WIC Cultural Toolkit

Introduction to the Toolkit 

• Afghan Culture and Foods (PDF)
• African American Culture and Foods (PDF)
• American Indian Culture and Foods (PDF)
• Somali Culture and Foods (PDF)
• Ukrainian Culture and Foods (PDF)

The WIC Cultural Toolkit is a resource to support staff that work with a variety of different cultures. Each toolkit provides basic information about the culture described. It is meant to offer staff an opportunity to learn common themes and cannot account for the diversity within a society or culture and is not meant, in any way, to infer to all people within a cultural group.

Considerations for WIC Staff

It is important to understand the racial history of America when anticipating working with participants that have a different cultural background than your own. Take some time for self-reflection to look at your own biases, prejudices, and stereotypes. Look at your own family functioning, values, codes of conduct and parenting practices; then decide how your personal ecology may benefit or harm the families that you work with. One tool that can help to understand your own implicit biases is by taking tests through Project Implicit. When we come from a place of curiosity and understanding, we focus on providing services that offer support to each individual circumstance.

Utilize participant-centered services (PCS Counseling Skills) when working with families to help bridge the divide in understanding and assist with trust building. It is best to use open-ended questions, active listening, acknowledge their concerns, and provide information that supports their individualized needs.

Incorporate WIC foods into the family’s diet

• Find out what food the participant is eating and if they are already eating any WIC foods.
• Highlight nutrient-rich foods already being consumed and ways to incorporate WIC foods.
  • Choose culturally appropriate and affordable choices when suggesting alternatives.
  • Consider foods that support the individual's health behavior goals.
• Consider what challenges or barriers they have with accessing and utilizing WIC foods.
  • Where do they shop and what mode of transportation do they use?
  • Is it a struggle to afford additional foods?
  • How do they prepare foods and where do they eat?
• Share recipes that include using WIC foods in a variety of ways.
• Families may resist change but can be encouraged to try incremental shifts in recipes or ways of cooking that lead to healthy outcomes when it fits within their current practices.

Encourage healthy pregnancy outcomes

• Learn about common practices regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding within their culture.
  • Get curious about herbal and traditional remedies, and their uses.
  • Encourage open communication with their healthcare provider about traditional practices, such as the use of teas, tinctures, and herbs.
• Share information about the importance of prenatal care and education.
• Offer a referral to doula services as a culturally appropriate way to support the participant both during the pregnancy and after.
• Encourage peer services to support breastfeeding (if an option in your agency).

Personalize counseling strategies

• Acknowledging differences in cultural practices to help validate the participants perspective.
  • Understand harmful stereotypes and work to eliminate microaggressions.
• Be aware of generational trauma and the way it has impacted life for many families.
• Consider the trauma families may have endured in their travel to the U.S. and how this has shaped their view of the world around them.
  • Think about resources that are available to support those who have survived traumatic experiences.
• Establish good rapport and trust, address fears, and minimize the use of optional medical terminology.
• Treat each participant as an individual; ask about personal preference.
  • Don’t make assumptions about what their family needs or how you can help.
  • Don’t assume a person speaks/reads the language of the culture they identify with.
  • Find out what barriers they may have to attending WIC appointments.
• Be mindful of ways to lift up and support the community by recognizing significant holidays or celebrations.
• Tailor the nutrition education message to their cultural norms; including discussing healthy eating behaviors, responsive feeding, and safe places to be active.
• Learn and share resources that culturally tailor services and support for the community that you are working with (both virtual and in-person resources).

Resources

1. Arcan, C., Culhane-Pera, K., Pergament, S., Rosas-Lee, M., & Xiong, M. (2018). Somali, Latino and Hmong parents’ perceptions and approaches about raising healthy-weight children: A community-based participatory research study. Public Health Nutrition, 21(6), 1079-1093. doi:10.1017/S1368980017001719