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Community Partnerships

Improving Client Provider Communication: Evaluation of a Training Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Professionals in New York State

This study evaluated an intensive 1-day training program to improve the growth monitoring counseling skills of WIC providers.  The researchers; patient-centered approach focused on a seven-step technique that emphasized eliciting the clients perspective on the child's health and negotiating follow-up strategies. Study results suggested that counseling skills of non-physician health providers could change after a 1-day focused training: Providers were more client centered in their discussions. Limitations and implications of the study were also discussed.

Factors Associated with Underimmunization at 3 Months of Age in Four Medically Underserved Areas

This study examines coverage rates and factors associated with underimmunization at 3 months of age in four medically underserved areas. Vaccination coverage levels at 3 months of age varied across sites: They were 82.4% in northern Manhattan, 70.5% in Detroit, 82.3% in San Diego, and 75.8% in rural Colorado. Among children who were not up to date, the majority (65.7% to 71.5%, per site) had not received vaccines because of missed opportunities.

Effects of WIC Participation on Children’s Use of Oral Health Services

The authors estimated the effects of the WIC Program on dental services use by Medicaid children in North Carolina. According to the results, children who participated in WIC had an increased probability of having a dental visit, were more likely to use preventive and restorative services, and were less likely to use emergency services.

Maternal Characteristics Associated with Vaccination of Young Children

The authors analyzed maternal characteristics associated with vaccination in US preschool children. Results showed that factors most strongly associated with undervaccination included mothers who were black; had less than a high school education; were divorced, separated, or widowed; had multiple children; were eligible for WIC, but not participating; or had incomes below 50% of the federal poverty level.

Caries Prevalence of Children in an Infant Oral Health Educational Program at a WIC Clinic

The study compared the prevalence of caries between children whose parents had previously participated in an infant oral health education program at a WIC clinic with those whose parents had not participated in such a program. The study results showed that parents ; previous WIC education program participation was highly associated with lower carious lesions. The research indicated that WIC could have a positive impact on caries prevention.

Improving the Health of Infants on Medicaid by Collocating Special Supplemental Nutrition Clinics With Managed Care Provider Sites

The study objective was to determine whether collocation of WIC clinics at managed care provider sites improved healthcare for infants enrolled in Medicaid and WIC. The findings revealed that compared with other infants, those who visited collocated WIC sites were either closer to their age-appropriate weight or had higher immunization rates when recertified by WIC staff after their first birthday.

Development of Supplemental Nutrition Care Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Korea: NutriPlus(+)

A public health nutrition intervention was developed in Korea, modeled after WIC. Using combinations of 11 different food items, six food packages were developed. The intervention included nutrition education and promotion of breastfeeding. The result of a 3-year pilot study will be reported separately, along with the outcomes of the nationwide implementation of the NutriPlus(+) nutrition education program in 2008