Recipe For Success In WIC: Based on a Thirty-Five Year Life Story

By Anna Kanianthra

Anna Kanianthra who is an immigrant came to US about 50 years ago. She fulfilled her own dream and served the low-income multicultural community in Fairfax VA for 35 years. Fairfax county Women Infant and Children (WIC) program was one of the best social programs in the State. WIC participation grew by 76%; Clinic sites increased by 125%; WIC f

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Nov 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953616074

Anna Kanianthra

Anna Kanianthra was born and brought up in a middle-class family of ten in the southern part of India. She and her family moved to the US for more than fifty years ago. She and her husband have been blessed with a son and a daughter and four beautiful grandchildren. Her dream as a teenager was to work with low-income families, especially, mothers and children. She has a master's degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and she worked initially as a teaching dietitian at the Saint Mary's Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The family moved to Fairfax County VA in 1975. This opened up the door for her to get a position as the Women Infant and Children (WIC), Program Manager, with the Fairfax County Health Department. She completed her long journey of over 35 years in community service, where she fulfilled her dream for public service. She retired on January 1, 2016. Her motivation for "The Recipe for success in WIC--Based on a 35 Year Life Story", is because of her strong belief that others involved in Community Programs may be helped through her experiences described in the book.

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RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN WIC

Anna Kanianthra

Published in the United States of America

ISBN eBook: 978-1-953616-07-4

This book is written to provide information and motivation to readers. Its purpose is not to render any type of psychological, legal, or professional advice of any kind. The content is the sole opinion and expression of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher.

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Anna R. Kanianthra

WIC Coordinator (Retired)

Fairfax County Health Department

MY LONG JOURNEY THROUGH THE WOMEN, INFANT AND CHILDREN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM (WIC) OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, VIRGINIA

Table of Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Discovering My Dream Job

My Introduction To WIC

History Of Women, Infants And Children Program (WIC)

Recipe For Success

The Fairfax County WIC Program

Time Management

Time StudieS

Effective Communication

Clinic Re-design

Steps Involved In Establishing The Staffing Standard

Make a work plan and set expectations

New Maternity WIC enrollment

Other Strategies For Sustained Growth

Snap Program

School Lunch Program

Partnership With Other Agencies

Northern VA Community College

George Mason University (GMU)

Partnership With Faith Based Organization

Reaching Out To The Hard To Reach Population

Goals-based Evaluation

Outcome Evaluation

Measuring Effectiveness Of WIC Program Intervention In Fairfax County

Leadership

Environment

Support

Conclusions

List Of References

Appendix

FOREWORD

If you’re looking for a subject matter expert on the Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) look no farther. Anna Kanianthra is that person. She has held positions in the WIC Program at the State, Regional and Local level. She knows how to build and sustain programs. Anna also knows how to stay focused and never falters in her desire to bring nutrition education, supplemental foods, health care referrals, breastfeeding tips and nutritional health to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children through the WIC Program.

As the Deputy Director for a local Health Department I have had the pleasure of knowing Anna for over 35 years. She introduced me to the WIC Program and has shared her journey through these years in her informative and engaging book entitled My Long Journey Through the Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program of the Health Department, Virginia. This journey outlines Anna’s early years and how she started her life dream, helping others less fortunate to be successful, in the WIC program over thirty-five years ago and provides insight into her early years, as well as her journey through the WIC Program in Virginia, Northern Virginia and Fairfax County. Anna is able to connect her experiences in a way that brings understanding and clarity to her struggles (that she views as challenges") and achievements. You will learn how Anna’s first job with the Virginia Department of Health, as a Regional Public Health Nutritionist, for five counties in Northern Virginia challenged her to with competing demands, to offer technical support, to learn how to develop and monitor the WIC program budget and to hire competent and caring staff that shared her goal of improving the health of pregnant mothers, infants and children. She describes how she was tested and needed to prove the WIC program could make a difference in the lives of others and eventually made her way to the Fairfax Health Department, one that was greatly in need of her expertise and energy.

I knew from my early days with Anna as the Regional Nutritionist, and later as the Fairfax Health Department Nutrition Coordinator that she was committed to women, infants and children in need. She recognized that although Fairfax County while one of the wealthiest counties in the country, had a significant number of residents at or below the federal poverty level (in 1979 and today). Anna used data, drive and determination to identify individuals in need, gain their trust and offer this greatly needed services. The numbers in our WIC program grew exponentially from a few thousand to almost 20,000 in the period of a few years. It goes without saying that Anna was and is one of the most charismatic and creative leaders I have ever known. Her recipe for success starts and ends with her exceptional communication skills and her ability to deliver results. She has a knack for doing the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time and right way. She learned early on that her communication skills were an asset in working with community partners and other human service providers. She saw opportunities to grow the WIC Program and capitalized expanding services to clinical sites across the county, to military installations and satellite sites. She was personally involved in the recruitment and hiring of all WIC employees and recognized the importance of hiring the best, dedicated, and passionate staff to complement her team.

Anna’s journey is one that those in considering or newly entering the WIC program should read. It serves as a guide for those who want to make a difference and the lives of others. Throughout the book she offers tips and suggestions to improve the quality and performance of WIC programs, but this information is also useful in other programs. I hope you will take the time to read, absorb and share Anna’s journey, as I have.

Rosalyn Foroobar

Deputy Director of Health Service

Fairfax County Health Department

FOREWORD

Anna Kanianthra has an amazing perspective on life, health and commitment to her assignment. What I mean by assignment is her divine or ordained mission that was bestowed upon her. Please don’t misunderstand, I think she would have created an assignment had one not been given to her by the Almighty.

I met Anna Kanianthra over 8 years ago in my role as a State Administrator for the Office of Family Health Services in the Division of Women Infant and Children (WIC) for the Virginia Department of Health. I was wide eyed and bushy tail about providing the best care to underserved, under informed and vulnerable Women, Infants and Children. I had been in the state of Virginia for less than 2 years and was still