Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the center for research and…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the center for research and outreach (reach lab) at the university of minnesota will develop and implement a national training model that will support the current and future women, infant, and children (WIC) workforce. Through the development and provision of comprehensive resources around training, proactive coaching, and centralized technical assistance (TA), the WIC technical assistance and peer coaching (tapc) center will utilize an innovative approach to develop replicable learning opportunities for WIC professionals, leading to the retention of a highly trained WIC workforce that is attuned and responsive to the needs of the families served. The proposed approach revolves around three high-level system priorities as follows:a supported WIC workforce. A talented workforce should be supported by managers and supervisors skilled in workforce practices. The WIC tapc center will research and create a comprehensive foundation of resources and learning opportunities that will support key strategies to strengthen the WIC workforce. This approach will incorporate knowledge from across the WIC network and assist in CO-developing and fine-tuning competency-building learning resources, supports, and opportunities.replicable technical assistance and peer coaching (tapc) model. Competencies and approaches to working with WIC populations in service delivery fields are not traditionally included in academic degree programs or related continuing education. Therefore, staff at all levels need ongoing training and professional development to understand how approaches to service delivery more effectively support communities. Long-term learning that is not one size fits all, but unique to local contexts is essential. As part of a system of proactive TA and support to state and local WIC agencies, coaches will serve as an invaluable resource and offer centralized TA support in key WIC priorities. The network of coaches representing state and local WIC agencies will receive continual professional development on TA topics and engage in regular action planning and reflection alongside site stakeholders. Well-trained coaches will support high-quality implementation, leading to positive impacts within the target populations of WIC sites. By reflecting on the progress towards implementing a more responsive workforce, coaches and sites will continue to learn from and replicate the model across contexts.long-term learning opportunities. Existing learning systems within WIC do not provide a clear path for professional development and advancement opportunities. IT is unclear how critical competencies, needed to successfully support families, are evaluated, or considered when employees are hired, compensated, and/or promoted. The WIC tapc center will serve as a centralized coordinating body that evaluates, manages, and supports the development and implementation of TA tools, learning opportunities, and the work of the WIC coaches. A centralized resource and data hub will s, upport WIC sites in using best practices and cutting-edge research to design, implement, and evaluate efforts related to building a supported WIC workforce. The WIC tapc center serves as an important support to increase the ability of WIC administrators and professionals to better identify policy, systems, and factors and adapt methods to support recruitment and retention of a talented and responsive WIC workforce. Harnessing the frontline knowledge of existing WIC professionals will work towards building a better system and stronger workforce. In addition, the need for demonstrated impact, in short- and long-term outcome areas, is a priority for stakeholders. The WIC tapc center will provide the needed scaffolding for high-quality implementation of WIC programming using research-based methods that include individual process and outcome evaluation. WIC professionals will benefit from accessible and relevant support, coaching, and resources to support the hiring, training, and retention of the WIC workforce across the WIC network.