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Contact Info
Minnesota State Office - WIC Program
800-657-3942 (toll-free)
651-201-4444 (state office)
Find your WIC Clinic Phone Number

Contact Info

Minnesota State Office - WIC Program
800-657-3942 (toll-free)
651-201-4444 (state office)
Find your WIC Clinic Phone Number

WIC Advisory Group

The WIC Advisory Group serves as a vehicle for the State WIC Program to receive input from local Advisory Group Agency leaders on program policy, procedures, and planning, and to share critical program information. Members will provide recommendation(s) to the State WIC Management Team on how the state and local Advisory Group Agencies can work together to effectively administer the WIC Program in Minnesota.

The Advisory group brings together representatives from local Advisory Group Agencies administering the WIC Program to:

  • Identify WIC issues; and
  • Make recommendations to the State.

The Advisory Group serves in an advisory capacity. Recommendations are not binding.

The group meetings quarterly on the fourth Mondays in January, April, July, and October.

Agenda for Monday, Oct. 28

  • New Advisory Group members in 2025 – discuss openings for 2025
  • Funding discussion
  • Section 3.2 Processing standards discussion
  • Update on data sharing agreements
  • Timeline for new guidance around hemoglobin

 

Advisory Group members please submit agenda items for the upcoming meeting by completing the Advisory Group Agenda Request Form.

CHAIR

Vacant

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Northeast Region: Jenny Barta, Carlton County WIC
Contact: 218-576-5667 or jenny.barta@carltoncountymn.gov
Term ends 12/2024

Southeast Region: Jessica Holst, Fillmore County WIC
Contact: 507-765-2652 or jholst@co.fillmore.mn.us
Term ends 12/2024

South Central Region: Arlin Penner, Nicollet County
Contact: 507-934-8261 or arlinda.penner@co.nicollet.mn.us
Term ends 12/2024

Southwest Region: Alli Orr, Nobles County
Contact: 507-934-8261 or aorr@co.nobles.mn.us
Term ends 12/2025

West Central Region: Sue Olson, Clay County WIC
Contact: 218-299-7777 or sue.olson@co.clay.mn.us
Term ends 12/2024

Northwest Region: Kristy Rott, Polk County (Norman-Mahnomen-Polk)
Contact: kristy.rott@co.norman.mn.us
Term ends 12/2026

Metro Region: Marianne Nelson, Bloomington
Contact: 651-441-0535 or mwnelson@bloomingtonmn.gov
Term ends 12/2025

CASELOAD GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

Group 1 (Caseload 10,000+): Kathy Duffy, Ramsey Co.
Contact: 651-266-2473 or 651-788-0737 or kathy.duffy@co.ramsey.mn.us
Term ends 12/2024
Local Agencies: Hennepin and Ramsey

Group 2 (Caseload 3,000-10,0000): Katie Galloway (Dakota County)
Contact: 952-891-7559 or katie.galloway@co.dakota.mn.us
Term ends 12/2025
Local Agencies: Dakota, Anoka, Stearns

Group 3 (Caseload 1,600-2,999): Wendy O'Leary, Olmsted County
Contact: 507-328-7491 or wendy.oleary@olmstedcounty.gov
Term ends 12/2025
Local Agencies: Olmsted, St. Louis, Washington, Bloomington

Group 4 (Caseload 1,000-1,599): VACANT
Contact: NA
Term ends 12/20XX
Local Agencies: Wright CAP, Kandiyohi (Renville), Sherburne, Partners 4 Health (Clay & Otter Tail), Scott, Rice, Nobles, Mower, Crow Wing, Blue Earth, Beltrami, Countryside, Quin

Group 5 (Caseload 500-999): VACANT
Contact: NA
Term ends 12/20XX
Local Agencies: Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Benton, Steele, Isanti , Meeker-McLeod-Sibley , Itasca, Norman-Mahnomen-Polk, Morrison-Todd-Wadena, Partners 4 Health - Becker, Clay, Wilkin Otter Tail, Horizon -- Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Grant, Morrison-Todd-Wadena, Freeborn, Pine , Carver, Chisago, Goodhue, Winona, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley , Mille Lacs County, Le Sueur-Waseca, Des Moines Valley - Cottonwood, Jackson, Carlton, North Country -- Lakewood, Clearwater, St. Josephs, Watonwan, Cass

Group 6 (Caseload less than 500): Polly Ahrens, Renville County
Contact: 320-523-3731 or pollya@renvillecountymn.com
Term ends 12/2025
Local Agencies: Brown-Nicollet, Faribault-Martin, Kanabec, Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Kandiyohi – Renville, Brown-Nicollet, Fillmore-Houston, Le Sueur-Waseca, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley, Morrison-Todd-Wadena, Dodge, Faribault-Martin, Norman-Mahnomen-Polk, Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Wabasha, Horizon -- Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Grant, Lake, Aitkin, Fillmore-Houston, Koochiching, Horizon -- Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Grant, Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Horizon -- Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Grant, Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Partners 4 Health - Becker, Clay, Wilkin, Otter Tail, North Country -- Lakewood, Clearwater, Hubbard, St. Josephs, Cook, Southwest (SWHHS) -- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, North Country -- Lakewood, Clearwater, Hubbard, St. Josephs, Horizon -- Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Grant

Tribal Agency: Kourtney Hoseth, White Earth
Contact: 218-204-0399 or kourtney.hoseth@whiteearth-nsn.gov
Term ends 12/2026
Local Agencies/Reservations: Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Red Lake, White Earth

CHB Administrators: Kristine Klopp, Mille Lacs County
Contact: 320-983-8373 or kristine.klopp@millelacs.mn.gov
Term ends 12/2025

LPHA: Marlee Morrison, Community Health Director, CHI St. Joseph's Health
Contact: 218-237-5474 or marlee.morrison@commonspirit.org
Term ends 12/2025

Advisory Group Chair: The Chair volunteers (or is selected) from among representatives on the Advisory Group at the time (this is done at the October meeting). If more than one person volunteers or is nominated, the Advisory Group members vote.

Regional Representatives (8): Advisory Group representatives will be selected by the Local Agencies in each of the 8 MN WIC regions.

Representations by Local Agency Participation (caseload, 7): State WIC staff created 7 Local Agency groupings, based on the number of participants served. Each grouping will be represented on the Advisory Group. If more than one person volunteers, the Local Agency Coordinators in the group will vote.

Representation of WIC Tribal Programs (1): MN WIC’s seven tribal programs will have a representative on the Advisory Group.

Community Health Boards: One CHB administrator will serve on the Advisory Group, representing other CHBs.

MN Local Public Health Association (LPHA): LPHA will have one representative on the Advisory Group.

Advisory Group Chair: The Chair is selected at the October meeting of the out-going Chair’s last meeting and assumes the role of Chair at the following January meeting. The Chair serves 2 years.

Advisory Group Representatives: Terms are 3 years – beginning in January and ending in December. About 1/3 of the Advisory Group membership changes each year.

Advisory Group Chair: The Chair is selected at the October meeting of the out-going Chair’s last meeting and assumes the role of Chair at the following January meeting. The Chair serves 2 years.

Advisory Group Representatives: Terms are 3 years – beginning in January and ending in December. About 1/3 of the Advisory Group membership changes each year.

Responsibilities
As a member of the MN WIC Advisory Group, you are selected by your peers or volunteer:

  • To represent the interests of your constituents and WIC participants.
  • To advise the State WIC Management Team on program policy, planning, and procedural matters impacting WIC services at the state, local or federal level.

General Duties

  • Participating in quarterly meetings, and conference calls as needed.
    • Representing your region or “categorical” constituency group in Advisory Group discussions by facilitating two-way communication with your region or group about WIC issues:
    • Soliciting and bringing forward suggestions/concerns/etc.from the Advisory Group Agencies you represent, to the State through Advisory Group meetings.
    • Sharing during your WIC regional meeting, information discussed at the Advisory Group meetings.
  • Sharing information with your alternate and arranging for him/her to cover for you when necessary so that your region is consistently represented.
  • Notifying the state WIC office if you are no longer able to serve.

  • To solicit Advisory Group agenda items from Advisory Group Members.
  • Working w/ the State WIC staff, to develop the Advisory Group agenda for the quarterly meetings.
  • To facilitate quarterly Advisory Group meetings.
    • To serve as the Minnesota Local Advisory Groupency representative in the National WIC Association (NWA):
    • Participate in NWA MWR Local Agency section monthly calls.
    • Share with Advisory Group members pertinent information & updates from the NWA LA Section calls.
    • Attend and represent MN-Local Advisory Group Agencies at the annual NWA Business Meeting held in conjunction with the NWA Conference, with travel support (funding) from the State WIC Program. Share highlights from the conference with Advisory Group members, and with all Local Agencies through the WIC Weekly Update.

  • To set the agenda in collaboration with the Advisory Group Chair.
  • To disseminate the agenda and any related materials, to all local agencies via the WIC Weekly Update.
  • To schedule the meetings and arrange meeting logistics.
  • To write up notes from the meetings and disseminate to Advisory Group members, and statewide via the WIC Weekly Update; (goal is to have them completed ASAP or before Regional Meetings).
  • To facilitate recruitment and selection of new members.
  • To orient new members: roles & responsibilities; agencies represented, including contact information (phone & email list).
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Last Updated: 10/22/2024