The Minnesota Department of Health is seeking applications for its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/17/2026
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The WIC Program was established on the basis of findings presented to Congress which indicated that pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and young children who had inadequate nutrition and/or health care were at risk with respect to their physical and mental health. The Program consists of four major components:
- Breastfeeding education and support;
- Nutrition assessment, counseling, and education services;
- Health education and referral services; and
- Prescribed supplemental foods high in key nutrients.
Grant Period
The effective date of the agreement will be January 1, 2027. The grant agreement will be in effect until December 31, 2031.
Eligible Projects
- Local agencies are responsible for determining eligibility of WIC Program applicants and for providing nutrition education, health care referral services, and issuing food benefits to participants. WIC services are available to residents of all 87 counties in Minnesota.
- Local agencies are responsible for adhering to all policies and procedures included in the Minnesota Operations Manual. These policies, along with federal regulations, form the basis for WIC Program local agency operations and monitoring of these operations by state WIC staff.
- The role of local agencies is to implement and operationalize current state WIC policy in their own respective agencies and organizations. As independent local agencies and organizations implementing the WIC Program in Minnesota, these entities often have existing and related policies and procedures. It is the responsibility of the local agency to ensure that state WIC policy is adhered to and that any related local policy is not less stringent than state policy and does not conflict with state policy.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be considered for selection as a Minnesota WIC local agency, an applicant must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
- The agency must be able to meet the definition of a “local agency” under federal WIC regulation 7 CFR section 246.2 (PDF), which says: “’Local agency’ means: (a) A public or private, nonprofit health or human service agency which provides health services, either directly or through contract, in accordance with [7 CFR] §246.5; (b) an IHS service unit; (c) an Indian tribe, band or group recognized by the Department of the Interior which operates a health clinic or is provided health services by an IHS service unit; or (d) an intertribal council or group that is an authorized representative of Indian tribes, bands or groups recognized by the Department of the Interior, which operates a health clinic or is provided health services by an IHS service unit.
- The agency must be able to comply with all requirements for local agencies under 7 CFR, part 246.
- The agency must be able to comply with the requirements of a written agreement between a local agency and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) according to part Minnesota Rule 4617.0030.
- The agency must be able to comply with all policies and requirements noted in the Minnesota Operations Manual for the WIC Program.
For more information, visit MDH.
