USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are working collaboratively to implement the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Workforce Strategy.
Initiative Overview
The work under this initiative is based on the recommendations in the National WIC Workforce Strategy developed by the University of Minnesota Extension. to:
- Conduct a job study to research the work that must be performed at every layer of WIC delivery to identify specialized roles and explore consistent job titles for those who are performing this work.
- Develop long-term learning opportunities for frontline staff, supervisors, and managers through a national WIC technical assistance and peer coaching model.
- Develop continuous and systematic ways to understand the WIC workforce perspective on core workforce engagement issues including employee engagement, workforce trends such as tenure and turnover, work climate, and learning needs for advancement and professional development.
- Study and explore how policies and procedures affect the quality of WIC services delivered to families.
If these recommendations are implemented over the next five years, they will result in:
- A WIC Program that is innovative in meeting the changing needs of families.
- The ability to recruit and retain the best talent.
- Improved reach to populations that are eligible for WIC but not enrolled.
- An increased likelihood that WIC participants adopt nutrition education and breastfeeding support recommendations
National WIC Workforce Strategy
WIC Workforce - Implementation Projects
The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen WIC workforce through specific actions outlined in the WIC Workforce National Strategy and the WIC Workforce Implementation Projects NOFO. The WIC Workforce Implementation Projects align with the five recommendations outlined in the five-year National WIC Workforce Strategy developed to shape investments in supporting the current and future WIC workforce, support specific needs outlined by USDA, and support the overall goals of the WIC modernization.
Implementation Projects Program Areas
Projects shall research and document both State and local staffing models across WIC and similar public health or nutrition assistance programs. The grant is a Cooperative Agreement with a grant duration up to 48 Months and a maximum award amount of $5,000,000. One project was awarded.
Projects shall research and document current “paraprofessional” staffing models across WIC. The WWNP is a Cooperative Agreement with a grant duration of up to 60 months and an award range of $150,000 - 1,000,0000.
Projects shall research and document scholarship/funding programs that currently prepare students for prospective WIC careers. The WWSP is a Cooperative Agreement with a grant duration of up to 60 months and a maximum award amount of $2,000,000.
Projects must focus on development of training materials aligned with recommendations in the strategy. The WWTM is a Cooperative Agreement with a grant duration of up to 60 months and a maximum award amount of $3,000,0000.
Project must focus on developing and piloting a training model based on the recommendation in the Strategy. The WWTP is a Cooperative Agreement with a grant duration of up to 60 months and maximum award amount of $5,000,000.
USDA will also accept novel proposals, addressing one or more components of the strategy that haven’t explicitly been outlined in this NOFO. Is a Cooperative Agreement with a project duration of up to 60 months and an award range of $150,000-$1,000,0000.
Resources for Awardees
The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), is a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system.
*Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Additional Resources
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – National Workforce Strategy Development (NWWSD) 2023 RFANWWSD 2023 Technical Assistance Webinar
- NWWSD 2023 Frequently Asked Questions
- NWWSD 2023 Technical Assistance Q&A Session
- NWWS 2023 NIFA Reporting Portal (NRP)
- WIC Modernization | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce – Implementation Projects
- Grants Overview
- Data Management Plan for NIFA-Funded Research, Education, and Extension Projects
- Indirect Costs
- WIC Modernization | Food and Nutrition Service
For more information, reach out to the WICWD Team at WICWD Mailbox.