title: Optimizing Nutrition Education in WIC: Findings From Focus Groups With Arizona Clients and Staff.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand staff and clients' experiences with delivering and receiving nutrition education in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups involving WIC staff, clients, and former clients in Arizona. Client and staff perceptions of WIC nutrition education, preferences, and suggestions for improvement were examined. Transcripts were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach to identify emerging themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings from 10 focus groups with 25 WIC staff and 29 clients suggested that existing materials were time-consuming and unresponsive to client needs, and additional resources were needed to engage children while parents were in session; new delivery formats for nutrition education, including videos and interactive demonstrations focused on child-friendly preparations of WIC foods, were preferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collaboration among existing nutrition education programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, community gardens, and Head Start, can complement and enhance WIC nutrition educations in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: yaelg@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rico
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hingle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001130:Arizona; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D063105:Food Assistance; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064686:Nutritionists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009753:Nutritive Value; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: WIC; focus group; food assistance; nutrition education