Join the WIC community in-person to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of WIC at the 2024 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference in Chicago, IL, April 7-10, 2024.
Sessions, receptions, and a special photo retrospective will bring us together to celebrate WIC and the tremendous impact WIC providers have had in improving the lives of millions of families.
Importantly, the conference will look forward, as the need for WIC has never been greater. Sessions will explore policies, program innovations, technology, research, and communication tools to continue to grow participation and improve service delivery, the nutritional quality of food packages, the WIC shopping experience, and outcomes to meet the evolving needs of providers and the diversity of participants.
Come celebrate, network, and learn from over 1,200 WIC providers, colleagues, partners, and USDA. The conference aims to support you and your important work to address the complex and diverse needs of low-income families through training, tools, resources, and professional support and development.
Since the first WIC clinic opened in Pineville, Kentucky in 1974, together, we’ve grown WIC into the country’s most effective public health program. Together, we’ll continue to strengthen the WIC program, support WIC providers and participants, and ensure WIC continues to be a multi-generational solution to empower and support families across the nation.
We look forward to seeing you and celebrating with you in Chicago!
This confernece will take place in-person only.
For questions, please contact the NWA National Office at ConfSupport@nwica.org
Please note: Onsite tickets will not be sold.
|
Registration Type |
Early Bird Rates - ENDS Feb 15 |
Regular Rates - BEGINS Feb 16 |
|
Member |
$549 |
$649 |
|
Non-Member |
$649 |
$749 |
|
Student |
$350 |
$350 |
|
Speaker & Poster Presenter |
$399 |
$399 |
|
FNS Staff |
$399 |
$399 |
|
Illinois State Host |
$399 |
$399 |
|
Group Members (10- 20) |
$524 |
$624 |
|
NWA Group Members (21- 40) |
$499 |
$599 |
To receive the group rate discount!
Log in:
Create an account (for those that do not have an account)
Payment Details
Cancellation and Refund Policy
NWA has MOVED!
Make Checks Payable to the National WIC Association
National WIC Association
Attn: NWA Annual Education and Training Conference Registration
1099 14th Street, NW Ste. 510
Washington, DC 20005
NWA’s federal tax ID is 52-1482678
Please find more detailed information on payments here.
Contact the conference team at confsupport@nwica.org
Schedule at a Glance
*Subject to change
Please click the above link to access the full conference agenda. Session dates, times, tracks and presenters included.
Please click here for a skeleton agenda with information on break timing and included meals.
Conference will take place in person only.
NOTICE! The room block at the Host Hotel will close on March 13, 2024
You may still be able to book at the host hotel directly on their website or using our travel partner aRes Travel, however, this will be at a higher rate than the room block.
Still in need of a room?
If you are planning on attending the conference and have not secured a hotel reservation, click here to search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel.
Book online or call 1-800-559-3186 for assistance | International callers 1-619-546-5773
aRes Travel is a third-party travel planner. Rates, deposits, and cancellation policies may vary and are the responsibility of the guest. Questions on hotel policies or payments made on aRes website should be directed to the aRes Reservation Center or to the hotel directly.
Host Hotel (Almost Sold Out)- Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is pleased to accept hotel reservations for the upcoming 2024 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference. To receive special rates and features, you must book through our dedicated booking website created especially for NWA Attendees! We encourage you to make your room reservations early to ensure that you will be in the host hotel at the guaranteed room rate (starts at $229 (plus taxes and Fees). The deadline to secure rooms is March 13, 2024, or once the reserved block has reached capacity.
Benefits of booking at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
Reservations Toll Free: 1-877-303-0104
Hotel Policies: Upon checking in, each guest will be asked to provide a valid government issued ID and a major credit card to guarantee your room reservation. Room cancellations must be received at least 72 hours prior to your arrival date to avoid being charged the first night's room rate and applicable taxes. Early departure fee will be charged if a guest checks out prior to their confirmed departure date without notifying the front desk by 12:00 midnight the day after check-in.
Be aware of nonofficial housing companies that contact exhibitors and attendees claiming to be able to secure hotel rooms at a better rate. These “poachers” are not authorized to represent NWA. If you are contacted by another housing company trying to sell hotel rooms, please share with confsupport@nwica.org.
IMPORATANT! Chicago is currently working on a multi-year improvement plan on highways that WILL affect your travel to and from airports, especially those traveling from O'Hare International Airport. Please plan accordingly and give yourself ample time to get around.
The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is located
Chicago Transit Athority (CTA) is also a great way to get to and from the airport.
Taxi and Rideshare services are available at the airport. The current estimated taxi/cab fare runs $50.00-$75.00 (one way) depending on the airport. Please note that the hotel does not provide shuttle service.
Parking
Explore an urban oasis, listen to live music, kayak through a skyscraper canyon. In Chicago, there’s no shortage of breathtaking things to see and do. Click here for details.
Click here for Chicagos Visitors Guide
Map of Downtown: Click here to access
Looking for a place to dine: Click here
On behalf of Amy Herring, the Director of Office Innovation for Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs, NWA received a letter supporting the 2024 Annual Education and Training Conference taking place in Chicago. This letter confirms that WIC Program funds may be used to fund registration and travel fees for this conference.
We invite you to participate as an exhibitor and/or sponsor at our 2024 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference in Chicago, IL, April 7-10, 2024.
It is an opportunity for you to meet and build relationships with potential new clients and more – acquaint yourself with existing clients who use your products and services. Among the over 1000 WIC community members who are expected to attend this conference are key decision makers representing the US Department of Agriculture, the 90 state and ITO WIC agencies, and over 2,200 local WIC agencies from across the nation.
Now Available! NWA 2024 Annual Conference Prospectus
Ready to Order? Click here to complete the online order form.
Interactive Floor Plan (hover your mouse over the numbers to see which booths remain available)
For questions, please reach out to exhibits@nwica.org
Why Exhibit?
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:
Key Dates to Remember:
Note: If full payment is not received by March 8, 2024, NWA has the right to reassign the exhibit booth to another exhibitor.
For questions, please reach out to exhibits@nwica.org
Exhibit Dates/Hours:
Schedule Subject to Change
| Date | Activity | Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
Sunday April 7th |
Move in and Setup | 8:00 AM - 4:00PM |
|
Sunday April 7th |
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception |
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM |
|
Monday, April 8th |
Exhibit Hall Hours |
8:00 AM - 4:15 PM |
|
Tuesday, April 9th |
Exhibit Hall Hours |
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
|
Tuesday, April 9th |
Exhibitor Teardown & Move-Out |
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
For questions, please reach out to exhibits@nwica.org
Sponsor/Exhibitor Packages
Standard booths are 8x10 in size, each booth includes pipe and drape, one six-foot table and two chairs, two exhibitor booth passes, and two full conference passes. Diamond and Platinum level sponsor booths are 8x20 in size, which include pipe and drape, and two 6 foot tables and 4 chairs.
Electrical, internet, telephone and additional equipment are not included and are available at an additional cost.
For questions, please reach out to exhibits@nwica.org
Learn more about Partnership here. Benefits include discounts on booths.
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Join us in amplifying the celebration of WIC's 50th anniversary and all of its amazing impacts by sharing this content with your communities! PLUS, you can now check out our new WIC 50th anniversary website at WIC50th.nwica.org where you can find videos, resources, and other information throughout 2024!
Share your WIC Memories with NWA
Have a WIC memory you'd like to share with NWA as part of our celebration of the 50th anniversary of WIC? Share your photo or video here or scanning the QR code.
Submit WIC 50th Anniversary Events to the WIC Hub Calendar
As NWA gets ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of WIC, we want to hear from our members on how YOU plan to celebrate this incredible milestone. If your community is organizing a celebration, you can submit it using the WIC Hub calendar or using this form. We plan to keep this updated throughout the year so that everyone can be aware of the events happening across the country.
The call for abstract is closed.
The National WIC Association invites WIC staff* to submit presentation and poster abstracts for the 2024 NWA Annual Education and Training Conference in Chicago, IL, April 7-10, 2024.
The NWA Annual Conference is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional skills and knowledge base to equip you to face WIC challenges and to take advantage of current and future WIC opportunities.
Abstracts must be submitted by WIC staff or WIC participants. We encourage individuals who do not work for WIC, including NWA Partners, to connect with a WIC staffer to submit an abstract Please Note: In order to be compliant with CDR requirements. Partners may not advertise (no logos or sales pitch) during educational sessions.
Before you begin, you must set up your profile in Ex Ordo. Once you are logged in you will navigate to the Submit Your Abstract link to get started. Submissions may be up to 300 words. For more information on how to submit an abstract see this guide. Check out this helpful article when it comes to submitting an abstract.
In the true spirit of this conference, below are the suggested educational tracks for oral and poster submissions:
When submitting an abstract you will be asked for the following.
Tip: When using Ex ordo, please use Chrome. You also may need to clear your cache from time to time.
Important Dates to Remember
The Conference Committee members will review all abstracts and notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent to the Corresponding Author by January 30, 2024.
By submitting an abstract to be considered for an oral or poster presentation, you acknowledge that all presenting authors are responsible for their own registration, travel, and hotel costs.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding this process or the conference in general, please contact our Conference Support Team at confsupport@nwica.org .
By registering for this conference, you agree to all conference policies.
General Policies
Cancellation & Refund Policy
COVID-19 Policy (No Vaccination Requirements)
Our priority is to create a safe environment for all that are in attendance. The precautions that the NWA has put in place for a safe conference experience do not rule out the risk of breakthrough infections. NWA cannot be held liable for COVID-19 cases arising because of event attendance.
NWA’s Meetings & Events Entry Policy is subject to change based on COVID-19 community levels and any updated guidance from CDC and/or federal or state officials. NWA may update these requirements at any time at its sole discretion.
Privacy Policy
Your data privacy and security are important to us. When you register for this event, NWA will process your data in accordance with our legitimate interests for hosting an industry event and for being a community-based organization. Please review our privacy policy, including how to exercise your rights under the GDPR.
Liability Waiver
I understand that travel and gathering involves risk of sickness, including sickness from COVID-19 and injury. I (and on behalf of my guest(s) waive and release NWA and its sponsors and exhibitors, and their employees and agents, from and against claims, liabilities and expenses arising from injury, sickness or death from contraction or spread of COVID-19 or other communicable disease due to travel to or attendance at an event sponsored by NWA.
I will take necessary precautions while at the event including, but not limited to, engaging in appropriate social distancing, minimizing face touching, frequently washing hands and avoiding risky environments such as overcrowded bars or restaurants. I agree to not attend any NWA event if I feel ill or had recent exposure to a COVID-19 case. This waiver and release is binding on me and my heirs and successors.
Code of Conduct
NWA is a listening organization focused on its participants. The Conference is designed to increase interaction, engagement, collaboration, connectivity and community, in a fun and safe environment.
We value the participation of each member of the community and endeavor to deliver an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Conference participants are expected to conduct themselves with integrity, courtesy and respect for others and maintain the highest level of professionalism at all conference programs and events, whether officially sponsored by NWA or not. All attendees, guests, speakers, organizers, volunteers, partners, vendors and staff at any NWA event are required to observe the following Code of Conduct.
NWA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for the conference.
Be kind to others. Do not insult or defame participants. Harassment in any form, sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes are not condoned at NWA Events.
Participants violating these rules may be asked to leave the conference at the sole discretion of NWA. Thank you for helping to make this a welcoming event for all.
Media Disclaimer
NWA intends to take photographs and video of this event for use in NWA news and promotional material, in print, electronic and other media, including the NWA websites. By participating in this event, I grant NWA the right to use any image, photograph, voice or likeness, without limitation, in its promotional materials and publicity efforts without compensation. All media becomes the property of NWA. Media may be displayed, distributed or used by NWA for any purpose.
The National WIC Association will hold its Annual Business Meeting virtually on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 from noon - 2:00 pm ET. This meeting will be held virtually. NWA invites voting members* to register for and attend the meeting and help set the course for NWA’s activities in the coming year, including elections for Chair-Elect, consider Bylaws changes and members resolutions, as well as to hear updates on NWA’s work from the Chair of the Board, Kate Franken, as well as Georgia Machell, NWA's Interim President & CEO.
Click here for more information on the Annual Business Meeting.
NWA invites its voting members* to join one or both of its Voting Member Orientations, to learn about the voting member role and what to expect at the Annual Business Meeting.
Pre-registration is required.
Virtual Voting Member Orientation - *NEW DATE* March 22, 2024 - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET Register here. This session will be recorded.
In-Person Voting Member Orientation - April 7, 2024 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am CT at the NWA 2024 Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
*As outlined in the NWA Bylaws, Voting Members are State Directors, State Nutrition Coordinators, State Breastfeeding Coordinators, State Vendor Managers, and four designated Local Agency representatives for each State Agency.