North Carolina WIC Lactation Area Training Centers for Health Program

The North Carolina WIC Lactation Area Training Centers for Health program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services through the Division of Child and Family Well-Being, Community Nutrition Services Section. This initiative is part of the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and is designed to strengthen breastfeeding support statewide. The program builds upon the mission of WIC to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and young children by improving access to nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and coordinated healthcare services. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to award up to three public or nonprofit entities to operate regional Lactation Area Training Centers for Health. Each selected organization will support one of three designated regions across North Carolina, collectively serving all 100 counties and supporting 85 local WIC agencies. The program emphasizes statewide coordination, with preference given to applicants capable of delivering consistent services across all regions under a unified approach. Each funded entity must support at least one full-time equivalent position dedicated to lactation training and coordination. Funding supports a comprehensive scope of work focused on training, collaboration, and outreach. Awardees are responsible for delivering standardized lactation training to peer counselors, WIC staff, and healthcare professionals, including structured orientation sessions, continuing education, and in-service training. Additional responsibilities include facilitating community engagement sessions, maintaining communication with WIC agencies, providing clinical lactation guidance, and developing resource maps of regional lactation services. The program also requires contractors to contribute to statewide coordination efforts and participate in advisory or committee activities. Eligible applicants must be North Carolina-based public agencies or private nonprofit organizations with verified legal status. Nonprofits must hold 501(c)(3) designation and be registered to operate within the state, while public agencies must provide documentation confirming their legal identity and tax status. Entities currently providing direct Breastfeeding Peer Counseling services under separate WIC funding are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, qualified staff including an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, and experience delivering evidence-based training and collaborative healthcare initiatives. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the designated contact by the stated deadline. The application package includes a completed cover page, proposal summary, detailed project plan, staffing plan, training plan, collaboration and outreach strategies, organizational capacity documentation, and a detailed line-item budget with narrative justification. Evaluation criteria focus on program design, staffing qualifications, training effectiveness, collaboration strategy, outreach impact, and overall cost effectiveness. Applicants may be asked to provide additional clarification during the review process. The application timeline includes an initial posting date, a deadline for submitting questions, and a final application due date. Awards are anticipated to be announced in June, with the performance period beginning October 1 and continuing through September 30 of the following year, with potential extensions. Reporting requirements include submission of work plans, quarterly progress reports, monthly financial reports, and a final annual report. The program is expected to operate on an annual cycle aligned with the federal fiscal year. Funding for this opportunity totals up to 525000 dollars annually, with up to 175000 dollars allocated per region. Over a three-year period, total potential funding reaches 1575000 dollars. Funds are provided through the United States Department of Agriculture and are subject to federal compliance requirements including reporting under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. There is no stated cost-sharing requirement. The program is recurring annually, with continued funding contingent on performance and availability of federal funds.

Demonstrate statewide coordination capacity; align training with standardized curriculum; show measurable outcomes; provide strong partnerships and IBCLC staffing