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The 2026 WV WIC Training Conference, held February 10 through February 12, 2026, provides important training to the West Virginia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) employees regarding WIC materials, policies, and the operational quality improvement initiative. The conference is meant to bring together employees from across the state for training, the opportunity to learn from each other through networking, and team building. Attendees will leave the event knowledgeable, empowered and energized to support WIC’s mission. All WIC staff will have 12 CEU hours available per policy 11.01 - WIC Staff Training. No additional CEUs will be available for Registered Dietitians through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).View Frequently Asked Questions
Sponsors
February 10-12, 2026.
The welcome session will begin on Tuesday, February 10th at 8:30 AM ET.
February 10, 2026 08:30 am
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Heidi StaatsFebruary 10, 2026 09:00 am
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Clancy dramatically shifts the conversation around food, health, and social responsibility. She inspires audience members to reflect deeply on their own assumptions, motivations and biases, and finally, help people to make a positive impact both on a personal and an organizational level.
Clancy shares how her journey of self-awareness, vulnerability, and courage transformed her approach to hunger relief. She connects with her audience by sharing her narrative as a recovering food elitist and reveals how her professional mission transformed for the better after peeling back her layers of food privilege as a registered dietitian.
Audience members awaken (or in many cases reinvigorate) their sense of professional responsibility to create food dignity for everyone. An enlightening, action-packed presentation full of well-sourced statistics and personal stories will lead your audience in a voyage of self-discovery and ultimately, real and lasting change.
Clancy Cash HarrisonFebruary 10, 2026 10:00 am
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February 10, 2026 10:15 am
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This session offers a deep dive into the practical application of the new food package changes within the MIS Crossroads system. We will utilize screenshots to clearly demonstrate how new substitutions are managed and review the updated default food packages being implemented on the food prescription screens. A live Q&A session will follow to address technical and implementation questions.
Matthew Parker
Robin Anderson
Sara Smith
Theresa Murcko
Kathy LeggFebruary 10, 2026 10:45 am
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Live Q&A session to address technical and implementation questions.
Theresa Murcko
Matthew Parker
Sara Smith
Robin Anderson
Kathy LeggFebruary 10, 2026 11:00 am
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With the implementation of the new food package, these changes will need to be reflected in stores as well as promoted at the clinic. This session will cover a brief overview of main changes of the improved food package, what tools are available for clinic staff, participants and at the store, and provide WIC staff to ask questions related to the tools. By understanding the tools available, WIC staff can help promote the improved food package at multiple levels from the clinic level to the store level.
Alanna Foster
Heidi StaatsFebruary 10, 2026 12:00 pm
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February 10, 2026 01:00 pm
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The Nutrition Division's presentation on the 2026 Food Package Changes will provide an overview of how WV WIC State Agency reviews the Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR Part 246.1, to instruct and guide how the revised food package is to be implemented across the state.
Topics covered will include:
Jennifer Habeb
Kara NapierFebruary 10, 2026 02:00 pm
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February 10, 2026 02:30 pm
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Matthew Parker
Kara Napier
Alanna Foster
Chloe SotomayorFebruary 10, 2026 02:30 pm
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This session will focus on those sociocultural perspectives in breastfeeding and women’s health care in general, along with the barriers in which an Appalachian parent will face during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Data will be shared from a recent research study on lactation professionals in Appalachia.
Stephanie HutchinsonFebruary 10, 2026 02:30 pm
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This session will cover common misconceptions and disbeliefs for recipients of public benefits in WV. Participants will review ways that misconceptions are spread and work to discover ways to combat misconceptions.
Stephanie Vunderink-StegerFebruary 10, 2026 03:30 pm
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February 11, 2026 08:15 am
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Alanna Foster
Alanna FosterFebruary 11, 2026 08:30 am
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The retail landscape in West Virginia is in constant flux. Understanding these changes in relationship to political and economic dynamics at the national level is important, particularly because WIC depends on retail environments to redeem benefits. In this session we will place WIC programming within the broader geographies of food and nutrition in the Mountain State through an overview of the WV FOODLINK atlas and a discussion about the web applications that the WVU Center for Resilient Communities developed in conjunction with the Office of Nutrition Services. We will also leave space for discussion around the development of more robust reporting infrastructure and potential to visualize WIC outreach and retail environments that serve WIC field offices and management.
Joshua LohnesFebruary 11, 2026 09:30 am
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February 11, 2026 09:45 am
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The State Breastfeeding Coordinator's presentation will cover the main
Topics covered will include:
Kara NapierFebruary 11, 2026 10:45 am
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Pediatric feeding disorders (PFDs) affect an estimated 1 in 23 children under the age of five and can lead to significant consequences for growth, development, and caregiver well-being. While medical and developmental factors are well-documented contributors, the role of social determinants of health (SDOH)—including socioeconomic status, food insecurity, caregiver stress, access to specialized care, and cultural feeding practices—remains less frequently addressed in clinical and community-based settings. This presentation will explore the intersection between PFDs and SDOH, highlighting how environmental, economic, and social conditions influence identification, treatment, and outcomes for children at risk. Case examples will demonstrate how barriers such as limited access to healthcare, transportation, and affordable nutritious foods exacerbate feeding challenges. In addition, evidence-based strategies for screening, caregiver education, and interdisciplinary collaboration will be discussed, with an emphasis on WIC’s unique position to support families navigating these challenges.
Pam Holland
Rachel Miles HoopesFebruary 11, 2026 10:45 am
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Matthew Parker
Kara Napier
Alanna Foster
Chloe SotomayorFebruary 11, 2026 10:45 am
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Frontline WIC staff often pour deeply into families’ lives while balancing heavy workloads, compassion fatigue, and personal responsibilities. This interactive session will provide practical tools for self-care, stress management, and resilience building, designed specifically for nutritionists, breastfeeding counselors, and support staff. Participants will leave with personalized self-care plans and practical, trauma-informed strategies they can integrate into their daily routines—supporting their own wellness while modeling healthy practices for WIC participants.
Jerica WesleyFebruary 11, 2026 11:45 am
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February 11, 2026 12:45 pm
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This session is aimed at families with one or more neurodivergent members. The session will aid in identifying processing differences, provide methods to ensure information is understood, help neurodiverse families with navigating resources provided by WIC (as well as additional wraparound services), and improve communications between neurodiverse families and WIC representatives. Attendees will receive vital links to helpful support resources and take part in case studies that reflect issues faced by many neurodiverse families.
Trina Runner
Rachel Miles HoopesFebruary 11, 2026 12:45 pm
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Insufficient milk (real or perceived) is a major reason for formula supplementation and the abandonment of breastfeeding. Much of this issue can be attributed to mismanagement of early breastfeeding or a slow start due to multiple factors such as birth interventions, maternal diabetes and/or obesity, breast anomalies, and infants factors that preclude appropriate milk transfer. Interventions depend on the etiology of the cause and range from simply more breastfeeding all the way to milk expression and the use of galactagogues. There are however some situations where none of the traditional interventions work to resolve the problem. Is there something else going on in cases where our usual tricks don’t work? New research has identified two areas of concern–genetic and environmental. This presentation will go beyond the common etiology and interventions and look more deeply into genetic and environmental contributors to low milk supply.
Marsha WalkerFebruary 11, 2026 12:45 pm
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Kara Napier
Matthew Parker
Alanna Foster
Chloe SotomayorFebruary 11, 2026 01:45 pm
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February 11, 2026 02:00 pm
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This presentation will highlight the various tools available to staff and vendors such as the cashier de-escalation tool, addition-deletion list, allowed-not allowed list, and the revised annual training for vendors. By highlighting these tools, WIC staff will be able to gain an understanding of what tools are available and how, particularly, the vendor liaisons will be able to help facilitate a smooth transition to the new food package with vendors.
Alanna Foster
Heidi StaatsFebruary 11, 2026 02:59 pm
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February 11, 2026 03:00 pm
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Mona Sanders
Rachel Miles Hoopes
Pam HollandFebruary 11, 2026 03:00 pm
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This presentation is designed as a systematic overview of what to look for during an encounter with a breastfeeding couplet. Starting with the gestalt of the dyad and pertinent questions and moving on to observations of the infant, the mother, and the breastfeeding session, this lecture will assist in determining if the pair needs a referral or just empathetic support. Spotting challenges to breastfeeding early on can help preserve the breastfeeding relationship while making sure that risk appropriate care is delivered when needed.
Marsha WalkerFebruary 11, 2026 03:00 pm
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The strength-based approach (SBA) is often promoted as effective in public health settings, but there is limited training regarding what elements are effective and how to practically use the approach in client interactions. This interactive workshop will immerse participants in SBA principles, guide them through self-reflective exercises to identify personal strengths, and provide hands-on experience recognizing and leveraging strengths in others through role-play scenarios. The session will also explore practical strategies for integrating SBA into client interactions and organizational practices. This workshop will equip attendees with actionable tools to enhance client engagement, improve health outcomes, and strengthen team dynamics within their organizations.
Tonya ElkinsFebruary 11, 2026 04:00 pm
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February 12, 2026 08:30 am
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This session highlights the growth of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and the impact of the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) at the farmers markets, focusing on increased participation and redemption. Participants will gain insight into how these benefits improve flexibility for WIC families and expand opportunities for farmers.
Heather King
Dan PickensFebruary 12, 2026 09:30 am
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February 12, 2026 09:45 am
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This presentation explores the elements of the WIC program's identity, logo, and typography, highlighting their significance in establishing a strong, trustworthy, and visually cohesive public presence. It delves into how a carefully crafted brand identity reflects WIC's core values of public health and nutrition support, while the official logo serves as the symbolic representation of these values in the community. Typography is discussed as a key component that ensures materials are readable, accessible, and convey a supportive personality. The presentation underscores the importance of cohesive design strategies that integrate these elements to create a memorable and impactful WIC brand. We will also delve into the importance of identifying and monitoring food deserts across the state and how branding relates to these areas and participants.
Joshua Lohnes
Chloe SotomayorFebruary 12, 2026 10:45 am
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“Bringing Out the Best in Others” enables WIC managers and supervisors to identify the keys to ensure their employees are motivated to be the best they can be and explore forms of recognition and reward that can help maximize performance levels. Participants will learn coaching techniques through application of a coaching model and understand how to communicate expectations and assign responsibilities.
Sonia Ellis-TaylorFebruary 12, 2026 11:45 am
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February 12, 2026 12:45 pm
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The presentation will be on clinic resources that may be helpful for both staff and participants when explaining the new food package changes.
Jenna Rose
Jennifer Habeb
Candace FowlerFebruary 12, 2026 01:45 pm
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This presentation is designed to clearly and positively communicate the WIC food package updates and implementation procedures to clinic staff, peer counselors, and management across all WIC service areas. The content aligns with the state's WIC Communication Plan, focusing on actionable steps. Key areas include internal communication (e.g., developing a Staff FAQ Resource on WIC Nutrition updates), strategies for promoting and enhancing breastfeeding support and peer counseling services, and proactive external outreach to participants and healthcare providers to ensure a unified and accurate message on the WIC benefits.
Chloe Sotomayor
Gina Hinkle
Samantha FarnsworthFebruary 12, 2026 02:45 pm
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February 12, 2026 03:00 pm
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Matthew Parker
Kara Napier
Alanna Foster
Chloe Sotomayor
Heidi Staats