Project Grant 20247704043097

This $400,000 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program (CFDA 10.223) aims to engage in an expansive and equitable outreach and recruitment project at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The project will cultivate diverse baccalaureate level graduates who are trained to support optimal infant nutrition and prepared to enter the USDA's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food workforce as Certified Lactation Counselors (CLC). Key activities include conducting outreach to promote CLC careers, recruiting 80 lactation fellows, and implementing interventions to improve their graduation rates and placement at WIC programs. Each fellow will receive lactation competency training, CLC exam preparation, exam fees, and experiential learning at WIC programs. The project will also provide career and leadership development support as well as funding for fellows to attend USDA-sponsored events and participate in industry mentorship. This initiative aims to bridge the breastfeeding initiation gap among WIC parents from underserved communities and address food insecurity challenges by expanding lactation support within the WIC program.