WIC TAPC Center Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Pregnant, recently pregnant, and breastfeeding women, infants and children under 5 years old who meet income requirements are eligible for WIC benefits. WIC provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to other services to those who are enrolled.
Learn more about the WIC Program at a Glance.
The USDA’s National WIC Workforce Strategy, led by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and funded by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), aims to strengthen the current and future WIC workforce, support specific needs outlined by USDA, and support the overall WIC modernization effort.
The WIC TAPC Center is a part of the overall WIC Workforce Development Initiative based on the recommendations in the National WIC Workforce Strategy developed by the University of Minnesota Extension. The aim of this larger initiative is to:
- Conduct a job study to research the work that must be performed at every layer of WIC delivery to identify specialized roles and explore consistent job titles for those who are performing this work.
- Develop long-term learning opportunities for frontline staff, supervisors, and managers through a national WIC technical assistance and peer coaching model.
- Develop continuous and systematic ways to understand the WIC workforce perspective on core workforce engagement issues including employee engagement, workforce trends such as tenure and turnover, work climate, and learning needs for advancement and professional development.
- Study and explore how policies and procedures affect the quality of WIC services delivered to families.
Within these larger goals, the WIC TAPC Center is developing and implementing a training and coaching model in partnership with WIC staff across national, state, and local levels to strengthen and support both the current and future WIC workforce. As this workforce is the heart of WIC’s continued impact, the TAPC Center aims to support and foster their learning and development opportunities on a nationwide basis.
Learn more about the WIC Workforce Development Initiative with USDA NIFA.
This work is supported by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) National Workforce – Implementation Projects: Development of Training Model and Potential Pilot, project award no. 2024-39594-43816, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Learn more about the WIC Workforce Development Initiative.
WIC Technical Assistance and Peer Coaching Center (TAPC) is seeking dedicated professionals and community members to help us strengthen WIC services across the country. We are looking for individuals who bring practical insight, on-the-ground experience, and a passion for shaping evidence-based resources that reflect real community needs. To drive this work forward, we are recruiting for three distinct program roles.
Pilot Sites
State and local WIC agencies selected to spearhead the implementation of the "Support and Growth of the WIC Workforce" curriculum. These sites will:
- Serve as early adopters and testers of the forthcoming Support and Growth curriculum.
- Partner with an external WIC Coach to receive dedicated technical assistance and deployment support.
- Apply Support and Growth principles actively to improve internal agency operations.
- Provide critical feedback on the effectiveness of the training materials and overall process.
WIC Coaches
WIC staff members who commit a portion of their time to mentor Pilot Sites. Coaches will:
- Level up skills by completing a year-long WIC Coaching Institute.
- Guide assigned Pilot Sites through the rollout of the Support and Growth curriculum.
- Provide tailored technical assistance to help sites develop action plans and achieve specific workforce goals.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Current or former WIC participants and/or experts in maternal and child health, public health nutrition, workforce development, community engagement, and related disciplines. Ideal candidates:
- Have experience supporting federally funded health or nutrition-related programs.
- Specialize in implementing community-based care.
Interested in becoming an SME? We hire Subject Matter Experts on a rolling basis throughout the project based on current needs. If you are interested or know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to us at WIC-TAPC@umn.edu.
Pilot Sites: State and local WIC agencies selected to spearhead the implementation of the "Support and Growth of the WIC Workforce" curriculum. These sites will:
- Serve as early adopters and testers of the forthcoming Support and Growth curriculum.
- Partner with an external WIC Coach to receive dedicated technical assistance and deployment support.
- Actively apply Support and Growth principles to improve internal agency operations.
- Provide critical feedback to on the effectiveness of process and training materials.
WIC Coaches: WIC staff who commit a portion of their FTE to mentor Pilot Sites. Coaches will:
- Complete a year-long WIC Coaching Institute.
- Guide assigned Pilot Sites through the rollout of the Support and Growth curriculum.
- Provide tailored technical assistance to help sites develop action plans and achieve specific workforce goals.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Individuals who are current or former WIC participants and/or experts in maternal and child health, public health nutrition, workforce development, community engagement, and related disciplines who:
- Have experience supporting federally funded health or nutrition-related programs.
- Specialize in implementing community-based care.
SMEs may be hired on a rolling basis throughout the project based on current need. If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in joining this project as a Subject Matter Expert, please contact WIC-TAPC@umn.edu

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