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.

Child Health Outcomes and Social Determinants of Health

This month, with support from the U.S. Department Agriculture’s WIC Community Innovation and Outreach grant, the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the University of South Dakota will host, Jennifer Weber, MPH, RD, a national expert on child health, nutrition and wellbeing.

Weber has extensive experience working in state and national leadership roles. Her previous roles include Children’s Executive Portfolio Lead at the American Heart Association (AHA), Pediatric Systems Lead at Nemours, one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems, and at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics national policy office.

Weber will be speaking at various events throughout the state, and at the annual Community Response to Child Abuse Conference:

• September 30 from 1pm to 3pm at USD Sioux Falls’ Avera Hall, presentation is open to the public.
• October 1 from 12pm to 1pm at Kneip Building in Pierre, roundtable is by invitation.
• October 2 from 5pm to 6:30pm at Sanford USD Campus in Sioux Falls, lecture for students and residents.
• October 3 from 2:30pm to 3:30pm at USD’s Center for Health Education in Vermillion, lecture for undergrad and graduate students.
• October 4 from 9:30am to 10:45am at Sioux Falls Convention Center for Community Response to Child Abuse Conference registrants.

Details of Weber’s speaking appearances can be found at SDCPCM.com/Calendar.

The Process and Practice of Cultural Humility

This online training helps participants recognize the differences between cultural competence and cultural humility and identify tools to support increasing self-awareness in order to increase capacity for cultural humility.

• October 16

Maintaining Cultural Sensitivity When Working with Families

This online training will help participants learn how to be cultural sensitive in your care delivery, recognize cultural differences and address any barriers to care, and identify tools and ways to deliver care in a culturally sensitive manner.

• October 23

Empathy and Person First Training

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.

• October 17 (limited to 20 registrants)

Community Resiliency Model Training

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)

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
  • September 12: Working with Interpreters
  • September 26: Culturally Competent Outreach and Engagement
• Online Sessions Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm beginning July 16
  • 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)

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.

Helpline University Launched

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.