WIC HAPPENINGS
WIC OUTREACH
WIC SERVICES
WIC Turns 40!
Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
Hubert Update
Timeline and upcoming anniversary celebration
Hosts 2nd Minnesota Perinatal Hospital Leadership Summit
Looking back and looking forward
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MINNESOTA WIC NEWS FOR HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS, DIRECTORS & COORDINATORS
Healthy Minnesotans
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Happy Summer!
WIC Makes a Difference
Greetings
As I write this, we
have left a colder than
average spring behind
and have consistently
warmer days. I hope each
of you is doing well and is
ready for a great summer.
Here is some news
to bring you up to date
on two topics:
WIC EBT PLANNING
Minnesota wrote a formal request to USDA
to begin EBT Planning. The request, known as a
Planning Advanced Planning Document (PAPD),
was submitted to USDA in late March and has been
approved.
WIC EBT is much more complex than EBT in SNAP due
to the need to provide a specific food package versus
a dollar amount. The planning process is lengthy and
thorough to ensure a good system and a smooth roll
out. Our goal is to keep costs low, similar to costs
of the current voucher system. Since EBT for WIC began,
the costs have declined significantly.
Continued on page 4
JUNE 2014
WIC PER
PARTICIPANT RATE
IS RAISED
This year, although the
federal funding situation
remains somewhat
uncertain, we
raised the per
participant rate
from $13.50 to
$14.00 per month. We hope WIC grantees will be
able to better utilize these funds to support WIC by
receiving them throughout the fiscal year.
Continued on page 4
Two recent MDH
publications illustrate
the importance of WIC
in promoting health among
Minnesotans:
Healthy MN 2020
and Advancing
Health Equity in MN:
Report to Legislature.
Both include
breastfeeding, and
improving environments
to support breastfeeding,
as strategies to achieve health
for all Minnesotans.
Indeed, Healthy MN 2020 focuses
on 3 themes. The first “Capitalize on
the opportunity to influence health in
early childhood” identifies prenatal
care, breastfeeding, and food
security as key conditions for health.
WIC ensures that women are
receiving prenatal care, and refers
them to care if they are not. While
WIC is primarily a health, nutrition
and breastfeeding program, the
Continued on page 2
WIC COLLECTS AND SHARES SUMMARY DATA that could
COVER STORY CONTINUED
HEALTHY MINNESOTANS
be used in presentations. For example, in FFY 2013, WIC served an
WIC food package provided and referrals to nutritious
sources of food, when needed, help assure food
during critical periods of growth and development.
Through the hard work
of local WIC staff, and
through partnerships with
local public health and
many other partners,
breastfeeding initiation
among WIC participants
has increased from
40% (1990) to over
76% (2014).
average of 124,700 participants monthly, and brought over
$93 million to Minnesota grocery stores. A map illustrating the
impact of WIC in their communities has been shared with Minnesota’s
representatives in Congress to help see the impact of WIC in the areas
they represent.
WIC AVERAGE MONTHLY PARTICIPATION
& WIC DOLLARS SPENT IN LOCAL GROCERY STORES ON FOOD
By Congressional District
We are also making progress on increasing exclusivity
and duration -- important for best health outcomes.
Reports are available on the MN WIC Website for
your use in learning more about breastfeeding rates in
your community.
The root causes of health disparities are complex.
WIC contributes to reducing health disparities through
nutrition counseling and supplemental food to improve
pregnancy outcomes, supporting breastfeeding,
and providing referrals to meet other needs.
PAULSON
KLINE
BACHMANN
NOLAN
ELLISON
WALZ
PETERSON McCOLLUM
WIC HEALTH DATA
For a complete factsheet: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/wic/statistics/wicfacts/0214.pdf
WIC Turns 40!
Did you know that WIC turns 40 years old in 2014?
We are planning for some 40th anniversary celebration activities and materials
over the next 6-months and will be providing information about how local WIC
agencies can get involved. Research the history of WIC in your community and
check out the National WIC Association’s 40th anniversary website at
www.WICturns40.org
1960’s
1966
1969
1972
1974
1975
Hunger and
malnutrition
major problems
in our country.
Child Nutrition
Act of 1966
A White House Conference issues recommendations for
the nutritional needs of low-income pregnant
women and preschool children.
Growing public concern and a group of physicians
responding to nutrition-related ailments among their
patients formed the building blocks
of the WIC Program.
WIC was formally
authorized
by an amendment to
the Child Nutrition Act
of 1966 as a 2-year
pilot program
WIC
operating
in 45 states,
including
Minnesota.
WIC was
established
as a permanent
program
2
THE WORD ON WIC
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WIC OUTREACH
2nd
Perinatal
Hospital
Leadership
Summit
Hosted by the Minnesota
Breastfeeding Coalition (MBC)
On May 6, 2014, the MBC hosted its second Perinatal Hospital Leadership
Summit for all maternity centers in Minnesota. The purpose of this event was
to encourage birthing centers to provide an environment where breastfeeding
is supported and can get off to the best start possible. Exclusive breastfeeding
in the early days is key to extending duration and to avoiding formula
supplementation without a medical reason.
The first Hospital Summit, held in May 2013, received rave reviews from
attendees. This year’s Summit brought together hospital leaders from around
the state to learn about best practices in mother-baby care that supports
breastfeeding.
MDH Commissioner Ed Ehlinger presented on disparities in breastfeeding
rates and how alleviating these disparities can reduce infant mortality.
He issued a call to action for hospitals to become Baby-Friendly designated.
Perinatal experts spoke about the infant and maternal benefits of breastfeeding,
strategies for quality improvement in mother-baby care, and evidence-based
practices to reduce early elective inductions.
Supporting exclusive breastfeeding during management of medical issues
(such as hypoglycemia and jaundice) were also addressed. Managing these
conditions will help hospitals increase their exclusive breastfeeding rates.
A panel of local hospitals shared their experiences and efforts to implement
the WHO’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in their facilities.
As more hospitals seek Baby-Friendly Hospital designation and improve
their exclusive breastfeeding rates as required by Joint Commission, the
MBC plans to continue assisting birth centers with their efforts by providing
educational Summits and technical assistance workshops. You can see more
details about past MBC events and where local breastfeeding coalitions in
Minnesota are located at http://mnbreastfeedingcoalition.org/
Participant
Quotes
Breast
FEEDING
10 STEPS
Have a written
policy
❶ breastfeeding
that is communicated
all health care
❷ Train
staff in skills necessary
all pregnant
❸ Inform
women about the benefits and
WIC makes a difference
every day in lives
of families and individuals
in Minnesota.
It is gratifying to hear
about the impact directly
from those affected.
“My family is eating
so much healthier since we’ve
been on WIC - more fruits and
vegetables, healthier cereals and
more string cheese.”
management of breastfeeding
mothers initiate
❹ Help
breastfeeding within half
an hour of birth
mothers how
❺ Show
to breastfeed and how
to maintain lactation even if they
should be separated from their
infants
newborn infants
❻ Give
no food or drink other
“There is such great
variety in the WIC
foods - I love it!”
“I love getting
information... and
seeing the growth chart.
It is also nice to hear
when you are doing
something right.”
than breast milk unless
medically indicated
rooming-in
❼ Practice
allowing mothers and infants
to remain together - 24 hours a day
breastfeeding
❽ onEncourage
demand
no artificial teats
❾ orGivepacifiers
to
breastfeeding infants
Refer mothers to
❿ breastfeeding
support
CONNECT WITH US INPUT IDEAS QUESTIONS CONCERNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
groups on discharge
“WIC not only gives you food,
but also nutrition information to
make better choices.”
We’d love to hear how
WIC is impacting
individuals and families
in your communities.
Please share your success
stories and quotes with
us at health.WIC@
state.mn.us.
THE WORD ON WIC
3
COVER STORY CONTINUED
WIC SERVICES
PARTICIPANT RATE RAISED
During the last several years,
federal funding for Minnesota WIC
has been forecasted to decline.
However, although initial WIC
funding was not quite as high
as previous years, the final total
after reallocations has exceeded
forecasts for two
years in a row.
"...fine
While we are
quality
pleased with the
services
final funding
Minnesota
amounts, we could is known for"
make better use
of funds if we
received earlier
notification from USDA.
In the three years since rollout, the WIC system
(HuBERT) has undergone rapid development
and improvement. We have had the opportunity
to design, develop, test and implement hundreds
of system modifications, including:
■ M
any enhancements to improve system
flexibility and user efficiencies; to meet
regulatory requirements (e.g., federal processing
standards); and to implement program changes
(such as extending the certification period, and
implementing mid-certification assessments).
■ Continuous and ongoing correction of issues
We expect the number of releases to decrease this year as we transition to more
EBT planning activities. Strategic planning priorities identified by the Executive Steering
Committee from the system users group include improving system performance throughout
the system lifecycle, addressing federal and state accessibility requirements,
and developing the Universal Interface with EBT.
WIC BY THE NUMBERS
Redeemed Vouchers
MARCH 2014
78,040
FRUIT&VEGETABLE
VOUCHERS
COVER STORY CONTINUED
WIC EBT PLANNING
The PAPD request to USDA includes the following components and schedule:
2014An RFP for a planning contractor to be published in late fall
2015The planning contractor scheduled to begin in
early spring will have responsibility for surveying vendors,
preparing implementation planning documents and an RFP
for the EBT vendor.
293,705
STANDARD
VOUCHERS
536,217
$
$7,557,008
STANDARD VOUCHERS
4
THE WORD ON WIC
FRUIT&VEGETABLE
VOUCHERS
We believe this funding rate is
sustainable. We hope it helps
WIC agencies continue to provide
the fine quality services for which
Minnesota is known.
2016
Publishing and awarding the Implementation RFP.
2017-18
Design and development of the EBT system
2018
User Acceptance Testing and piloting of EBT
2019-20
Roll out and full operation of EBT
On April 24, 2014 USDA approved our proposed process and timeline. The next step
is to complete the funding grant request for submission when technology grants
are available. We know that participants are looking forward to using EBT for WIC
since the card looks like a credit/debit card making WIC transactions look more like
other transactions. EBT will also be a more secure environment for WIC transactions.
We are all looking forward to this change!
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
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