Training - Personnel

Local Agency New Employee Orientation

Refer to your human resource director and WIC Policies 300.10 and 300.11 for guidance on minimum local agency orientation requirements.

New Employee Focus Training

Complete Focus Training and Homework (policy 300.12)

WIC staff must complete data system training before being granted security rights to the data system production system. To schedule Focus training WIC coordinators need to send a New User form to WICHD@idph.iowa.gov to schedule a three hour training with the state office. The New User form and additional information can be found on the Focus Security tab. Additional on-the-job training must be provided by someone of equal security rights. 

• Iowa WIC Focus Appointment Quick Guide 

New Employee Training Course (NETC)

Modules, Online Courses and Activities

Level 1

Level 1 NETC Modules will help build a common knowledge base about program operations while emphasizing a team approach. Level 1 modules need to be completed within 1 month of hire for all required staff. At the conclusion of each module the online post-test is required.

• Orientation module and training activities   Updated September, 2020
  • Orientation module Post-test
• Screening module and training activities   Updated July, 2020
  • Screening module Post-test
• Nutrition Risk Factor module and training resources   Updated November, 2020
  • Nutrition Risk Factor Post-test
• Food Package module   Updated July, 2020
  • Food Package Post-test

Level 2

Level 2 NETC Modules address nutrition and breastfeeding topics, discuss the normal nutritional needs for participants, and identify resources for use in providing nutrition services. Level 2 modules need to be completed within 6 month of hire for CPA's, Non-CPA professionals, Health Professional Lead Staff and WIC coordinators. At the conclusion of each module the online post-test is required.

• Basic nutrition module   Updated February, 2021
  • Basic nutrition module Post-test
• Pregnant and postpartum module ​ Updated February, 2021
  • Prenatal and postpartum module Post-test
• Breastfeeding module   Updated February, 2021
  • Breastfeeding module Post-test
• Infant nutrition module  Updated February, 2021
  • Infant Nutrition module Post-test
• Preschool module  Updated February, 2021
  • Preschool module Post-test

Note: Post-tests are to be taken after you have finished reading the corresponding module. Once you finish the test and click submit you will get a popup box. Click on "View Score" and review your answers.  If you answered any questions incorrectly you will want to close out of the review and go back to the pop up box and click on "Edit your Response".  Review those parts of the policy/module again that you missed and correct those answers before submitting them again. After you have corrected your test and resubmitted your response you can close out and proceed to the next step in your New Employee Training. 

• Public Health Alphabet Soup  
• WIC Dictionary  

Level 3 modules are currently under construction and will be available in the near future.

Additional New Employee Trainings

Blood borne Pathogen Training

All employees at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens must take this training within the first month of employment and annually thereafter. See Policy 300.10 and 360.60 for additional information about the required training.

Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Training

Mandatory child and dependent adult abuse reporters include nurses and dietitians. See policy 300.10 for additional information on the required training.

Civil Rights

All personnel should complete the Civil Rights Training during new employee orientation and then annually thereafter. Upon completion of the training rember to record it on your Staff Training panel in the WIC data system..

• Civil Rights Training  
• Quick Guide to Civil Rights  

Prepare Iowa Learning Management System (PILMS) Training

There are a few training modules that staff are required to take through the PILMS system. See policy 300.10 for additional information about these required trainings.

Local Agency WIC Coordinator Training

Training requirements for new WIC Coordinators are outlined in policy 300.10.

Local Agency Staff Continuing Education

Complete Continuing Education - Participation in continuing education events offers WIC personnel the opportunity to learn new skills, increase competence, and maintain professional credentials. All information should be recorded in the staff Training panel of the WIC data system.  (policy 300.10a).

For more information on WIC training and staff development see Policy 300.10 or contact your state WIC consultant.

Step-by-Step: Client-Centered Skills for WIC Counselors

This program is designed to complement WIC staff training. The focus here is on the basic skills that are the foundation of quality nutrition counseling. It is recommended that you work these units slowly over a number of weeks. This allows you to practice one skill at a time. It can take a lot of practice to incorporate these skills so it's a good idea to cycle back through the units again every six months or so.

This program has been offered on the "honor system". This means you are welcome to download the handouts and MP3 files to save for your use but please do not share outside your WIC Program. http://www.mollykellogg.com/StepWIC6h.html

The cost is $15 per RD. To complete, go online to the link above and submit payment. You will then send the form which includes how many hours spent on it, to Molly Kellogg. Molly will provide a certificate for the number of hours claimed on the form. For RNs: If additional information is required by the state Board, Molly is typically able to assist with that. Please not that this information will have to be submitted to the Iowa Board of Licensure.

Wichealth.org Academy

Wichealth Academy is an online training designed to help you learn how to use, promote and integrate wichealth.org into your daily clinic workflow. The entire training consists of nine courses which contain 26 lessons in all, and would take about one hour and 50 minutes to complete in its entirety. (You can start and stop it as needed and come back to it.) This training can be found on the wichealth.org support site. https://www.wichealth.org/support You will need a staff account to complete the training. To obtain a staff account with wichealth.org, you will need to email: help@wichealth.org with your first and last name, email address, state, agency and clinic. Once your request has been approved, they will send you an invitation to create your account and then you can start the training. Below you will find the required form to use when completing the training. The form lists the required courses according to staff role along with any additional requirements.  Upon completion obtain your supervisor's signature and file with your other training records.

Wichealth.org Academy- Iowa Requirements