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Last Updated: 7/14/08


CWA Accomplishments — 1999 to 2004

2004

  • Second group of WIC Leadership Institute (WICLI) trainees begins yearlong process of personal growth and leadership development.
  • March 10: House committee marked up of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization bill. House version includes CWA’s priority items: a Fruit and Vegetable pilot and language on WIC-Only cost containment.
  • March 14-15: CWA and large California contingent make critical Capitol Hill visits and mount a California WIC Briefing, including release of important WIC redemption data showing that WIC-Only store prices are higher than other retail stores.
  • WIC Basics Training, Scheduling, Staffing and Other Stuff held in five locations in March.
  • CWA awarded over $20,000 in sponsorships from Kellogg’s and Health Net to support WIC Walks the Talk, our statewide physical activity and health promotion campaign.
  • April 15: CWA targeted by WIC-Only Store lobbyists "CWA hit piece" circulated on Capitol Hill! CWA circulated rebuttal two weeks later.
  • CWA compiled WIC-Only Issues Portfolio, with analysis, data, maps, eyewitness photography and reports from California WIC frontlines. CWA and NWA representatives used the book to brief USDA FNS Administrator Roberto Salazar on April 25. The Portfolio becomes underground bestseller.
  • April 25-28: CWA completes content planning and major logistical support for most successful NWA Conference yet, Food & Fitness: Striving for a Healthy Balance, showcasing California WIC leadership and pizzazz in San Diego.
  • Groovin’ at the Grove Dance Fundraiser at the NWA Conference raises funds and awareness for CNC Scholarship Fund.
  • Statewide First Five Commission (Prop 10) awards CWA $150,000 over three years to provide training and promote Oral Health to WIC Community.
  • Branch-CWA Retreat held in early May. Decision made to focus on two key initiatives in 2005: Transition to Prevention and Streamlining WIC Processes.
  • On May 19, the Senate marked up its version of the Reauthorization bill, including much stronger and more comprehensive language on WIC-Only vendor cost containment, kicking off a month of feverish lobbying and public education work.
  • June 4: CWA circulated two key letters to Congress urging support for Senate WIC language; one from California Local WIC Agencies; the other signed by over 75 allied health and human services groups. June 6: New York Times runs lengthy story on WIC-Only issue. June 17: Hispanic Caucus endorses Senate Language. June 19: House-Senate agreement reached with Senate WIC language intact.
  • June 21: Los Angeles Times runs front page story on WIC-Only issue, along with NPR coverage on "Morning Edition." Local media barrage follows across state.
  • June 30: WIC Reauthorization bill signed by President Bush. Focus turns to California Legislature and Schwarzenegger Administration.
  • July 10: CWA worked fast in Sacramento to expedite state rulemaking on vendor cost controls. However, language in Budget Trailer bill, supported in Senate, fails after Assembly objects.
  • July 12: CWA notifies USDA and Congress that California WIC food costs are uncontrolled due to continued store authorizations and increasing WIC-Only redemptions. OMB tells Congressional appropriators a complete WIC-Only authorization moratorium is necessary. Senators signal agreement in Ag Appropriations bill mark-up on September 14.
  • Partnered with Branch to initiate California WIC policy development and planning process Transitioning to Obesity Prevention, kicked off on July 27-28 in Sacramento.
  • CWA relocated to spacious and modern new offices on August 16.
  • CWA hired lobbyist Marjorie Swartz and introduces an urgency bill, AB 2101 (Goldberg), to expedite vendor cost containment rulemaking. CWA pushed it through legislature in record time, but ran into intensive lobbying barrage by WIC-Only stores. The bill failed by three votes on Assembly floor in the final hours of session on August 21.
  • Over 250 WIC managers attend WIC in Transition: Leading Change, Managing Challenge conference and Working With Difficult People pre-conference training in San Jose, September 19-21.
  • Applications for third round of California Nutrition Corps scholarships are released in September.
  • In December, CWA awarded three-year grant to prevent obesity and advocate for WIC from the Vitamin Cases Consumer Settlement Fund.
  • Published four editions of WIC Watch, and continued with bi-weekly WIC Flash, which is popular with non-WIC subscribers.

2003

  • Implemented new phase of TCE WIC Health Access Campaign with Targeted Newborn Enrollment project in partnership with PHFE WIC (three-year grant)
  • March: Held Capitol Hill meetings to disseminate CWA Reauthorization Briefing Papers; published Special Edition of newsletter, WIC Reauthorization Toolkit, to provide local agency staff with resources for public issues education; closely monitored the bidding, contracting and rollout of new WIC Infant Formula Rebate with Ross Nutritionals, including filing a protest and organizing CWA members for WIC Branch "Listening Sessions"
  • Organized "SUPERSIZE WIC! Nutrition Education in a Fast Food Nation" CWA Annual Meeting, featuring a "March Against Obesity" covered by 7 media outlets
  • Launched WIC Walks the Talk, our staff physical activity promotion campaign, with strong corporate and local agency support
  • Hired Meredith McGeHee to represent CWA in Washington, DC; with her assistance, pursued WIC Reauthorization Language to support increased WIC funding, push Fruit & Vegetable pilots, update nutrition education and protect WIC from WIC-Only Store cost increases
  • Published report Closing Health Insurance Gaps for Families: WIC Can Help Make It Happen with Children's Partnership with support from California Endowment
  • Distributed Second Round of "WIC Plus" grants to members of the Small Agency Caucus, with support from The California Wellness Foundation
  • Continued with WIC Basics and WIC Executive Skill-Building training courses
  • Published four editions of WIC Watch, and continued with bi-weekly WIC Flash, which is rapidly gaining subscribers from outside of WIC
  • Held "Salsa on the Bay" fundraiser for the CALIFORNIA NUTRITION CORPS, and distributed second round of scholarships to diverse and dedicated employees seeking to advance their careers in WIC
  • Implemented second year of WIC Leadership Institute, a year-long learning and personal development process for an emerging generation of WIC leaders
  • Successfully educated members of Legislature and Congress regarding impact of WIC-Only Stores and new vendor regulations on California WIC Food Cost Containment

2002

  • January: Hired Karen Farley as Communications Manager
  • Implemented Year Two of TCE WIC Health Access Campaign Subgrants with Six Local Agencies in Southern California
  • Successfully kicked off the CALIFORNIA NUTRITION CORPS with a fabulous event, and distributed 21 scholarships to diverse and dedicated employees seeking to advance their careers in WIC
  • Implemented the groundbreaking WIC Leadership Institute, a year-long learning and personal development process for an emerging generation of WIC leaders, which is entering its second year
  • With funding from University of California, San Francisco, worked with local agencies to establish three new WIC-based Dietetic Internships in high-need areas
  • Began active planning for WIC Reauthorization, and sponsored successful legislation to streamline WIC budgeting and played an important role in preventing the termination of the CHDP program
  • Organized "CAMP WIC: Where Customer Service is the Catch of the Day!" one of our most fun and meaningful annual meetings, and our fall management conference, which folks said was "the best ever"
  • Distributed WIC Plus grants to 13 members of the Small Agency Caucus, with support from The California Wellness Foundation
  • Continued with the popular and badly needed WIC Basics and WIC Executive Skill-Building training courses
  • Published four editions of WIC Watch, including a well-received special Breastfeeding issue, and kept up with the popular bi-weekly WIC Flash, which is rapidly gaining subscribers from outside of WIC; re-vamped www.calwic.org

2001

  • WIC: Door to Health Care co-published with Children's Partnership
  • February: Held Congressional Staff Briefing on California WIC Issues on Capitol Hill, featuring local agency leadership
  • March: Secured funding from the University of California, San Francisco, for multi-year WIC Workforce Development project to improve diversity and retention among WIC career professionals
  • Between March and October, sponsored legislation and budget items to fund WIC Farmer's Market Program and Health Care Outreach Pilots, and supported a set of key nutrition and grocery industry bills
  • April: Held tenth CWA Annual Meeting in San Diego, WIC WORKS OUT: Getting Active in More Ways Than One, featuring physical activity promotion and best trade show ever
  • Revived publication of paper newsletter, with two editions of WIC WATCH
  • Between April and December, worked with foundation-funded consultants and Internship Developers to prepare Self Study documentation for three new WIC-Based Dietetic Internships serving collaborating WIC programs in three areas: San Diego County, Fresno County, and Sacramento-San Joaquin-Stanislaus Counties
  • May: Secured multi-year Core Operating Support from The California Wellness Foundation, enabling the establishment of a Small Grants Pool Serving the Small Agency Caucus
  • Augus: Approved concept and hired consultants to begin fundraising for the establishment of CALIFORNIA NUTRITION CORPS: scholarship endowment for diverse and dedicated employees seeking to advance their careers in WIC
  • September: Held the first-ever WIC Basics and WIC Executive Skill-Building training courses, which were very successful
  • September: Disseminated 2000 copies of WIC Plans for Better Health, an attractive and motivational Executive Summary of the WIC Strategic Plan to improve customer service, reinvent nutrition education, and enhance WIC Plus
  • AB 313 (Goldberg) signed

2000

  • January - December: Joint CWA/WIC Strategic Planning Meetings
  • February: Stefan Harvey presents "WIC Voices" report; Diane Woloshin hired as Deputy Director
  • March: Washington Leadership Conference; California WIC Hill Briefing
  • March: Held CWA Annual Meeting, "Click on WIC: Serving Communities in the New Millenium," Anaheim, with corporate sponsorships
  • May: SB 1240 (Burton) WIC Max Value bill passed and Signed into law
  • June: WIC Voices report published and disseminated; opened website, www.calwic.org
  • July: Six TCE Health Outreach Subgrants awarded to local agencies; Mary Kabia hired as Office Manager
  • August: Strategic Planning "Logic Models" Completed

1999

  • January: Laurie True began work as Executive Director
  • February: Offices moved, new office manager hired
  • March: Held CWA Annual Meeting "WIC: Serving the Next Generation"
  • May: Secured planning grant from The California Endowment
  • June: Held WIC 25th Birthday Party, State Capitol
  • July: Published Proposition 10 Fact Sheets; worked with Shannon Whaley to publish Prop 10 and WIC: Made for Each Other from UCLA
  • August: Held first joint WIC planning retreat with WIC Branch leadership
  • November-December: Stefan Harvey conducted "Strategic Audit" trip
  • December: State awards contract for Strategic Planning. California Endowment awards WIC Health Outreach Grant