• Develop community coalitions to support community-wide environmental, policy, and organizational changes to prevent childhood overweight
• Incorporate physical activity into all aspects of WIC service
• Provide staff with the tools, support, and information they need to become nutrition and physical activity role models for participants,
• Engage WIC participants in practical, effective, learner-centered educational experiences at WIC

Methods
Fit WIC California was based upon a multi-faceted community-based model called the Spectrum of Prevention, which outlines six levels on which to intervene in order to address complex public health issues. The approach acknowledges the importance of individual education and sharing of information, but also recognizes the critical importance of simultaneously working with communities and coalitions, changing organizational practices, and examining local and legislative policies that affect the social and physical environments in which people live.

The needs and interests of the participating WIC sites drove the development of the local Fit WIC California interventions. Each WIC pilot site organized a task force of community leaders, organizations, and individuals. Task force groups met monthly and worked toward identifying and implementing interventions to increase physical activity and improve the nutritional status of families in their communities.

Staff at Fit WIC pilot sites were provided with a variety of training sessions, which helped WIC staff improve their skills in talking with parents about weight and feeding issues, and in helping families increase physical activity. Training and support activities promoted WIC staff wellness, strengthening their position as role models for parents and children. Finally, each pilot site developed new WIC group education classes on topics such as cooking, gardening, and the importance of physical activity, in ways that were interactive and meaningful to participants.

Accomplishments
The Fit WIC community task forces garnered a great deal of local support and were able to accomplish a variety of interventions, including:

• successfully advocating for a state bill to improve school nutrition programs
• certifying a local farmers' market and implementing the WIC Farmer's Market nutrition program
• securing more than $300,000 in grant funding to implement a local community garden project
• training local medical providers, childcare providers, and parks and recreation staff
• participating in numerous community activities, festivals and events

Staff members at Fit WIC intervention sites reported being more physically active than their peers at control sites. Staff members also felt that their worksites supported them in their efforts to eat well and be physically active. WIC staff members at intervention sites were more comfortable talking with parents about weight issues and felt that they were more successful in these endeavors. Staff members really appreciated the trainings that they were given and felt that the Fit WIC program had a meaningful influence on their lives-both at work and at home.

WIC participants enjoyed the new classes in which they participated. Participants exposed to the Fit WIC intervention were more likely to report helping their child to watch less television in the past year, somewhat more likely to report helping their child to be more physically active in the past year, and more likely to see WIC as a resource available to help them find ways to be more physically active with their children.

For More Information Contact:

Fit WIC California
Poppy Strode, MS, MPH, RD
Project Co-Manager
Department of Health Services, WIC Branch
Phone: 916-928-8627
E-mail: mstrode@dhs.ca.gov