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USDA Breastfeeding Curriculum Q and A
On this page: General Information | Training Logistics | Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE) | 5-day Lactation Training (CLC, CLS, CLE)
Two Question and Answer sessions were held to discuss the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum training. The following is a summary of the frequently asked questions.
Agencies and individuals with additional questions may contact Rosie Pierce-Martin at Rosie.Pierce-Martin@state.mn.us or 651-201-4428.
General Information
Q: How is this training different from other United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) breastfeeding trainings, such as Grow and Glow, or the Loving Support training?
A: The new WIC breastfeeding curriculum features new and updated breastfeeding information. Its content is more relevant for WIC staff because it’s from the past five years. The breastfeeding curriculum emphasizes counseling and applying training knowledge to daily clinic work. It also focuses on building skills and applying these skills to WIC specific situations.
The Curriculum clarifies staff roles and scope of practice for everyone in the WIC clinic. The training helps staff understand their roles, and how they can work together to support breastfeeding in the WIC program. The training expands the role of the Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE) to all WIC agencies.
The curriculum was developed using extensive research and preparation including:
- Surveying local agencies nationwide.
- Hosting listening sessions and expert panels with WIC staff.
- Conducting WIC clinic site visits in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, New York, and Florida to observe WIC clinics and interview staff and participants on site.
Training Goals:
- Clarify WIC’s role in supporting breastfeeding.
- Clarify each staff person’s role within the WIC agency.
- Emphasize scope of practice for each staff member to help everyone understand their roles and others’ roles.
- Provide staff training appropriate to their level and within their scope of practice.
Training Logistics
Q: What trainings should I take?
A:
- Level 1: All WIC staff
- Level 2: Peer Counselors, CPAs, DBEs
- Level 3: CPAs, DBEs
- Level 4: DBEs
Q: How much time is required to complete the training, based on WIC role?
A:
- Clerks/Support staff = 4 hours total
- Peer Counselors = 21 hours total
- CPA = 24 hours total
- DBE = 36 hours total
Q: How will WIC help local clinics dedicate the time required to complete this training?
A: We understand it is a time investment to train staff, and it is an investment worth making. We’re working hard to help local agencies facilitate training with as little clinic interruption as possible.
- We are offering self-study options for levels 1 and 2 of the training.
- The self-study videos range from 5-20 minutes in length. Staff can independently view each training video on the MDH Learning Center during clinic downtime.
- All the training options are virtual, so staff can complete training from any work location, making it easier to transition from training to clinic quickly.
- Live virtual training for Levels 3 and 4 offer a more interactive experience while still minimizing staff training time by offering half day courses.
We highly recommend this year’s level 3 and 4 training because the creator of the training, Cathy Carothers, will be teaching the course.
What guidance do you have on who to prioritize to attend these trainings?
A: Priority staff include:
- New staff. Staff that haven’t attended any past breastfeeding trainings, should attend the Breastfeeding Curriculum course to fulfill their required breastfeeding training.
- Designated Breastfeeding Expert(s) (DBE), and any back up DBEs. Upon completing this training, the DBE will have a better understanding of the staff roles in the WIC clinic and assist WIC staff in assessing participants with complex breastfeeding concerns. A local agency can have more than one DBE.
The new breastfeeding curriculum bases training levels on WIC clinic staff roles and emphasizes:
- How those roles work together.
- Scope of practice for each role.
- When to refer to the DBE.
- Breastfeeding Coordinator. Breastfeeding Coordinators would benefit from training to understand staff roles, how they work together, and how to implement these changes in your WIC agency.
Is it possible to make up a training day if one is missed?
A: There is no plan in place currently to offer make-ups for training days/sessions. We ask that if someone registers for a session, they will be available to attend all the days of that session. In the event of an unforeseen and unavoidable absence, State WIC Breastfeeding staff will work with the individual to make up the missed training.
Q: Can we do the training as a group?
A: If you would like to complete the training as a group, please register each staff person individually. If you plan to attend as a group, have a way that each person can log into the training in order to track attendance, complete polls, and chat individually.
Q: Will continuing education credits be available?
A: The trainings provide CERPS and Dietitian contact hours. In Minnesota we are not able to pre-apply for nursing contact hours, but all the materials needed to apply for continuing education for nurses will be provided.
Q: Are the number of spots for this training somewhat limited?
A: For levels 3 and 4 we can accommodate up to 495 staff in each session. With this capacity we anticipate we can train all staff that would like to attend.
Q: Is this a one-time training or will staff have to complete this again in the future?
A: MN WIC would like all staff to complete the breastfeeding curriculum once, to become familiar with the new breastfeeding support structure. MN WIC will continue to offer a variety of state sponsored lactation education opportunities in the future, so staff can grow their knowledge and skills.
Q: I know our family home visiting nurses who have received breastfeeding training in the past, but do not work in WIC, would probably like these trainings as well. Will it be available to them if sessions do not fill?
A: For now, our priority is to offer the training to WIC staff only.
Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE)
Q: What is the “DBE”?
A: The Designated Breastfeeding Expert is an expanded role starting with this training. Breastfeeding Peer Counselor programs are required to have a DBE on staff for referral and oversight of Peer Counselors. The DBE is available to support peers when they encounter breastfeeding situations outside of normal breastfeeding issues. This role is now recommended for all WIC programs.
The DBE should be available to consult with staff and assess participants experiencing more complex breastfeeding questions and concerns. The DBE role can include intervention and treatment and/or referral to a local lactation professional to provide further assistance to families.
The DBE needs to complete the new breastfeeding curriculum, so they understand the scope of practice of all the other levels and can provide support to the WIC team.
Q: How many of our staff should be trained as DBEs? Do you recommend having one DBE per WIC office? Or can you have two, since some staff rotate days?
A: Each agency will have to decide how they want to integrate DBEs into their program and how many they need to meet their clinic’s needs. Think about your staffing structure and consider how other staff could refer clients to and consult with the DBE when encountering complex breastfeeding issues and concerns.
When considering who should be trained as a DBE, staff who are IBCLCs, have completed CLC/CLS training, or those who are particularly interested in breastfeeding would be appropriate candidates. If you are considering having peers take the DBE level training, consult with the WIC Peer Breastfeeding Coordinator Carrie Klun.
We support you in deciding how many staff you would like trained as DBEs. There is space for agencies to train as many staff as they like up to level 4.
5-day lactation training (CLC, CLS, CLE)
Q: Most of our staff have completed CLC or CLS training already-so wondering just how much more training do they need?
A: MN WIC would like all staff to complete the new breastfeeding curriculum once even if they’ve had a five-day breastfeeding training in the past.
The breastfeeding curriculum is tailored to WIC staff. It outlines WIC’s role in breastfeeding support, relates lactation information to WIC specific work and scenarios, and emphasizes counseling and problem solving. Making lactation education specific to each WIC role helps staff focus on information related to their role without needing to sit through training that isn’t related to their job.
New focus areas include many requested by WIC staff:
- Improving breastfeeding assessment
- Low milk supply and supplementing
- How to support breastfeeding while supplementing
- Getting back to fully breastfeeding if applicable
- Pumping
Other new areas of focus include problem solving breastfeeding issues, and providing referrals when concerns are outside of scope of practice.
Q: All our staff were CLC/CLS certified. Is this beyond that or should they then all take all days of the training (up to level 4- DBE)?
A: All CPAs are not required to take all four levels of training. CPAs need to complete training up to level 3. There is no limit to the number of staff that an agency can train to level 4 (DBE).
Q: Will the CLC/CLS trainings still be offered?
A: Yes, we will continue to offer state-sponsored trainings including the CLC/CLS courses to deepen staff knowledge of lactation. These 5-day courses are helpful for staff who are interested in expanding their lactation knowledge and as a step towards IBCLC certification.