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Objectives 1. Continue to implement a biennial district nutrition education plan with additional state level support to educate WIC enrolled women and children of the health benefits of WIC foods and breastfeeding, including how both breastfeeding and WIC foods can help improve overall health, growth, chronic diseases, and reduce food insecurity. 2. Continue to develop/revise WIC nutrition education publications for clinic use to ensure current nutrition and breastfeeding recommendations are included and make resources available in Spanish, as applicable. 3. Encourage a statewide increase in the number of secondary nutrition education (SNE) contacts offered by promoting the use of WICHealth.org, which documents topic completion in Crossroads, and/or allowing SNE contacts via telephone for participants between required face to face visits. 4. Continue to provide training for staff working in the WIC program to include Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA), nutrition counseling strategies and other needs identified by District Nutrition Directors and/or State Office staff. 5. Continue efforts to develop and implement in-reach and outreach efforts that highlight WIC promotion, information distribution, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, program referral, staff development, and other applications. 6. Continue efforts to increase the number of breastfed infants. Data from October through May of the FY 2026 Alabama WIC Financial Management and Participation Report (FNS-798) indicate an average of 5,674 infants were breastfed between October 2025 and May 2026, representing 21.9 percent of participating infants. The number of breastfed infants served by Alabama's WIC program demonstrates sustained increases. 7. Ensure newly hired staff complete the WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum training, as indicated by role, through on demand virtual training sessions. 8. Encourage at least one WIC provider in each Alabama WIC district (local agency) to hold a lactation credential by funding educational coursework required for pursuing and renewing lactation certifications.

Goal Strengthen and sustain the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program by improving recruitment and retention, increasing program visibility, and expanding participant access to peer counseling services resulting in a more effective statewide program.

Objectives 1. Implement standardized onboarding training and ongoing support resources to improve program consistency across clinics. 2. Increase the number of Designated Breastfeeding Experts (DBEs) available to mentor and support Breatfeeding Peer Counselors by providing opportunities for Competent Professional Authorities (CPAs) to obtain breastfeeding credentials. 3. Review and pursue opportunities to increase compensation for Breastfeeding Peer Counselors to improve recruitment and retention. 4. Develop standardized referral processes and promotional materials to encourage timely referrals.