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Section 6.2: General Nutrition Education 4/2020 References: 7CFR 246.11, WIC Nutrition Services Standards Policy: The local agency must make nutrition education available to WIC participants or caregivers according to federal and state requirements and to meet the nutrition education needs of families. Purpose: To ensure that WIC participants receive adequate nutrition education intended to improve the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants, and children. Procedures ▪ Local agencies must designate a Nutrition Education Coordinator to plan and evaluate the agency’s nutrition services. See Section 4.3: Competent Professional Authority (CPA) Qualifications and Responsibilities ▪ All participants must be offered nutrition education at a rate equivalent to quarterly during each certification period. ▪ Provide nutrition education at the time of certification and mid-certification. See Section 6.3: Initial Education and Section 5.10: Mid-Certification. ▪ Provide additional nutrition education, or High Risk Care, at a rate equivalent to quarterly during the certification period. See Section 6.7: Additional Education and Section 6.6: High-Risk Individual Nutrition Care Plan. ▪ Nutrition education should: ▪ address the individual’s nutritional risks and nutritional interests ▪ emphasize the relationship between nutrition, physical activity habits and health ▪ be appropriate to the literacy level of the participant and easily understood ▪ meet the cultural and language needs of the participant ▪ Nutrition education is a benefit of the program and will be provided at no cost to the participant. ▪ Staff may not withhold WIC food benefits from participants who fail to participate in nutrition education.

S E C T I O N 6 . 2 : G E N E R A L N U T R I T I O N E D U C A T I O N 2 Guidance Provision of Nutrition Education ▪ Create and offer options to reduce barriers to nutrition education. Options include education in WIC clinic, by telephone or video call, or through self-guided modules (see Remote Nutrition Education for options). These options allow participants to choose how they would like to receive nutrition at follow-up visits. ▪ If multiple nutrition and health needs for education are identified, the CPA should prioritize those needs and focus education on just 1 or 2 topics. ▪ Use delivery methods/mediums and approaches that are appealing, creative, relevant, and interactive to engage the participant, as well as create opportunities for feedback. Examples include: ▪ Participant Centered Services (PCS): PCS is a counseling approach that helps participants identify their own motivation for change and set individualized, simple, and attainable goals; provides clear and relevant “how to” actions to accomplish those goals; and tailors nutrition education to the needs of the participant. ▪ Technology such as telephone, video calls, and computer modules when appropriate. ▪ Materials that reinforce the education message such as educational cards, a newsletter, video, bulletin boards, and displays. These materials supplement counseling, not replace it. ▪ Incorporate community/national nutrition and physical activity messages (e.g., Fruitsandveggies.org; Dietary Guidelines for Americans; Healthy People Goals; The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding; Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans; Bright Futures Nutrition). ▪ Promote WIC as an adjunct to good health care. Reference – Complete Listing of Hyperlinks WIC Nutrition Services Standards (https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/wic-nutrition- services-standards) Section 4.3: Competent Professional Authority (CPA) Qualifications and Responsibilities (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch4/sct n4_3.pdf) Section 6.3: Initial Education (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch6/sct n6_3.pdf) Section 5.10: Mid-Certification (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch5/sct n5_10.pdf)

S E C T I O N 6 . 2 : G E N E R A L N U T R I T I O N E D U C A T I O N 3 Remote Nutrition Education (https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/localagency/edchoice/index.html) Participant Centered Services (https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/localagency/training/pcs/index.html) Fruitsandveggies.org (https://fruitsandveggies.org/) Dietary Guidelines for Americans (https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/) Healthy People Goals (https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople) The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/resources/calltoaction.htm) Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (https://health.gov/paguidelines/) Bright Futures Nutrition (https://www.brightfutures.org/nutrition/) Minnesota Department of Health - WIC Program 625 Robert St N, PO BOX 64975, ST PAUL MN 55164-0975; 1-800-657-3942, health.wic@state.mn.us, www.health.state.mn.us. To obtain this information in a different format, call: 1-800-657-3942 This institution is an equal opportunity provider.