Heather Reed, M.A., R.D., California WIC Program

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Family Centered Education

• What is Family Centered Education?

• A Touch of Class

• The ABC’s of FCE

• FCE Pilot Insights

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About WIC

• Women, Infants and Children’s Supplemental Nutrition Program– Federally funded by USDA

• California WIC serves 1.3 million low income, participants at nutritional risk– pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and infants and

children up to age 5

• WIC provides nutrition education, checks for nutritious food, and referrals

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WIC Moves in a New Direction

• Learner centered is at the heart of WIC education

• Family activities involve all learners

• Parents take the learning home

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WIC Children Get Ready for School

In a study of 500 California WIC families…..

• Less than 10% read to their children

• Majority had only 5 books

• Most thought school was the place to learn; not home

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What is Family Centered Education in WIC?

• Parents and children having fun together learning about nutrition

• Parents helping their children get ready for school while at WIC

• Parents and children interacting with each other in a positive way

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Parent-Centered

Parents talktogether

Kids play with toysin the back of theroom

Family-Centered

Learning is in thecontext of families

Supports parents inroles of caregiverand first teacher oftheir children

Engages parents andchildren in jointactivities that buildon strengths

Child-Centered

Children areengaged inactivities

Parents watchfrom thesideline

Family-Centered Education offers opportunities forNormalizing – parents “see” that others face similar challengesModeling – parents and facilitators share ideas in “real” life

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Five a Day

Jamming 5 a Day Music• Welcome• Mystery Veggie Bag• Book Sharing

– How Are You Peeling?

• Family Activity– Five A Day Count

• Take Home Learning

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Grocery Shopping with Families

Let’s Go to the Market• Welcome & Intro• Book Sharing

– A Feast for Ten

• Family Activity– Shopping Bag

– Learning Games

• Take Home Learning

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Grow Your Own Garden

Dirt Made My Lunch• Welcome• Warm-Up Activity• Book Sharing

– Growing Vegetable Soup

• Family Activity– Planting a seed

• Take Home Learning

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The ABC’s of FCE…

• Interesting to the child?

• Meaningful to adult?

• Models positive family interactions?

• Promotes parent as first teacher?

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WIC Family Centered Nutrition Activities

• Nutrition book sharing

• Container gardening

• Mystery food bags

• Nutrition songs

• Supermarket games

• Tasting activities

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Making It Family Centered

• Who is your audience?

• What is your message?

• How can you engage the family?

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2002 FCE Pilot Evaluation

• 18 California WIC Agencies

• Needs Assessment and Evaluation

• 200 FCE classes in English and Spanish

• Evaluation-surveys, focus groups and interviews-1440 WIC participants, 50 WIC educators

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Pilot Insights

• Learn more about the families

• Make room for FCE– more space, time,

materials, preparation

• Build a FCE community

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Making Connections

• 2003-Six California WIC Agencies are working with others to expand FCE

• Partners-Head Start, School Districts, Libraries, Child Care Programs, EFNEP

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California WIC Family Centered Education

Lesson plans, evaluation report, and resources at www.wicworks.ca.gov

For more information: Heather Reed MA, RD Nutrition Training Specialist California WIC Program Phone (916) 928-8523

3901 Lennane Drive, Sacramento CA 95834

hreed@dhs.ca.gov or FAX to (916) 928-0518