Participant-centered Education: Building a New WIC Nutrition Education Model

Objective: To assess the readiness of the Western Region Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) states to implement participant-centered nutrition education (PCE) and to develop a PCE model for WIC service delivery. Design: Formative research including on-line survey, qualitative in-depth interviews, focus groups, and observational assessments. Setting: WIC clinics within the Western Region WIC states. Participants: State and local staff and WIC clients within 8 states, 2 tribal organizations, and 2 territories. Phenomenon of Interest: Readiness indicators of states to implement and expand PCE elements to include in PCE model development. Analysis: On-line surveys were collected and analyzed. On-site assessment forms, interviews, and focus group findings were collected, coded, and summarized by themes. Results: Key themes from state and local findings guided the model development for PCE implementation in the Western Region WIC states. The PCE model must be flexible and systems oriented, contain strong training and mentoring components, and integrate cultural sensitivity to best reach program participants. Conclusions and Implications: The PCE model has the potential to improve WIC nutrition services and enable participants to make positive health-related behavior changes that will influence long-term health issues. Further outcome studies are needed to determine the success of PCE implementation in the Western Region WIC states.