WIC OutreaCh
WIC servICes
WIC happenIngs
Building Bridges for Breastfeeding
upcoming Grant Process
State fair lactation Station
Workshop for health professionals hosted by WIC
2015 grants will rollout with new online system
Sponsorship with MyTalk radio 107.1 KTMy-fM
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MINNESOTA WIC NEWS fOr hEAlTh AdMINISTrATOrS, dIrECTOrS & COOrdINATOrS
One of our focuses is improving
the WIC shopping experience so that
families have a positive shopping
experience. While stores often mark
WIC foods, it can be difficult to pick
out the WIC foods among thousands
of items in the store.
We are working with CSC
to create a mobile Wic app for
Apple and Android that will
improve the Wic shopping
experience by making it easier
to identify Wic allowed foods.
WIC participants will use the camera
on their smart phone to scan uPC
barcodes and instantly verify if a
food is WIC allowed in Minnesota.
Participants will also be able to
manually enter a uPC or Plu barcode
to verify allowed foods. The app
is being designed to allow for the
addition of EBT functionality such
as, benefit balance, in the future.
The mobile app will go to pilot
in february 2015 and will rollout
statewide in the Spring 2015.
The 2015 WIC grant
will be a five year
grant and will be
rolled out using new
Mdh grant software.
In addition to the
WIC grant, the
peer breastfeeding
grant (for agencies
approved for
that grant) will
be completed in
tandem with the
WIC grant using
the new software.
the new grant
software will allow
the whole process
to be paperless.
More information
about the new
process will follow.
privacy &
data exchange
We have engaged with many
partners in the last few months
to discuss a potential State Plan
change to allow some limited
data sharing of a few Wic data
elements. The discussion is a step
toward consideration of a specific
change and submitting the plan to
uSdA for feedback and approval.
during recent months, we have
clarified current data privacy
requirements through the Wednesday
Update including an updated sample
release form. Any changes are likely
to take some time. Current data
privacy and release requirements
will continue. If a change is fully
approved, it will be an exception to
current requirements. Please support
the current data sharing and release
requirements until such time that
changes are approved, clarified and
part of the Minnesota Operations
Manual.
ebt
next steps
I
pcs
training
We are pleased
to report that
Participant
centered
Services (PcS)
training for Wic
staff has been
rolled out all
over the state
of minnesota.
To nurture and
sustain changes
in practice,
staff needs time
to meet and work
with mentors.
Please consider
how your agency
can support the
efforts of staff
to use PCS
practices in WIC
clinic practice.
reports
process
new
pcs
grant data
ebt
in the works
data
wic app
lOOKING AhEAd IN 2015: what's happening at wic...
grant
app
from the Director
JANuAry 2015
Birth
Outcomes
Weight Status,
Growth &
Anemia
Participation
& Demographics
WIC
Other Data
& Reports
Breastfeeding
Health
Risks
reports
on health
disparities
Minnesota WIC has
county-level data and
reports on Breastfeeding,
obesity, Birth outcomes
and cigarette Use readily
available for your use.
These data may help you
to do community health
assessment, measure
achievement in local and
ShIP health objectives, as
well as to evaluate and
respond to WIC programrelated purposes.
These data and reports can
be found on the Minnesota
WIC Reports and Data
web pages (http://www.
health.state.mn.us/divs/
fh/wic/localagency/
reports/index.html).
Betsy
Wic heAlth DAtA
Peer Breastfeeding Support
The WIC Peer Breastfeeding Support Program began in 2005 in 8 counties.
Peer counselors are hired from the communities they serve and are trained to
provide support for normal breastfeeding to WIC pregnant and new mothers,
using USDA’s Loving Support© through Peer Counseling model.
Peer counselors are now available in 23 counties and 2 tribes.
Koochiching
Bois Forte
Cook
Lake
Itasca
Grand Portage
Fond du Lac
Aitkin
Carlton
Peer Program
No Peer Program
Anoka
Lincoln Lyon Redwood
Hennepin Ramsey
Carver
Bloomington
Scott
Goodhue
Pipe- Murray
stone
Rock
Olmstead
Freeborn
Fillmore Houston
in the neWS
recently, Minneapolis adopted
an ordinance requiring all grocery
stores in the city to carry fresh fruits
and vegetables and other healthy foods.
Since huBErT roll-out, MN WIC has been able to gather peer program-specific data allowing us to compare
those receiving peer services and those who are not. data gathered and entered by peer agencies provide
an opportunity to see how these services impact breastfeeding outcomes and explore the different types of
interventions used.
Infants born during 2012
whose mothers participated
in the peer breastfeeding
support program, were
significantly more likely to
initiate breastfeeding and
have longer duration rates
at 3, 6, and 12 months
when compared
to mothers who enrolled
in the peer program, but
who did not participate.
b r e a s t F e e d i n g i n i tat i o n & d U r a t i o n
By Peer Breastfeeding Support Program Participation•For Infants Born During Calendar Year 2012
90
80
70
60
50
Participated 2,004
Didn't Participate 1,154
State WIC 31,709
40
30
20
10
0
Initiated
3 months
6 months
12 months
Peer breastfeeding support program rates of initiation and duration are also significantly higher than
statewide WIC rates. Moving ahead, we are looking at the impact on breastfeeding of the various
types of contact (i.e. phone, text, face-to-face) peers use with their clients. This will assist us in
promoting best practices, and using peer resources most effectively.
Outreach
Materials
for healthcare Providers
thanks to a grant from hunger-Free
Minnesota, we have developed new WIC outreach
materials targeted at healthcare providers. We know
from WIC participants how powerful a referral to WIC
can be from a trusted healthcare provider. We also
know that physician and healthcare providers don’t
always know how to refer patients to WIC or how
WIC can help in meeting some of the goals they have
for patients’ health. The new materials will address both
The requirements look very much like
the WIC requirements. We are pleased
to see that the WIC requirements are
used as a way to move toward a
healthier food environment
for all Minnesotans!
these barriers.
There is a new brochure targeted specifically for
healthcare providers about the benefits of WIC and a
handy new referral tool called WIC Rx that providers
can use to write a WIC ‘prescription’ for patients
to check WIC out at a local clinic.
These new materials will be sent directly to physicians
in Minnesota in January and also made available for
local agencies and others to use when working with
healthcare providers to promote WIC.
CONNECT WITh uS INPuT IdEAS QuESTIONS CONCErNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
the WOrD On WIC
2
Wic oUtreAch
Wic ServiceS
building
bridges
here are a few of the comments we received from
participants when asked... “What was most helpful?"
“Knowing that hospitals an
learning the same things as d clinics in the area were…
all give the same messages WIC staff. This way we can
to breastfeeding Moms.”
for breastfeeding duration
Building Bridges for Breastfeeding duration is a
half-day workshop bringing together local public health
professionals and staff from birthing centers, to provide
current information about breastfeeding and promote
evidence-based practices.
eeding and preparing
“How to educate moms on breastf need to do a better
them to breastfeed. I think that wech and talking more
job at not talking formula as mu
about breastfeeding”
Other comments...
that to help us help other
“We need more classes likeastfeeding.”
moms struggling with bre
uPCOMINg
wic
grant
aPPlICatION PROCeSS
the current Wic grants are in place
through December 31, 2015. however,
we are already planning and preparing for the
grant application process so that new grants
will be in place before the current grant cycle
ends. Minnesota department of health has new
web-based grants management software that
is currently being implemented gradually across
Mdh. The WIC Program will be utilizing the new
online software for the grant announcement and
application process. This will mean that applicants
will apply for the WIC grant via a web-based
system with electronic submission.
“I am actually IBCLC, and it
It was offered by the WIC Program in four locations in
so many community people was so refreshing to see
Minnesota in 2014. The workshop, offered free of charge
breastfeeding successful! Theall committed to make
through a uSdA grant, was coordinated by local WIC staff
new to me…” (While WIC ha"laid back breastfeeding" was
breastfeeding for a number of s been teaching “laid-back”
in cooperation with others
years, many attendees
% in the community and the state ind
Yes
icat
ed this i%
WIC Office. In addition to sharing current information,
s new inform%
ationNo
for the%
m.)
No, but likely will
the workshop is designed to bring together providers to
y ability to explain
build consistency in messages, encourage networking
“I feel more confident in mpor tant.”
and ongoing collaboration, and to introduce others to the why breastfeeding is so im
services WIC offers.
3%% We are excited about this change and believe it will
no PlAnS Yet
allow all parties involved in the grant application
78%
98%
HaVe alReaDY USeD the informAtion
98
78 25
OF PaRtICIPaNtS
leArneD USefUl informAtion
at tHe WORKSHOP
3
Yet
25% NOt
But PlAn to
Participants that stated they learned useful information
Participants that have used information from the workshop
Attendees completed an evaluation the day of the
workshop and were also sent an evaluation electronically
several weeks after the training. 113 (29%) completed
the electronic post-workshop evaluation.
The WIC staff that coordinated the workshop in their areas
talked about how it helped to work with the hospital, and
to meet people from clinics and hospitals that they had
wanted to meet and build relationships with.
State WIC Consultants
Red Lake
Bois Forte
NW
NE
White
Earth
Grand Portage
Fond du Lac
Leech
Lake
Mille Lacs
WC
Hennepin
EC
SW
Metro
SC
and management process to utilize web-based
technology for functions that have previously relied
largely on paper. The WIC grant application process
will begin in approximately february/March 2015
with the rfP and the application materials being
posted on the Mdh website and notification to
current WIC grantees. Watch for more information
on WIC Grants after the first of the year.
Minneapolis
Edina
Richfield
Bloomington
SE
wic regions: Once fully implemented in mid-2015,
the state will be divided into 8 different regions.
The state WIC Program has begun making a transition from two WIC consultants (i.e., Program
and Nutrition Consultant) working with each local agency, to one State WIC Consultant
(with nutrition expertise) assigned to local agencies within a region, to support and monitor local
agencies. So far this transition has occurred in the southeast, southwest and the northwest regions
of the state.
When we spoke with WIC Coordinators around the state,
they told us what they want in a WIC Consultant:
“Someone who is available, accessible, responsive,
timely, knowledgeable, approachable, proactive;
helps with problem solving;
and provides encouragement and support.”
We also heard that in most cases the current consultant model is working quite well. agencies who
have moved from two Consultant to one Regional Consultant like the change and say they don’t
have to think about which consultant to contact when a question comes up.
CONNECT WITh uS INPuT IdEAS QuESTIONS CONCErNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
the WOrD On WIC
3
w
"I am so grateful for the
lactation station at the
fair... it makes going
with an infant doable
instead of daunting."
"Thank you for providing this service for us
breastfeeding moms! It was nice to sit in a
comfy chair and nurse my daughter comfortably."
-nuRSIng MoTheR
"...I had several good conversations about WIC
with women who stopped in..."
-WIC STaff
-nuRSIng MoTheR
"The lactation station rOCKS!! Thanks for the
cozy environment to feed our babies."
"It was SuPEr! Everyone was very appreciative of the space,
toys for tots, water, chairs, supplies, fans and air conditioning...
I was able to give them a brochure that had (WIC) information...
I explained that it's not a program ony for "low income people"
but a nutrition program for healthier pregnant women, nursing
-WIC STaff
mothers, and healthy kiddos.""
-nuRSIng MoTheR
"...there was a great deal of gratitude for having
this space available. Many of the mothers came
-WIC STaff
back more than once..."
WIC SponSoRed
Lactation station
This past august the Mn WIC Program sponsored a “lactation station” at the Mn State fair. The Mn
WIC program contracted with Mytalk radio (107.1 KTMY-fM), for exclusive sponsorship of the
radio’s Lactation Station at the 2014 Mn State fair, for over 300 on-air WIC promotional spots over
9 weeks in august & September, and a prominent “presence” on the radio’s website – generating lots
of positive buzz on social media!
This venture was extremely successful – increasing WIC’s visibility, highlighting WIC’s support of
breastfeeding (and in doing so, changing some peoples’ perceptions of WIC!), and providing a
pleasant place for nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies or pump. In addition to the service
we offered nursing mother and the positive pR for WIC, it proved to be a wonderful collaboration
with hennepin Co. WIC, who scheduled volunteers to assist at the station throughout the fair, and
who worked closely with Mdh and My Talk Radio, to ensure the space was clean, well-stocked,
comfortable and calm.
The response was extremely gratifying – wonderful, appreciative feedback from women using the space
(both fair-goers and fair-workers!) and from WIC staff who volunteered – some of them commented on
how it made them proud to work for WIC!
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
10
comfortable
nursing
chairs
in the
lactation
Station
more than
10,000 bags
with WIC outreach materials given out
350
or mentions of the
WIC program
over 9 weeks in August
on-aIr sPoTs and September 2014
hundreds
Wic By the nUmBerS: At the 2014 Minnesota State fair
of diapers
used
10 days of participation by
n
forMula
dozens
of WIC Staff from 7 local agencies
CONNECT WITh uS INPuT IdEAS QuESTIONS CONCErNS 800.657.3942 [email protected]
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the WOrD On WIC
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