We are pleased to announce that the 2019 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference and Exhibits will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, April 7 – 10, 2019. The venue will be the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, located in Baltimore’s beautiful Harbor East neighborhood. Surrounded by monuments, museums, and historic and charming neighborhoods, Baltimore is brimming with cultural, culinary, entertaining and historical attractions and activities to experience.
This Conference will offer an excellent opportunity to acquire new skills and to network with an estimated 1,000 of your peers, and colleagues along with exhibitors who provide WIC related products and services for your participants. The conference will also offer an opportunity for attendees to hear from USDA officials and to dialogue on relevant updates and challenges that the program faces.
For the rest of the conference, you will have the opportunity to choose from 30 general and concurrent sessions that is sure to expand your professional skills and knowledgebase to equip you to face coming WIC challenges and to take advantage of current and future WIC opportunities.
Registration will be on Saturday, April 6th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm The conference will formally begin at 9:30 am on Sunday, April 7th. There will be meet and greet events for state agency staff Sunday morning before the conference starts. The conference will end at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, April 10th.
For questions, please contact the NWA National Office at 202-232-5492. We'll be happy to assist.
Letter of Support from USDA FNS:
Sarah Widor, the Director of Supplemental Food Programs Division, sent a letter to all state agency WIC directors supporting the 2019 Annual Education and Training Conference & Exhibits. This letter confirmed that WIC Program funds may be used to fund travel expenses and registration fees for this conference.
The 2019 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference & Exhibits will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, MD April 7 - 10, 2019. The hotel address is: 700 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
To make your hotel reservations online, please use the following link: https://book.passkey.com/go/NationalWICAssocRoomBlock.
You can also make your hotel reservations by calling (410) 385-3000 and identifying yourself as a 2019 NWA Annual Conference attendee to receive the negotiated conference rate.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CONFERENCE HOTEL IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT. The overflow hotel is the Courtyard Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor. More details below.
NWA has negotiated a special room rate of $189.00 per night plus a nightly room tax currently set at 15.5%. Note that this tax rate is subject to change without notice.
The cut-off date for these rates is March 15, 2019. After this date, reservations will be subject to the hotel’s prevailing rates.
We encourage you to make your room reservations early to ensure that you will be in the host hotel at the guaranteed room rate. Upon checking in, each guest will be asked to provide a valid government issued ID along with proof to which the room reservation was made.
The hotel requires a major credit card to guarantee your room reservation, and first night's deposit (including taxes) payable at the time the reservation is being made. Room cancellations must be received at leaset 72 hours prior to your arrival date to avoid being charged the first night's room rate and applicable taxes.
Hotel Check-In/Out Policy
Hotel check-in is 4:00pm and check-out is 12:00pm. The hotel can arrange to have your bags stored depending on room availability. Late check-out may be requested upon arrival.
The hotel offers on-site valet parking for all registered guests at a daily rate of $45. On-site parking is also available for $8.50 per hour or $26 daily. Note, rate may change without notice.
The 2019 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference & Exhibits overflow hotel will be Courtyard Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD April 7 - 10, 2019. The hotel address is: 1000 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
To make your hotel reservations online, please use the following link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1553001873379&key=GRP&app=resvlink.
You can also make your hotel reservations by calling (443) 923-4000 and identifying yourself as a 2019 NWA Annual Conference attendee to receive the negotiated conference rate.
Hotel Room Rate
NWA has negotiated a special room rate of $185.00 per night plus a nightly room tax currently set at 15.5%. Note that this tax rate is subject to change without notice.
The cut-off date for these rates is March 26, 2019. After this date, reservations will be subject to the hotel’s prevailing rates.
We encourage you to make your room reservations early to ensure that you will be in the host hotel at the guaranteed room rate. Upon checking in, each guest will be asked to provide a valid government issued ID along with proof to which the room reservation was made.
The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront and the Courtyard Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor are accessible via Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and is about 12 miles, from the airport.
Shuttle and taxi cab services are available at the airport. The current estimated taxi/cab fare is $45 (one way). Please note that the hotel does not provide shuttle service.
SuperShuttle is offering a discount on ground transportation for NWA Conference attendees. Please use the following link for a 10% discount on your ride: https://group.supershuttle.com/group-page/nwa-2019-annual-convention/
Letter of Support from USDA FNS:
Sarah Widor, the Director of Supplemental Food Programs Division, sent a letter to all state agency WIC directors supporting the 2019 Annual Education and Training Conference & Exhibits. This letter confirmed that WIC Program funds may be used to fund travel expenses and registration fees for this conference.
Sunday, April 7
Launching New Digital Tools for WIC Participants - Julie Silas, Social Interest Solutions, Melinda Morris, Boulder County Public Health WIC, Georgia Machell, National WIC Association
The Way to WIC Collaborative – A Federal, State and Local Agency Partnership Berry Kelly, Bureau of Community Nutrition Services S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control
Innovative Approaches to Increasing Recruitment and Retention in Colorado WIC Kelly Kading, Weld County WIC (Sunrise WIC), Melanie Morrison, Tri-County Health Department, Samantha Volk Jennings, Denver County WIC, Nicole Cawrse, Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment
Challenges and Opportunities for the WIC Workforce Karen Farley, California WIC Association, Nancy Nesa, California WIC/SDSU Research Foundation WIC
Understanding the National WIC Recruitment and Retention Campaign Jen Powilson, Meredith Custom Solutions, Participants from the National WIC Recruitment and Retention Campaign
The PURPOSE of Stories in WIC and Supporting Families on Social Media Vanessa Simmons, Normalize Breastfeeding
Monday, April 8
A Randomized Trial of The Impact of Telelactation on Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity Among Rural Mothers Lori Uscher-Pines, RAND
Research and Development of Communications Strategy for Partnership Building in WIC Sarah Meirama, Porter Novelli, Mary Christ-Erwin, Porter Novelli, Quinney Harris, National WIC Association
Breastfeeding Patterns of WIC Participants in Maryland: Does Hospital Baby Friendly Designation Make A Difference? Dania Orta Aleman, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Susan Gross, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Promoting Early Literacy Through Local WIC Clinics and Technology Integration Jane Woo, Clinton Foundation, Deborah D'souza, Baltimore County Health Department, Marisa Conner, Baltimore County Public Library, Angelina Montgomery, Help Me Grow Alameda County
Forging a Path to a Great Participant Experience Brandon Whitney, Georgia Department of Public Health WIC Program
WIC Breastfeeding Support. Learn Together. Grow Together. Anne Bartholomew, USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Cultural Humility: PASSION, Power, and PURPOSE in the Pursuit of Health Equity Jann Murray-García, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis
Tuesday, April 9
Integrating a WIC Clinic within a Military Treatment Facility Jane Freyenberger, Riley County Health Department
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Treating Maternal Mental Illness Diana Barnes, The Center for Postpartum Health
Data Exploration through Data Visualization Kathy Wroblewska, Insight Policy Research, Kelsey Gray, Insight Policy Research
Weight, Wait Don’t Tell Me: A HAES Approach to Anthropometric Assessment in WIC Erin Camacho, CNMI WIC Program, Jaclyn Chamberlain, Pinnacle Prevention
A Three-Pronged Approach to Improving Caseload: Building a Strategic Outreach Plan for Eligible Individuals, Medical Providers, and Community-Based Organizations Meredith Jones, CAI, Michelle Gerka, CAI
SNAP into WIC: Using Program Coordination, Data, and Technology for Targeted Recruitment and Retentio ML Wernecke, Benefits Data Trust, Heather Benninghoven, Benefits Data Trust, Erin Kendrick, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Lissa Sirois, Nutrition Services Section, NH Dept of Health & Human Services, Tara Orchard, Nutrition Services Section, NH Dept of Health and Human Services
WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors And Cultural Competence With African-American Women: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis Tyra Gross, Xavier University of Louisiana
Now We Are Three! WIC Program Retention and Other Important Findings from the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study (ITFPS-2) Nancy Weinfield, Kaiser Permanente, Danielle Berman, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Shannon Whaley, PHFE WIC, Christine Borger, Westat
Relationship Building to Increase Referrals & Caseload Ryan Comfort, Coffective
Integrating Opioid And Other Substance Misuse Interventions in Non-Traditional Settings Melanie Ogleton, Cardea, Denise Raybon, Altarum
DPH WIC Dietetic Internship Program: Workforce Development through a Nationally Accreditated Competency Based Supervised Practice Program for Qualified Georgia WIC Employees to Obtain the Registered Dietitian Credential Rhonda Tankersley, Georgia Department of Public Health WIC Program, Angela Damon, Georgia Department of Public Health WIC Program
Wednesday, April 10
If you don't see a presentation, we are either awaiting permission or the presenter did not give permission.
Please find the posters here.
Click here to view a current copy of the Attendee Listing.
Please note that this attendee listing is sorted by state and last name.
NWA is excited to announce that we will be using a mobile app at the upcoming Annual Education and Training Conference & Exhibits in Baltimore! At the conference, you’ll be able to use the app on your smart phone or tablet to:
Build a personal schedule
Share your photos and comments
Rate sessions and speakers
Help us improve the conference next year by rating individual sessions and speakers. You can give each event a 1 to 5 star rating, leave comments, and answer event-specific questions, all within the app. This information will be shared with the presenters and be used to help us evaluate proposals for next year.
Get around
Use interactive maps of the exhibit hall and meeting spaces at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront as well as area attractions.
Connect with other conference attendees
Did you just meet someone and wish you got their business card? Do you have a follow-up question for an exhibitor? Do you want to meet later with a person you met at the conference? Go to “Attendees” in the app and search for them. See their social media and other public contact information. Then message them in the app to connect!
…and more!
The app is available for download from the Apple Store or Google Play store. You are able to download the app now and set it up before you arrive at the conference. You can create a user account and sign in from one or multiple devices. Perhaps you don’t use a smart phone but have a tablet at home or work that you could bring to the conference in order to use the app.
Click here for instructions on getting and using the app.
We invite you to participate as an exhibitor and/or sponsor at our 2019 Annual Education and Networking Conference and Exhibits.
Get a discount on your booth by becoming a Sustaining Member of the National WIC Association! Sustaining members receive deeply discounted exhibitor rates for all NWA conferences. There are six membership tiers to choose from, and all of your employees can take advantage of the benefits. Sustaining Membership benefits can be found in detail here. To receive the NWA Sustaining Member exhibit rate, you must be a sustaining member at the time of submitting the exhibit contract/application and at the time of the conference itself. To become a sustaining member or to renew, contact Emily Gilcher, egilcher@nwica.org, 202-232-5492, with questions.
If you are seeking to introduce your products and services or an alternative promotional strategy to a new or existing audience, this conference offers several affordable options to meet your marketing needs.
By exhibiting and/or sponsoring at this conference, you will:
Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Sponsors have first choice to all available exhibitor spaces.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
10:00 am - 4:00 pm --- Exhibitor Move-in and Set-up
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm --- Exhibit Show Opens
Monday, April 8, 2019
7:30 am - 8:30 am --- Breakfast / Networking & Exhibits
10:30 am - 11:30 am --- AM Break / Networking & Exhibits
12:30 pm - 12:00 pm ----- Lunch on your own
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm --- PM Break / Networking & Exhibits
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
7:30 am - 9:00 am --- Breakfast / Networking & Exhibits
10:30 am - 11:30 am --- AM Break / Networking & Exhibits
11:30 am - 5:00 pm --- Exhibitor Teardown & Move Out
For questions or to exhibit at this conference, please contact Dale Greenberg, the Association's Conference Manager, at 410-491-2654 or at dale.greenberg@conferencedirect.com
Let us know what you thought of the conference! Take our conference evaluation survey.
The NWA Annual Education and Networking Conference & Exhibits was held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
Conference Survey Link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4957234/2019-Annual-Conference-Post-Event-Evaluation