Everyday Heroes Nomination Form and obtain two letters of support,
including one from the nominee’s agency leadership (WIC Coordinator, WIC Director),
and the other from a colleague and/or other public health partner.
• WIC Coordinators will submit the form & letters of support to WIC Advisory Group
member representing your region by the stated deadline.
• WIC Advisory Group member representing the region will compile and distribute
nomination materials to all WIC Coordinators in their region, along with a ballot of their
regional nominees. (see sample ballot)
o Distribution may be by email, mail, or fax. Email seems to work best, if practical.
o WIC Coordinators are encouraged to consult with or involve their staff in voting for
their regional Everyday Hero.
• Each local agency will have one vote, and must return their ballot to the WIC Advisory
Group member representing your region by the specified date.
• Award recipients will receive a framed certificate prepared by MDH WIC staff.
Voting Procedures
• Each local agency in a region will have one vote in selecting the Everyday Hero for their
region. Votes must be submitted by the deadline to be counted.
• Each Region will have one award recipient. In the event of a tie between two nominees,
both will be awarded the Everyday Heroes award. If the region has a tie consisting of
three or more nominees, a re-vote will take place including only the “tied” nominees.
Again, the ballot will be sent out by the WIC Advisory Group member representing your
region, requesting a response with one week.
• In the event a Regional WIC Advisory Group representative is nominated for the award,
an alternate WIC Advisory Group member from that region should compile and
distribute the nomination materials and ballot, and oversee selection process. Notify
Region of alternative procedure.
Notification Procedures
• The WIC Advisory Group member representing your region is responsible for notifying
all local agency WIC Coordinators in the region of election results within a week of the
ballot deadline.
• At this time, local agency WIC Coordinators can notify the Everyday Hero (if from their
agency) as well as informing other nominees from their agency of the election results.
• MDH WIC will announce Everyday Hero award recipients in Wednesday Update.
• At each Statewide WIC Conference, all Everyday Heroes currently working in WIC will be
acknowledged, if they haven’t been recognized at a previous state conference.
• Each Region will decide the best method to recognize award recipients and nominees.
Some award recipients may be able to attend Regional Meeting to receive the award or
it could be given locally, at a staff or other meeting.
Optional Activities
• Local agencies are encouraged to develop a process to notify candidates of selection
results, and to recognize the award recipient and all nominees.
o Local agencies may choose to provide each nominee with a copy of their
nomination form and letters of support.
o Local agencies may choose to provide their own ribbons, certificates or other
form of recognition to award recipients and/or nominees.
o Local staff meetings, Department meetings, Board meetings, etc. may be
appropriate venues for additional recognition.
April/2016