The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM), a center of the University of South Dakota, has been awarded a grant to implement a WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project (WIC CIAO). The WIC program aligns with several child abuse prevention strategies by providing support and education to parents, strengthening families, building social connections, screening for risk factors, and providing parenting supports. WIC has been shown to provide wide-ranging benefits, including longer, safer pregnancies, with fewer premature births and infant deaths; improved dietary outcomes for infants and children; improved maternal health; and improved performance at school.

The WIC-CIAO project offers USD students experiential and service learning opportunities at outreach events in the Sioux Falls area that aim to reach underserved populations. Here are some of the activities students could assist with at outreach events:

• Helping WIC staff take height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements.
• Helping Delta Dental apply fluoride varnishes.
• Screening for lead levels.
• Providing positive, persuasive messaging about WIC.
• Providing education about WIC eligibility requirements and benefits.
• Recruiting eligible participants for focus groups and a survey.
• Engaging with families to collect qualitative data about their experiences with WIC.

If you are a USD student interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.