WIC SERVICES
WIC PARTNERSHIPS
WIC OUTREACH
Participant Centered Services
Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
Wilder Study
for positive nutrition and health related behaviors
the first Perinatal Hospital Leadership Summit
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how WIC can better reach out to eligible individuals
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MINNESOTA WIC NEWS FOR HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS, DIRECTORS & COORDINATORS
JULY 2013
Welcome to The Word On WIC: MN WIC’s newsletter for public health
administrators, directors and WIC coordinators! This newsletter is part of our ongoing efforts to provide
news, updates and information about the Minnesota WIC Program to local agency administrators and
public health leaders throughout the state. While some of you may already receive the weekly
WIC Wednesday Update, this communication will be tailored to public health leadership
to provide important high level updates on MN WIC and how WIC is working with
Continued on page 4
FROM THE DIRECTOR
A Policy Lever for Healthier Communities - WIC
Minneapolis could become
the first
city in the country to use
WIC standards to set healthy food standards
ON JUNE 13 AND 14, I attended the excellent Minnesota Public Health
Association Annual Meeting focusing on Health in All Policies (HiAP). I was very impressed
by the potential of the HiAP approach. The Health in All Policies approach is an interesting
lens through which to look at the WIC Program and its activities and strategies as they impact
the broader community. During the conference I thought about how the WIC Program impacts
the health of the whole community, not just individual participants.
Since the beginning of the WIC Program, there have been improvements in food
access in communities as a result of WIC stocking requirements for grocery stores.
I recall an example of this impact from the early years of WIC in the state
of Oregon. When WIC started on the Warm Springs Reservation
in Oregon the only grocery store on the reservation carried
no milk and only one brand of very sugary cereal.
To meet WIC minimum stock requirements,
the store ordered and provided several healthier
foods including milk and iron-fortified, low sugar
cereal. The WIC Program requirements were
the lever which improved the food environment
on the reservation for all of its residents.
Continued on page 2
After a long period of funding uncertainty, we are happy to report that
the WIC Program has sufficient funds to serve all eligible participants through
the end of the fiscal year (September 2013).
The FOOD GRANT is reduced from FY 2012 levels but still more than we spent in FY 2012.
The FY 2013 PER PARTICIPANT RATE remains $13.50. We have sufficient funding to sustain this level.
We are also anticipating an end of year payout of expenses above the grant
amount. The amount of the payout may be lower than in previous years.
We anticipate receiving a July reallocation, though the amounts are typically
smaller than the other reallocations we receive during the fiscal year.
Our primary concern now is the effects of the on-going Sequester
on the funding for future years. Without a legislative change,
the WIC Program will be subject to ongoing reductions of five
to seven percent in each year under the Sequester.
Up until 2003, the WIC Program received about
$5.5 million from the State of Minnesota. In 2003,
the WIC funds were moved into the state per capita funds
for community health boards. About 15% of per capita
funds are funds which were designated for the WIC
Program. Now, CHBs may decide how those funds
are used. We invite you to consider using those
funds for WIC in the future.
COVER STORY CONTINUED
A Policy Lever for Healthier Communities - WIC
Since 2009 with the introduction of the updated food
package, the Minnesota WIC Program has required
WIC stores to carry healthy foods like fresh fruit and
vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and tuna. The
new WIC minimum stock requirements have improved
the availability of healthy foods in lower income
communities and other neighborhoods where the
WIC stores are located. Several studies that looked
at healthy food availability before and after the
introduction of the updated WIC food package found
significant improvements in the availability of healthy
foods for WIC participants and the community at large.
Currently, the city of Minneapolis is exploring further
use of the WIC healthy food standards/minimum stock
requirements. The city is considering the use of the
WIC stocking standards as a requirement for all stores
licensed by the city to improve access to healthy foods
2
THE WORD ON WIC
in all areas of the city. Minneapolis could become the
first city in the country to use WIC standards to set
healthy food standards for all stores in the city.
WIC policies contribute
to improvement
of the health of the
broader community.
Betsy
Another example of WIC influencing policy in the
broader arena is our work with the Minnesota
Breastfeeding Coalition and the recent Perinatal
Hospital Leadership Summit. The Summit and other
work with the Coalition helps to shape the hospital
environment for moms and newborns into one in
which breastfeeding is the norm. For WIC to continue
to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates
in our population, the whole community needs to work
together on policies to make breastfeeding the norm.
The WIC Program contributes beyond the
original intent of the program to improve
the health of women, infants and children;
WIC policies contribute to improvement of
the health of the broader community. We
appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with
the leadership of local public health in many different
policy arenas and look forward to working with you in
the future on policies which improve the health of WIC
families and the whole community.
CONNECT WITH US INPUT IDEAS QUESTIONS CONCERNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
Participant Centered Services (PCS) is a comprehensive systems model
for providing WIC program services. Developed by WIC programs in the USDA Western
Region, the PCS model influences all aspects of WIC service delivery. It encompasses every
interaction between the participant and WIC staff members, as well as between and among WIC
staff and supervisors, and the State Agency and Local Agencies – always with the goal of facilitating
participants’ adoption of positive nutrition and
health-related behaviors. The model is flexible
in design, adapting to the unique needs of
participants and diverse local WIC programs.
In this model, the CPA and participant form
a partnership to engage in interactive
discussions based on the participant’s
needs, interests and circumstances.
Nutrition education focuses on the
topics and issues that are relevant
to the participant.
WIC SERVICES
Participant
Centered
Emphasis on
collaboration
Seven Minnesota WIC local agencies are piloting PCS this spring and
summer, including: Anoka County; Dakota County; Freeborn County; Isanti
County; Otter Tail County; St. Paul-Ramsey County; and Sherburne County.
Each agency had a facilitated kick-off, assistance planning how they will
implement PCS in their agency, training for all their staff, and specialized
training for locally-selected PCS “mentors”. In collaboration, with these
7 agencies, the Minnesota State WIC program will identify “lessons learned” and develop a plan
for implementing PCS statewide. We will launch the PCS initiative and provide an overview of
the implementation plan at the WIC Conference in October. The state WIC Program is committed
to this model and working at all levels to strengthen interactions and build partnerships.
WIC HEALTH DATA
Minnesota County
HEALTH
TABLES
between CPAs & participants
Focus on participants’
capacities, strengths and
developmental needs
Enhancing self-efficacy,
building skills, and facilitating
participants’ behavior change
Did you know that select WIC data is available online as part of the Minnesota County Health Tables?
WIC demographic and health data are available by county in the Morbidity Tables under WIC Selected
Indicators. MN County Health Tables http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/countytables/
Since 2009, Minnesota WIC has contributed data to the Minnesota County Health Tables. Minnesota WIC
plans to continue providing updated information on WIC participation, weight status and breastfeeding. This
information can be located within the morbidity excel files under the WIC tables. The Minnesota County
Health Tables provide large amounts of demographic and health risk data by county across time in both excel
and PDF formats. Look in the Minnesota WIC Surveillance and Evaluation web page for new content.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/wic/statistics/index.html
CONNECT WITH US INPUT IDEAS QUESTIONS CONCERNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
THE WORD ON WIC
3
COVER STORY CONTINUED
WIC PARTNERSHIPS
THE WORD ON WIC
WIC Partnering in Public Health
other programs in the state to
improve the health of individuals
in the communities you serve.
The purpose of this newsletter
is to strengthen and expand
communication with you.
+MN BREASTFEEDING COALITION
WIC
As a nutrition program serving pregnant and
postpartum women and their infants, WIC promotes
breastfeeding as the standard for infant feeding.
The state agency works with local agencies to ensure
local staff have the knowledge and skills needed to
promote and support breastfeeding, but also recognizes
that for our participants to be successful, women need
to be supported in their communities and by their
health care providers. We look for opportunities to
partner with other programs and organizations
to provide that support.
69
%
Minnesota
Birthing Centers
ATTENDED THE 2013 SUMMIT
The MN WIC Program partnered with the MN Breastfeeding Coalition
(a non-profit organization of 28 local breastfeeding coalitions and associate
organizations), to host the first Perinatal Hospital Leadership Summit
on May 7, 2013 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. The overarching goal was
to connect with the leadership from MN birthing hospitals and centers to
share information on the importance of perinatal breastfeeding
support to the quality of the mother-baby care they provide.
A panel of providers from MN birthing hospitals discussed their challenges
and successes in improving perinatal services to support breastfeeding.
We plan to send the newsletter
electronically on a quarterly basis
via e-mail and want the topics
to meet the needs and interests
of individuals like you. We will
include information on WIC
funding, how WIC is partnering
with local public health across
the state, and updates on current
initiatives and program changes.
We’d love to hear your ideas for
content, information requests or
suggestions for improvement.
Please send your ideas to
[email protected] value
your partnership around improving
the public’s health!
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, opened the Summit. Other speakers included Celeste Milton, from the
Joint Commission; Dr. Jane Heinig, from the UC Davis Lactation Center; and Dr. Laurence Grummer-Strawn, from the CDC.
Of the 95 birthing hospitals/centers in the state, 66 were represented at the summit, with over 135 attendees.
WIC OUTREACH
BY THE NUMBERS
WILDER STUDY
The Minnesota WIC Program recently contracted with the
Year WIC
began in
Minnesota
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Number of
WIC clinics
in
Minnesota
Minnesota infants
served by WIC in 2012
4
45
%
THE WORD ON WIC
Wilder Foundation to conduct a study on how WIC can better reach
out to eligible individuals who are not participating in the program.
Focus groups and interviews were held with 80 individuals,
(including former participants), throughout the state, on awareness,
experience and access to the WIC Program and on ways to reach
out to individuals not currently participating. WIC received some
positive and helpful feedback on what people appreciate about the
program. The study also identified opportunities and ways to improve
awareness of WIC, experiences and access to the program, and
suggestions for marketing the program.
A work group comprised of state and local agency staff will be
assembled to identify next steps. Once next steps are identified
and prioritized, we will begin working with local agencies on the
opportunities they might pursue. The full report and executive summary
is available on the WIC website under What’s New. http://www.
health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/wic/whatsnew.html
C0NNECT WITH WIC
800.657.3942
[email protected]
The WORD on WIC is published
by the WIC Program of the
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
In accordance with Federal law and U. S. Department of Agriculture policy,
the WIC Program is prohibited from discriminating on the basis
of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Persons seeking to file discrimination complaints should write to
USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication and Compliance
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410,
or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
CONNECT WITH US INPUT IDEAS QUESTIONS CONCERNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]