WIC CIAO Update February 2024
WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project Update
In 2023, Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, a center of the University of South Dakota, was one of 36 WIC CIAO grant awardees. The project includes outreach to families with young children, free transportation to WIC-participating families, and free learning opportunities for service providers working with families and young children.
In South Dakota, WIC provided healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling and referrals for 13,725 participants, including 1,647 pregnant and postpartum individuals, 3,020 infants up to 12 months, and 7,983 children up to age 5 every month, on average this fiscal year (Oct. 2022 – Feb. 2023).
In 2020, only 50% of all eligible individuals nationwide participated in WIC, equating to a shortfall of almost 6 million individuals. The WIC CIAO Project aims to change that by expanding partnerships with community organizations and using community-level data to develop and implement innovative WIC outreach efforts.
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 support.
FREE Transportation Available
WIC families can now dial 211 for FREE transportation for WIC-eligible grocery shopping and WIC clinic appointments.
WIC participating families in the Sioux Falls and Rapid City areas have access to free transportation to WIC clinic appointments or grocery shopping (using WIC benefits). Car seats are not provided. Dial 211 to schedule 24-hours in advance.
Please share this flyer with families who are WIC-participating or could be WIC-eligible.
Family Resource Page Launched
In partnership with Helpline Center, a searchable Family Resource page funded through WIC-CIAO is now live (beta) at https://familyresources.helplinecenter.org.
Resources may be sorted by zip code and type. The curated page pulls from 2-1-1 Helpline Center’s database, so please encourage those who serve South Dakota children and families to keep their listings updated. The page will soon be available in 10 languages.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Several upcoming free trainings are available for those working with parents and families.
Poverty Simulation Experience held at USD-Sioux Falls Campus
- March 7 (registration still available)
- May 2 (registration still available)
- July 11 (registration now available)
Cultural Competency Series
- In-Person at The Coliseum, Sioux Falls Thursdays, beginning June 13 from 11:30am to 1:00pm
- Online Sessions Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm beginning July 16
- On-Demand – request a Cultural Competency session or mix of sessions for your team. On-demand requests can be completed online or in-person (within Sioux Falls)
Empathy and Person First Training held online
Community Resiliency Model held at USD-Sioux Falls
Community Outreach Continues
To date, the WIC CIAO project has participated in 18 community events, reaching more than 1,000 families with information about WIC eligibility and benefits.
Upcoming WIC Outreach will take place at:
- March 5: Susan B. Anthony Health & Wellness Fair
- March 21: Prairie West Library Family Resource Night
- April 6: Spellerberg Park Healthy Living Day
If your community or organization is hosting an event that you think could benefit from WIC Outreach, contact [email protected] with event date and time, location, and other details.
