20243959443816
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
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 critical cultural competencies, proactive peer coaching (PC), and centralized technical assistance (TA), the WIC Technical Assistance and Peer Coaching (TA-PC) Center will utilize a holistic and 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 unique contexts of the families served.
The proposed approach revolves around three high-level system priorities as follows: a supported, culturally responsive WIC workforce.
A talented workforce should be hired from the populations WIC serves, but they must be supported by managers and supervisors skilled in workforce affirming practices for a culturally diverse workforce.
The WIC TA-PC Center will research and create a comprehensive foundation of resources and learning opportunities that will support key WIC strategies that develop a more culturally resonant workforce.
This approach will incorporate unique contextual 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 (TA-PC) model.
Competencies and approaches to working with diverse cultural 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 culturally resonant approaches to service delivery more effectively support multicultural 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, peer coaches will serve as an invaluable resource and offer centralized TA support in key WIC priorities.
The network of diverse peer 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 peer 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 culturally resonant workforce, coaches and sites will continue to learn from and replicate the model across contexts.
Sustainable 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 cultural competencies, needed to successfully support diverse families, are evaluated, or considered when employees are hired, compensated, and/or promoted.
The WIC TA-PC 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 peer coaches.
A centralized resource and data hub will support WIC sites in using best practices and cutting-edge research to design, implement, and evaluate efforts related to building a culturally responsive workforce.
The WIC TA-PC Center, grounded in human-centered design theory and respect for the individuals who use WIC and who work for WIC, serves as an important support to increase the ability of WIC administrators and professionals to better identify policy, systems, and contextual factors and adapt methods to support recruitment and retention of a diverse, more culturally responsive WIC workforce.
Harnessing the frontline, contextual knowledge of existing WIC professionals will work towards building a better system and stronger more reflective workforce.
In addition, the need for demonstrated impact, in short- and long-term outcome areas, is a priority for stakeholders.
The WIC TA-PC 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 development of a sustainable systems-wide, culturally responsive workforce across the WIC network.
Through the development and provision of comprehensive resources around critical cultural competencies, proactive peer coaching (PC), and centralized technical assistance (TA), the WIC Technical Assistance and Peer Coaching (TA-PC) Center will utilize a holistic and 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 unique contexts of the families served.
The proposed approach revolves around three high-level system priorities as follows: a supported, culturally responsive WIC workforce.
A talented workforce should be hired from the populations WIC serves, but they must be supported by managers and supervisors skilled in workforce affirming practices for a culturally diverse workforce.
The WIC TA-PC Center will research and create a comprehensive foundation of resources and learning opportunities that will support key WIC strategies that develop a more culturally resonant workforce.
This approach will incorporate unique contextual 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 (TA-PC) model.
Competencies and approaches to working with diverse cultural 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 culturally resonant approaches to service delivery more effectively support multicultural 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, peer coaches will serve as an invaluable resource and offer centralized TA support in key WIC priorities.
The network of diverse peer 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 peer 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 culturally resonant workforce, coaches and sites will continue to learn from and replicate the model across contexts.
Sustainable 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 cultural competencies, needed to successfully support diverse families, are evaluated, or considered when employees are hired, compensated, and/or promoted.
The WIC TA-PC 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 peer coaches.
A centralized resource and data hub will support WIC sites in using best practices and cutting-edge research to design, implement, and evaluate efforts related to building a culturally responsive workforce.
The WIC TA-PC Center, grounded in human-centered design theory and respect for the individuals who use WIC and who work for WIC, serves as an important support to increase the ability of WIC administrators and professionals to better identify policy, systems, and contextual factors and adapt methods to support recruitment and retention of a diverse, more culturally responsive WIC workforce.
Harnessing the frontline, contextual knowledge of existing WIC professionals will work towards building a better system and stronger more reflective workforce.
In addition, the need for demonstrated impact, in short- and long-term outcome areas, is a priority for stakeholders.
The WIC TA-PC 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 development of a sustainable systems-wide, culturally responsive workforce across the WIC network.
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
55455-2009
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Regents Of The University Of Minnesota was awarded
WIC Workforce Development: Culturally Responsive Training Model
Cooperative Agreement 20243959443816
worth $5,000,000
from the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Minneapolis Minnesota United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 10.244 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – National Workforce Strategy Development.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce – Implementation Projects.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 9/20/24
Period of Performance
9/15/24
Start Date
9/14/29
End Date
Funding Split
$5.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$5.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
20243959443816
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
1234HU INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION (IFSN)
Funding Office
1234HU INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION (IFSN)
Awardee UEI
KABJZBBJ4B54
Awardee CAGE
0DH95
Performance District
MN-05
Senators
Amy Klobuchar
Tina Smith
Tina Smith
Modified: 9/20/24