WIC Workforce Development Initiative

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will work collaboratively to develop a national workforce strategy for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to help shape the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles across the broader nutrition services workforce.

Overview

The WIC Workforce Development multi-year initiative will increase:

Cultural representation of the WIC workforce
WIC program participation among eligible populations
WIC participant self-efficacy by providing culturally responsive care

This initiative is supported with $21 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

This announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The National Strategy provides a roadmap of actions the federal government will take to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 – all while reducing disparities. The National Strategy was released in conjunction with the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, hosted by President Biden on September 28, 2022.

National WIC Workforce Strategy

The National WIC Workforce Strategy aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the goals of increasing WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled and increasing WIC participants’ likelihood of adoption nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

Eligibility

Applicants for the National WIC Workforce Strategy Development (NWWSD) must meet all the requirements discussed in the RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. The Eligibility includes State Agricultural Experiment Station; colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; non-profit organizations, Federal agencies; Governmental agencies, national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and any group consisting of two or more entities mentioned. It is important to know that eligible institutions do not include foreign or international organizations.

Request for Applications (RFA)

Thank you for your interest in the GusNIP competitive grant programs. This funding opportunity is closed. At the beginning of each fiscal year, NIFA publishes the for the Upcoming RFA Calendar for all NIFA funding opportunities. This calendar is regularly updated. Use the link below to access a copy of the Request for Application (RFA) and the Technical Assistance Webinar.

Link: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – National Workforce Strategy Development (NWWSD) 2023 RFA