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.
Initiative Efforts
Resources