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Careers In

Gayle Schachne, RD, MPHDirector, WIC Program

Northeast Valley Health Corporation

The WIC Program

WIC is the federally funded food andnutrition education program for low-income nutritionally at-riskpregnant, breastfeeding andpostpartum women, infants andchildren under age five.

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The WIC Program

The WIC Program is not an entitlementprogram. Congress reauthorizes funding forWIC every three years.

The United States Department of Agricultureprovides administration and oversight for theWIC program under the Food and NutritionSection of the USDA.

The WIC Program

The USDA in turn allocates fundingto all States and Indian Nations underaffirmative action and a fundingformula which accounts for potentialeligible in each State.

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CALIFORNIA WIC

California has the largestnumber of WIC Participants inthe nation and is dedicated toimproving the nutrition andhealth of over 1.3 millionwomen, infants and children.

The WIC Program

The WIC Program providesopportunities to work at the Federal,State, and Local Levels. USDA – Food and Nutrition Services -

Federal Level WIC Branch of the Department of Health

Services – Each State Level County and Private Non-Profit Agencies – the

local level

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIESIN THE WIC PROGRAM

WIC provides a variety of careeropportunities not just for Dietitiansbut for Health Educators, FinanceMajors, Health Administration, andother related fields, such asManagement of Information Systems.

Opportunities for Dietitians

Nutrition assessment and education Key to WIC is the need for Dietitians to

do nutrition assessment and counselingfor clients assessed as high risk.

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Opportunities for Dietitians(cont’d)

Nutrition Education curriculumdevelopment. Designing nutrition classes for group

education.

Administration/Management Managing Staff and a facility for WIC

Northeast Valley HealthCorporation

Career path in a healthcare agency WIC – Dietitians are hired as Clinic Supervisors

Manage a staff Manage a WIC site Manage Participant education and counseling -

Act as the principal clinician for participants assessedas high risk according to WIC Procedures.

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Northeast Valley HealthCorporation (cont’d)

WIC Department Nutrition Education Materials development Breastfeeding Information and Referral

materials development Special Projects

Coordinate a project Work on a State Committee Assist with Training paraprofessional staff Act as Preceptors to Dietetic Interns

Northeast Valley Health CorporationWIC Employee (cont’d)

30 Registered Dietitians and Degreed Nutritionists 97 Paraprofessionals 3 Breastfeeding Promotion & Support

Professional Staff 6 Information & Referral Representatives Ancillary Support, administrative assistants,

warehouse, mailroom and courier clerks, MISsupport

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WIC Participants

Total Enrolled 73,000

Total Participation Monthly Average

March, 2005 - 66, 330 participating

Requirements for WICEmployment

Dietitians preferred – Completed an internshipDegreed Nutritionists – B.S. - DieteticsParaprofessionals with some college preferred,

however, high school diploma requiredSupport services must have some experience in the

posted job specification

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Desired Requirements

Languages – Bilingual – desired but notessential to being hiredSpanish/EnglishArmenian/EnglishKorean/Chinese/EnglishMid-Eastern Languages/English

Languages (cont’d)

WIC is a multicultural nutrition programKnowledge of cultures and the language

of a culture is highly desirable, however,as a WIC employee, training is providedin areas of cultural competency andSpanish language to enable theprofessional to do Dietary Assessment.

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SPECIFIC TRAINING

Knowledge of Human Lactation ishighly desirable, however, as a WICemployee, the professional willreceive education in human lactation,and if funding is available, will besent to a certificated program inLactation Education

SPECIFIC TRAINING

Maternal and Child Health All staff receive various levels of training in Maternal

and Child Health Nutrition as well as Infant and ChildDevelopment.

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NORTHEAST VALLEY HEALTH CORPORATIONWIC PROGRAM INTERNSHIP

NEVHC WIC Program provides a Dietetic Internshipwhich is accredited by the Commission onAccreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)

The purpose of the WIC sponsored internships is toprepare Dietitians to work in community nutritionand more specifically to work in the WIC Program.

WIC INTERNSHIPS

WIC Internships are available throughoutthe California WIC Programs

Clinica Sierra Vista WIC – Bakersfield, KernCounty

Public Health Foundation Enterprises WIC –Irwindale, Los Angeles county

San Diego WIC – San Diego, San Diego CountyCentral Valley WIC – Reedley, Merced, and Madera

Fresno and Madera Counties

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VISIT A WIC PROGRAM

The WIC Programs, wherever, you decideto go, extends an invitation to the DieteticIntern or Student to visit and observe aWIC clinic in action.

There are opportunities to work at WICas volunteers as well as summeremployment in some agencies.

WIC information can be found in thebrochure “California WIC – CareerOpportunities and Dietetic Internships

HAS A CAREER FORYOU

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