Recruiting Clinics and Training Staff

Implementation will vary by state and location, depending on agency resources and the interest of the WIC clinics. The lead agency will need to decide whether to implement in all clinics or roll out to a few clinics or clinics in a limited region, scaling up to statewide later.

Developmental monitoring using milestone checklists has proven useful to WIC staff in Missouri, and many clinics and agencies across the country have adapted the Missouri model for their own use.Remember, however, developmental monitoring is not a requirement of WIC. Therefore, it will be necessary to promote the program by explaining the benefits to both WIC clients and WIC staff. In manycases, developmental monitoring can be considered an educational contact when linking nutrition and self-feeding skills to development. This will be a decision of your state WIC agency.

It is essential to have all the support pieces in place before recruiting clinics.

Support materials can be found at www.cdc.gov/WICGuide and include:

1. One-page flyer explaining the benefits of the program and what is involved
2. An Introduction to Child Development for WIC Staff training module
3. A website or implementation manual with any state-specific information for program implementation, including how to obtain materials, recommended referral sources, how to access technical assistance, training videos, and more
4. A laminated Deskside Reference Guide [176 KB, 2 Pages, 508] with step-by-step implementation instructions for each WIC staff person
5. A simple and sustainable strategy for how to train staff to implement the program; see “Training Staff” below
6. Printed checklists customized with any state-specific information and guidance for how to organize checklists in the clinic
7. CDC’s digital online milestone checklists
8. Environmental graphics with instructions on how to apply them them
9. A designated point of contact for clinics to call with questions or concerns

District and other meetings attended by WIC agencies and clinics are a good place to discuss the opportunity to participate in your Developmental Milestone Checklist Program and share a sample Deskside Reference Guide to illustrate ease of implementation. Your champion(s) can be very helpful in doing so.