KEYWORD1:
WIC,Collaboration,Education

BACKGROUND:
The new USDA/WIC Policy Memo #2007-1 requires immunization screening for children enrolled in WIC. In response to this requirement the Colorado State Health Department WIC and Immunization Programs partnered to develop a traveling educational program to the assist local WIC staffs when evaluating immunization records and making immunization referrals.

OBJECTIVE:
Explain the new policy
Provide information on vaccine-preventable diseases and minimum vaccine requirements
Describe the vaccine referral process
Provide tools that WIC staff could use during WIC clinics
Reduce anxiety concerning additional work for local WIC Staff
Stress shared resources between Immunization and WIC Staff

METHOD:
The Colorado State Immunization Program and the Colorado State WIC Program Staff co-presented a multi-media program at 6 Regional WIC Meetings throughout Colorado. A valuable component of the training was the "hands on experience" of interpreting immunization records (including records from Mexico). A total of 283 WIC administrators, nutritionists, educators plus Public Health Nurses attended the trainings. WIC personnel were encouraged to contact the immunization personnel in their communities for assistance. In Colorado, Local Health Departments and Local Nursing Services receive annual Immunization Service Contracts. One item in their scope of work is a requirement for immunization collaboration with WIC. Local WIC staff can therefore expect to receive technical assistance from local immunization programs.

RESULT:
The partnership among the state level WIC Staff and the Immunization Staff demonstated a committment to successfully implement Policy Memo # 2002-7. The trainings were evaluated and 98% of the participants stated that they understood the policy and had ideas about how they could implement it in their clinics.

CONCLUSION:
State level collaboration will lead to local collaboration. Interpreting the immunization requirements of the new policy must be presented in the simplest way possible to ensure positive results.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
Describe the positive value of integrating WIC and Immunization information.
Provide practical tools that could be adapted for use in their state.