WeArePublicHealth.org twitter.com/Maricopahealth facebook.com/MCDPH Climbing the Ladder: Reimagining the WIC Career Ladder as Requirements Change for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists WIC Partner’s Meeting, January 27, 2016

Laura Weber, MSEd, RD, IBCLC WIC Dietetic Internship Coordinator Jennifer Hernandez, MS, RD Dietetic Internship Director Contact Information

Our Website  Go to – –Then click on Dietetic Internships OR  Direct Link: – blichealth/Services/Nutrition/ dieteticintern.aspxhttp:// blichealth/Services/Nutrition/ dieteticintern.aspx

Today’s Agenda  WIC Track  RD/ RDN requirement changes  Survey Methods  Survey Results  Future Planning  Q/A

WIC Track  Joint effort –Arizona Department of Health Services –Maricopa County Department of Public Health  Career ladder  Train and retain RDNs in rural counties  First graduating class in 2012 –16 total graduates to date 5

RDN Requirement Changes  Eligibility requirements for dietitians will change to a graduate degree –Mandated by the Commission on Dietetic Registration –Takes effect: 2024  What about internships not affiliated with universities? 6

Implementation Options  No changes to program  Only accept interns with a Master’s degree  Coordinate with university/ universities 7

Hypothesis  Dietetic internship candidates working for WIC will want: –a Master’s in Public Health, and –to know they are accepted into an internship prior to committing to a Master’s degree program. 8

Survey  How many years have you been working at WIC?  For what Agency do you currently work?  What is your highest level of education?  Are you interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)? –Yes, No (survey ends if this answer is selected), I am already a RDN (survey ends if this answer is selected)  Do you have your Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verfication Statement?Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verfication Statement  What month and year did you obtain your DPD Verification Statement?  What type of master's program appeals to you? –Public Health, Nutrition & Dietetics, Business, Health Administration, Education, Other  Is it important to you to complete your degree alongside the peers in your dietetic internship class?  Does supporting a local Arizona university or college matter to you?  Would you be willing to obtain your master's degree and complete academic coursework: –On your own time, With your own money, Both, Neither  Do you know if your WIC agency provides tuition reimbursement?  Would you be willing to start a master's program prior to acceptance into the internship? 9

For What County/Agency Do You Currently Work? 10

Willing to Obtain Master's Degree 11

12 Does your Agency Provide Tuition Reimbursement?

How Many Years Have you Been Working at WIC? Footer

Highest Level of Education 14

DPD Verification Statement 15 All Respondents

Type of Master’s Program 16

Does Local Matter? 17

Start Prior to Acceptance 18 Willing to Start a Master's Program prior to Acceptance into the Internship?

Conclusions  Degree type: –Fairly even between PH and Nutrition –Would be nice to allow interns a choice  Degree timing: –Larger % than expected willing to start degree before internship acceptance 19

Where do we go from here?  Determine if we can partner with one school  Decide what degree to offer/accept  Identify process –Coursework fully completed –Coursework and supervised practice at the same time 20

What Questions do you have for us?