Climbing the Ladder Reimagining the WIC Career Ladder

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

Contact Information Laura Weber, MSEd, RD, IBCLC WIC Dietetic Internship Coordinator 602 525 5394 Laura. Weber@mail. maricopa. gov Jennifer Hernandez, MS, RD Dietetic Internship Director 602 506 8322 Jennifer. Hernandez@mail. maricopa. gov

Our Website § Go to – www. wearepublichealth. org – Then click on Dietetic Internships OR § Direct Link: – http: //www. maricopa. gov/pu 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? 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? Apache County; 1% Pima County; 3% Adelante Healthcare; 4% Gila County; 3% Marana Healthcare (Tucson); 4% Yavapai County; 4% Mohave County; 4% Pinal County; 6% All Respondents Yuma County; 10% Cochise County; 1% Coconino County; 1% Mariposa Community Health Center (Nogales); 1% Maricopa County; 34% Mountain Park Health Center; 21% 10

Willing to Obtain Master's Degree On Own Time and/or with Own Money RDN-Interested; Has DPD RDN-Interested 45% Both 44% 55% On your own time 56% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Note: No respondent choose the option 'With your Own Money'; the option 'Neither' 100% 11

Does your Agency Provide Tuition Reimbursement? Apache County 1 Cochise County 1 Gila County 1 Maricopa County 20 Mohave County 3 Pima County 11 Pinal County 1 2 Yavapai County 2 2 Yuma County 11 3 Marana Healthcare (Tucson) 11 3 Adelante Healthcare 3 Mariposa Community Health. . . Mountain Park Health Center 7 Yes No I don't know 2 2 11 2 2 Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money have been removed from RDN-Interested data. 12

How Many Years Have you Been Working at WIC? RDN-Interested 100% All Respondents 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 43% 40% 20% 17% 28% 14% 10% 8% 10% 5% 8% 2% 4% 0% <1 1 -2 2 -3 3 -4 4 -5 Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money Footer have been removed from RDN-Interested data. >5

Highest Level of Education Master's Degree; 3% Other; 8% High School Diploma; 13% Associate's Degree; 12% Bachelor's Degree, 63% RDN-Interested Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money have been removed from RDN-Interested data. 14

DPD Verification Statement Interested in Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist RDN-Interested 37% (27%) DPD 47% All Respondents No DPD Don't Know Not RDNInterested Already an RDN 15% 47% 26% 15

Type of Master’s Program What Type of Master's Program Appeals to You? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% RDN-Interested; Has DPD 31% 37% 36% 33% 8% Public Health Nutrition & Dietetics 13% Business 11% 7% Health Administration 10% 9% Education 4% 2% Other Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money have been 16 removed from RDN-Interested data.

Does Local Matter? Does Supporting a Local Arizona University Matter to You? 100% 90% 80% 70% 63% 60% 50% 37% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Yes No Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money have been 17 removed from RDN-Interested data.

Start Prior to Acceptance Willing to Start a Master's Program prior to Acceptance into the Internship? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% RDN-Interested 45% 39% RDN-Interested; Has DPD 46% 36% 16% Yes No, I would want to know that I have been accepted before beginning a degree program 18% No preference Note: Those unwilling to earn a Master's degree with either their own time or money have been 18 removed from RDN-Interested data.

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?