BACKGROUND:
The Indiana State Department of Health Immunization and Health Educators have revised the annual WIC and TANF trainings to better suit the staff needs. With support from WIC and TANF supervisors, these trainings now focus on the necessity for accurate immunization record reading.

OBJECTIVE:
To provide the WIC and TANF staff with the required Immunization training. This training of new staff creates an open forum to resolve a range of immunization questions and encourages the class to read immunization records proficiently and accurately; although all staff are encouraged and welcome to attend.

METHOD:
The original training was reevaluated with the help of 2003 WIC/TANF training evaluations. The one hour PowerPoint program is supported by a training manual. The “Importance of Vaccination” and the “Recommended Vaccines for Children” summaries are now included in the training packet for individual review. Current issues on VPDs are addressed and serve as continued encouragement of the importance of immunizations. There is a brief overview of the WIC and TANF requirements, reminder/recall, Indiana requirements, and exemptions. The training concentrates on record reading to identify and resolve confusion. The educators actively participate with the class in reviewing 5-7 sample records with varying levels of difficulty.

RESULT:
Of the combined 2004 WIC/TANF trainings, 87% said that the overall training was excellent or good; 98% said that they would use the information presented in their organization.

CONCLUSION:
The WIC/TANF training is a requirement established in cooperation of with the WIC/TANF agencies and the Immunization Program. Active participation of WIC/TANF supervisors has resulted in an immunization training program that best suits staff needs.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will learn how immunization education is crucial in achieving the WIC/TANF immunization requirements. Open communication and reviewing WIC/TANF needs provides staff with efficient immunization training.