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.

   

WIC Research Impact Award Articles

Past Awardees:

• Anderson, C. E., Au, L. E., Yepez, C. E., Ritchie, L. D., Tsai, M. M., & Whaley, S. E. (2023). Increased WIC cash value benefit is associated with greater amount and diversity of redeemed fruits and vegetables among participating households. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(9), 101986.
• Barnes, C., & Riel, V. (2022). ​‘I don’t know nothing about that’: How “learning costs” undermine COVID-related efforts to make SNAP and WIC more accessible. Administration & Society, 54(10), 1902-1930.
• Nitto, A. M., Calloway, E. E., Anderson Steeves, E. T., Wieczorek Basl, A., Papa, F., Kersten, S. K., & Hill, J. L. (2022). State Agencies’ Perspectives on Planning and Preparing for WIC Online Ordering Implementation. Nutrients, 14(21), 4447. 

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 

Leadership

Co-Chairs
Harry Zhang, PhD
Professor
Community & Eniornmental Health 
Old Dominion University

Leslie Hodges, PhD
Research Agricultural Economist
USDA, Economic Research Service

Fellow
Elaine Ganninger
[email protected] 

Liasions 
FRAC Liasion​
Alex Ashbrook
Director of Nutrition Policy & Early Childhood Programs
[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)
Elizabeth Racine, DrPH, RD (Past Co-Chair) 
Christen Gaskin, MPH (c) (Summer Intern 2020)
Alek Ostrander, MPH, RDN (c) (Summer Intern 2020)
Angela Miller, MPH (Summer Intern 2020)
Caitlin Lowery (Collaborative Fellow)
Megan R. Winkler, PhD, RN (Past Co-Chair)
Cayley Ryan-Claytor (Fellow)