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.

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.

Community Outreach Planned

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:

• July 11: Meldrum Park Block Party
• August 6: Emerson Park Block Party
• August 15: Hayward Park Block Party

If you would like to volunteer or be a vendor the upcoming block parties, complete this form.

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.

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
This activity is designed to allow participants to experience and gain insights into the complex issues associated with poverty. We all know that you cannot truly “escape” poverty in 90 minutes, but can you survive a day in the life of someone in the crisis of poverty?

• July 11 (registration now available)

Cultural Competency Series
A series of seven training topics that covers cultural awareness, working with interpreters, cross-cultural communication, and more.

• In-Person at The Coliseum, Sioux Falls Thursdays, beginning June 13 from 11:30am to 1:00pm
  • June 27: Cultural Awareness – Understanding Values
  • July 25: Refugee Resettlement 101
  • August 8: Diversity Panel Interview
  • August 22: Cross-Cultural Communication
  • September 12: Working with Interpreters
  • September 26: Culturally Competent Outreach and Engagement
• Online Sessions Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm beginning July 16
  • July 16: Cultural Awareness – Relating to Norms
  • July 30: Cultural Awareness – Understanding Values
  • August 6: Refugee Resettlement 101
  • August 20: Diversity Panel Interview
  • September 3: Cross-Cultural Communication
  • September 17: Working with Interpreters
  • October 1: Culturally Competent Outreach and Engagement
• 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
This online training, using empathy and person-first language when working directly with families of young children. Participants will learn to define what empathy is and is not; identify the factors that influence empathetic behavior; and explore techniques that enhance empathy skills.

• August 15 (limited to 20 registrants)
• October 17 (limited to 20 registrants)

Community Resiliency Model held at USD-Sioux Falls
Join us at USD Sioux Falls to learn about the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) to help strengthen your wellness with quick, simple skills. CRM is a biological model that teaches us how our mind and body are connected. CRM helps us understand how stress and trauma affect us, our nervous systems, and our emotions and behaviors. It gives us wellness skills to build resilience.

• September 20 (registration now open)

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.

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.