Milestones Matter: Advancing developmental monitoring in Women, Infants, and Children

Presenting and partnering at the national Level
In May, I was honored to present at the National Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Association Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Our session, “Milestones Matter: Real-World Experiences, Partnerships and Free Resources,” featured:

• Morgan Conti | Program Manager – Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin’s and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act Early Ambassador to Wisconsin
• Amber Brown, RD, LD | Association of State Public Health Nutritionists’ (ASPHN) Developmental Monitoring in WIC project manager
• Shirley Ellis, MS, RD | Nutrition education branch manager with Texas WIC

The session highlighted how developmental milestones can be added to WIC services in simple, low-burden ways. Brown shared insights from nearly a decade of partnership between ASPHN and the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program. Texas WIC showed how developmental milestones are built into staff training and family resources. I had the pleasure of highlighting the role of the Act Early Ambassador and sharing the work happening in Wisconsin.

The response was incredible. With more than 250 attendees, the session was standing room only. The Learn the Signs. Act Early. exhibitor booth nearly ran out of materials – showing strong national interest in this work.

Wisconsin’s collaborative approach
Wisconsin has been making progress on this approach for the past three years. While I had the privilege of representing the state, this movement has been led by dedicated public health professionals across Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs and local WIC agencies.

By working across sectors, partners are aligning efforts to streamline processes and better serve families. This coordinated approach makes developmental monitoring a natural part of care – not an added burden.

Impact on families and communities
The impact of this work is already being felt locally. Amy Du Charme, RDN, CD, CLS, Vernon County WIC director and nutritionist, shared:

“The WIC and MCH Learn the Signs. Act Early. partnership has provided a further springboard of conversation about child development with the families we serve in Vernon County. Not only is the conversation screening children in the moment, but it raises awareness of child development in general and the resources available for families. This awareness is a longer term, impactful benefit to families.”

This reflects the true value of adding developmental monitoring into WIC services – supporting both immediate concerns and long-term awareness. Families gain access to resources that benefit them well beyond a single visit.