January 23 - 27, 2006 WIC Updates

TO: Local WIC Provider Administrators, WIC Coordinators and WIC Nutrition Coordinators
SUBJECT: Breastfeeding-Friendly WIC Clinics
SUBJECT: Reminder - Cultural Competency Survey (Second Sending)
SUBJECT: National Nutrition Month® Step Up to Nutrition & Health
SUBJECT: Local WIC Provider Planning Calendar for 2006
SUBJECT: New HANDS Refresher Training

1. The State WIC office is aware that promotional materials (in particular, coupons) from the contracted formula company have been sent to many Local WIC Providers. In our effort to provide a breastfeeding-friendly environment at our WIC c linics, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you that formula materials should not be on display in view of WIC participants. Please store and distribute these information about formulas, coupons, etc, wisely. For more information, contact K athy Mertzlufft at kathy.mertzlufft@dhss.mo.gov.
   
2. The State WIC office would like to thank those who already submitted the Cultural Competency Survey. If you have not submitted your completed survey yet, we would still like to hear from you. Please complete the attached survey and send the completed survey by January 26, 2006 to Kelly Dotterweich at Kelly.Dotterweich@dhss.mo.gov or fax to Kelly at 573-526-14 70. The information obtained from this survey will be vital in assessing and addressing these needs for training and resources. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Takako Tagami at 1-800-392-8209 or e-mail Takako.Tagami@dhss.mo.gov.
3. March is National Nutrition Month®. The theme for March 2006 is “Step Up to Nutrition & Health”. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eati ng and physical activity habits. The National Nutrition Month® 2006 key messages are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommendations. Please visit the websites below for more information:
   - Key Messages:
   http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/
   nutrition_1102_ENU_HTML.htm
   - Suggested activities for a food and nutrition fair:
   http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/
   nutrition_1099_ENU_HTML.htm
   
   If your agency has planned activities for National Nutrition Month and would like to share your plans and/or activities with other local WIC providers, please e-mail to Takako Tagami at Takako.Tag ami@dhss.mo.gov.
   
4. Attached is the new Local WIC Provider Planning Calendar for 2006. The calendar contains information that pertains to trainings, meetings and state holidays. The purpose of the calendar is to make your agency aware of upcoming events so you can better plan the year ahead. Information pertaining to many of the items will be sent out separately in more detail. For those items you will be given additional contact information . You may also access the information on the WIC website at www.dhss.mo.gov/wic. Questions about the calendar should be directed to Linda.Rost@dhss.mo.gov or call Linda at 1-800-392- 8209.
5. WIC is now offering a HANDS Refresher Training beginning in March 2006.
   This training will be offered four times per calendar year.
   The Refresher HANDS training is an optional training but may be required for an employee returning to WIC after a break in service in lieu of the regular HANDS Training.
   
   The prerequisite for attending this training is that the trainee must have attended the full HANDS training previously.
   
   Agenda items may include but are not limited to:
   Using the WIC Operations Manual
   Participant Transfers (In-State and Out-of-State)
   Direct Entry (only as it pertains to HANDS)
   Using the manual FI program
   FI replacement procedures
   FI Custodian duties & procedures
   
   The training is currently scheduled for 1½ days and will be conducted in Jefferson City. Training dates for 2006 are March 14-15, April 25-26, September 13-14, and October 11-12. If a class has less than five trainees signed up, the class will be canceled.
   
   The attached registration form has been updated to include HANDS Refresher Training. If there are any questions about HANDS Refresher training, please contact Melissa Seaver at 800-392-8209 or e-mail at melissa.seaver@dhss.mo.gov.