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Program Functional Area 2: Nutrition Services, Breastfeeding Promotion and Support* Goal 2: Improve the nutritional and overall health of WIC families in Connecticut. By September 30, 2024, Objective 2.1: At least 35% of pregnant women participating in the WIC Program for a minimum of 6 months gain appropriate weight. Objective 2.2: The incidence of low birth weight (LBW) among infants whose mothers were on the WIC Program for at least six months during pregnancy does not exceed 4%. Objective 2.3: The prevalence of anemia among children enrolled in the WIC Program for at least one year does not exceed 7.5%. Objective 2.4a: The prevalence rate of BMI > 85th percentile to < 95th percentile for children 2-5 years does not exceed 15%. 2.4b: The prevalence rate of BMI > 95th percentile for children 2-5 years of age does not exceed 10%. Objective 2.5: At least 80% of infants enrolled in the WIC Program (have mothers who) initiate breastfeeding. Objective 2.6: At least 60% of infants enrolled in the WIC Program are breastfed for 6 months or more. Objective 2.7: Monitor the maintenance of CT-WIC via policy revisions, provision of State and local agency staff training and technical assistance, update of CT-WIC user manuals/helpfiles and participant training materials. Objective 2.8: Local agency liaisons will make at least 1 in-person visit or phone call to each local agency to provide technical assistance in FY 2024.

Objective Strategies/Activities Baseline Indicators Progress 2.1 At least 35% of pregnant women participating in the WIC Program for a minimum of 6 months gain appropriate weight.

Through State MER chart audits and observations investigate baseline data for MWG indicators to determine areas for local agency improvement and recognize areas of local agency competence.

Review of local agency LAPs and show that few local agencies have implemented the Tell Me More (TMM) About You tool in prenatal appointments in FY23.

As a result, the State agency developed a required strategy for local agencies to use TMM About You in FY24.

A baseline will be established using results reported in FY25 LAPs.

The State agency will facilitate collaboration among Program Nutritionists in the last quarter of 2024 WIC Objective: ≥ 35%

FFY 2019 Target: ≥ 35% Average: 27.7% Range: 13.5% - 46.3%

FFY 2020 Target: ≥ 35% Average: 26.5% Range: 7.1%-40.2%

FFY 2021 Target: ≥ 35% Average 27.0% Range: 6.9-74.3%

2022 Target: ≥ 35%* Average 27.5% Range: 4.9-42.9%

2023 Target: > 35%* Average 28.3% Range: 11.6% - 47.5%

2024 data pending. Data Sources: FFY2019-2021: CT- WIC MIS (Management In- formation System).

CT-WIC Quarterly & Annual Outcome, Summary & Trend Reports.

MER chart reviews and Observations.

Improvement in trend data over time for low performing agencies.

There has been some steady improvement in the statewide average (28.3%) and range for the MWG objective. Prenatal weight gain recommendations were documented 70% of both charts reviewed and observations. One of three agencies reviewed in FY24 struggled with adequately discussing weight gain recommendations during observations and failed to appropriately document. In one local agency while staff reviewed weight gain recommendations there is limited evidence in documentation that staff partnered with participants to establish goals to ensure