About
The HER NOPREN WIC Learning Collaborative is a team of researchers, practitioners, and advocates committed to improving the health of women who are pregnant and lactating and infants and young children through improved research, policy and practice of the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This Collaborative is a joint effort of Healthy Eating Research (HER) and the Nutrition and Obesity Policy and Research Network (NOPREN). The Collaborative falls under the work of the HER NOPREN Healthy Food Retail Working Group and is building stronger collaborations with the HER NOPREN Early Childhood Working Group.
About WIC
WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for income eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Individuals that qualify for WIC are only allowed to use their benefits on select pre-approved food items. The benefits of WIC include reducing premature birth, reducing fetal and infant deaths, improving maternal vitamin and mineral intake, and increasing access to regular healthcare. Learn more about WIC by listening to the HER NOPREN Student Summer Series WIC Overview.
Mission
Build a multidisciplinary learning collaborative made up of researchers, practitioners, funding agencies, and advocates committed to improving the health of women who are pregnant and lactating and infants and children from 0 to age 6 through improved research, policy and practice of the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This work includes:
- Fostering strong collaborative relationships with the HER NOPREN Healthy Food Retail Working Group and the HER NOPREN Early Childhood Working Group, among other NOPREN Working Groups
- Building strong liaison relationships with Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), National WIC Association (NWIC), among other relevant advocacy groups and professional organizations; and,
- Placing special emphasis on addressing the needs of lower-income and racial/ethnic minority populations at highest risk for low diet quality and obesity.
Help build the evidence-base and accelerate the translation of evidence aiming to strengthen the public health impacts of WIC by:
- Creating a collaborative space to learn about relevant data and research projects;
- Identifying knowledge gaps and opportunities;
- Facilitating joint projects or multi-site collaborative projects; and,
- Helping to foster the next generation of WIC researchers, practitioners, and advocates.
Group Papers/Projects
- HER Brief: Strengthening WIC’s Impact During and After the COVID‑19 Pandemic
- USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Vendor Criteria: An Examination of US Administrative Agency Variations
- The Risk of Homemade Infant Formulas: Historical and Contemporary Considerations
Work Group Meeting Schedule
|
Date |
Topic |
Speaker(s) |
|
10/10/2019 |
Building a WIC Learning Collaborative |
Sheila Fleischhacker & Elizabeth Racine |
|
11/7/2019 |
Overview of Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) WIC Activities |
Geri Henchy |
|
12/12/2019 |
Overview of the National WIC Association's WIC Retail Priorities for Child Nutrition Reauthorization --- Overview of AND's WIC Retail Relevant Priorities for Child Nutrition Reauthorization |
Brian Dittmeier ---
|
|
12/17/2019 |
Overview of the USDA WIC USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Program Integrity and Monitoring Branch --- USDA FNS Office of Policy Support --- USDA Economic Research Service |
Amy Herring & Patricia Baile
Courtney Paolicellli & Ruth Morgan --- Joanne Guthrie |
|
1/16/2020 |
USDA RFA Regarding WIC Telehealth |
Erica Hennessy & Harry Zhang |
|
2/13/2020 |
The Hopkins/USDA Participant Research Innovation Laboratory for Enhancing WIC Services (HPRIL) --- Public Charge Rule Updates and WIC Implications |
Sue Gross
Sheila Fleischhacker |
|
3/5/2020 |
HER Roundtable |
|
|
3/26/2020 |
COVID-19 WIC Relief Responses and Remaining Needs - Perspectives from NWIC and FRAC |
Elisabet Eppes and Geri Henchy |
|
4/9/2020 |
COVID-19 WIC Relief Responses and Remaining Needs - Perspectives from NWIC and FRAC |
Elisabet Eppes and Geri Henchy |
|
4/30/2020 |
COVID-19 WIC Relief Responses and Remaining Needs - Perspectives from NWIC and FRAC |
Elisabet Eppes and Geri Henchy |
|
5/14/2020 |
United Fresh WIC CVV Legislative Developments |
Mollie Van Lieu |
|
6/11/2020 |
Online WIC Study |
Betsy Anderson Steeves, Meghan Zimmer, Elyse Kovalsky, & Maria Ashley |
|
7/9/2020 |
WIC Custom Data Processing |
Jim Chilcoat & Boyd Neal |
|
8/13/2020 |
Emergency/Pandemic Plan for Johns Hopkins WIC Local Agency |
Patricia Bell-Waddy, Rhonda Wicks, Susan Gross, & David Paige |
|
9/10/2020 |
The Risk of Homemade Infant Formulas - Emerging Issues for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists |
Farryl Bertmann, Caroline Dunn, Elizabeth Racine, & Sheila Fleischhacker |
| 10/8/2020 | COVID-19, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition | Daniel Raiten |
|
11/19/2020 |
The Importance of WIC-Academic Partnerships: Lessons from Southern California |
Shannon Whaley |
|
1/14/2021 |
Findings from the USDA's WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (ITFPS-2) |
Courtney Paolicelli, Lorrene Ritchie, Christine Borger, & Shannon Whaley |
| 3/18/2021 | Qualitative and Quantitative Research Evaluating Factors Associated with WIC Program Participation and Retention | Carolyn Barnes, Chelsea Singleton, & Sydeena Isaacs |
| 5/27/2021 | Overview of the WIC Special Project Innovation (WSPI) Grants | Matt Shafer, Aja Croteau, & Rachel Wright |
| 7/22/2021 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Vendor Criteria: An Examination of US State Agency Variations | Matthew Landry |
CONTACTS
Elizabeth Racine, DrpH, RD
Professor of Public Health Sciences
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
[email protected]
Harry Zhang, PhD
Associate Professor
Community & Environmental Health
Old Dominion University
Liasions
FRAC Liasion
Geri Henchy, MPH, RDN
Director of Nutrition Policy & Early Childhood [email protected]
NWA Liasion
Noora Kanfash
[email protected]
CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Liaison
Kate Reddy, MS
Health Scientist, Early Care and Education Team
[email protected]
Past Leadership Team Members
Sheila Fleischhacker, PhD, JD (Co-Founder & Co-Chair Oct 2019-Sept 2020)
Christen Gaskin, MPH (c) (Summer Intern 2020)
Alek Ostrander, MPH, RDN (c) (Summer Intern 2020)
Angela Miller, MPH (Summer Intern 2020)