Month: February 2025

We are proud to celebrate four PHFE WIC staff members who graduated from the PHFE WIC Dietetic Internship Program on February 28, 2025. Over the past 12 months, each intern completed over 1000 supervised practice hours, gaining hands-on experience that ranged from collaborating with local schools and hospitals to contributing to community initiatives. They are also the first cohort to all have a master’s degree since it became a requirement for the RDN exam in January 2024.

On top of their rotations, the Class of 2025 PHFE WIC Dietetic Interns:

• volunteered at Los Angeles Regional Food Bank,
• helped during PHFE WIC’s farmers’ market season,
• participated in health fairs,
• and more.

Congratulations to Angel, Diana, Jasmine, and Taylor on completing the program. Your hard work, compassion, and commitment have paid off, and we wish you all the best. We can’t wait to see what incredible things you will accomplish as future Registered Dietitians!

Read what the interns had to share about their experience

Angel Alonso

The internship was long, tedious, and tiring. I am very happy to have finished it. The year felt long up until the final months where it felt like time sped up. I applied a lot of my education to my internship rotations and learned a lot about the nutrition care process across multiple fields within dietetics. My favorite part was my experience at CHLA and seeing how dietitians work with parents for the health of their children. I want to be an RD so I can educate those in need on how to best feed themselves.

Diana Gonzalez

While every rotation taught me valuable skills in different areas, my favorite part of the internship was working in school foodservice. Not only did I get to apply my knowledge in a school setting, but it also brought back fond childhood memories. I found it especially enjoyable when I saw the kids punch in their student ID number—it reminded me of when I was in school and how the lunch routine felt so familiar. It also gave me a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes work of the Registered Dietitian and cafeteria staff. I was able to see firsthand the effort that goes into menu planning, ensuring nutrition standards, and making sure everything runs smoothly for the students. It was a wonderful experience to understand the vital role of school foodservice from both a personal and professional viewpoint.

Jasmine Huynh

My dietetic internship was an incredible experience filled with valuable learning. I’m have been grateful with amazing guidance from my preceptors who challenged and supported me in expanding my clinical, community and food service management skills. Their mentorship helped me enhance my understanding of the different aspects of the nutrition field.

Attending GLADICs was a highlight of the internship which provided a great opportunity to gain insight from experienced professionals and stay up to date with current topics in dietetics. The study sessions with fellow interns and the DI director, Beth, was equally as rewarding, as we created an environment where we can share our knowledge and encourage one another as we prepare for the RD exam.

Taylor Lowe

The most rewarding aspect of this experience was discovering the depth of my own potential as I pushed myself to acquire new skills, manage projects effectively, and collaborate with a diverse group of healthcare professionals. Each day presented an opportunity to challenge myself, whether it was mastering new concepts, working under tight deadlines, or stepping outside my comfort zone to communicate and educate others. This internship was not just about applying what I had learned in the classroom—it was about refining those skills in dynamic, real-world settings where I could make a tangible impact. What truly made this experience stand out was the chance to connect with professionals across various disciplines. Equally important were the strong relationships I developed with my mentors, preceptors, and peers. Their guidance and encouragement provided me with a solid foundation of support.

Congrats PHFE WIC Dietetic Internship Class of 2025!

The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) gives monthly cash gifts to eligible individuals to help those at risk for health issues during pregnancy or childbirth.

To be eligible, you must:

• live in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, or Riverside counties
  
  
• be 8-27 weeks pregnant at the time of the drawing
  
  
• earn less than the following household income for your county:
  • Alameda: $128,017
  • Contra Costa: $132,360
  • Los Angeles: $106,911
  • Riverside: $81,581
    
    
• identify with one or more of the following:
  • are Black or African American
  • had a previous preterm birth (live birth before 37 weeks)
  • have preexisting hypertension (before this pregnancy)
  • have sickle cell anemia (SCA)
    
    
• not be currently participating in another guaranteed income program

Applications are being accepted through March 2025.

If you have questions about CA ABP, please email support@abundantbirthproject.aidkit.org or call (415) 980-2873.

Families affected by recent fires and windstorms in Los Angeles County may qualify for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), which provides immediate food assistance to natural disaster victims. The application period is open February 10-14, 2025 and February 18-19, 2025.

Application Period is Open! February 10-14 and 18-19, 2025

You may receive:

• $250 to $1,500 based on household size and income
• One month of food benefits via EBT card, usable at grocery stores and farmers markets

You may qualify if you:

• Lived or worked in an eligible zip code at the time of the disaster
• Lost income, lost food, or had unexpected disaster-related expensive

Please note:

• SNAP recipients may be eligible for additional assistance
• You do not need to be a current SNAP recipient to apply
• Benefits must be used within the required timeframe
• Applying does not affect your immigration status

Apply by phone or in person between February 10-14 and 18-19, 2025

Apply by phone or in person during the application period, February 10-14 and 18-19, 2025. The phone line and offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. They’ll be closed on Monday, February 17, for Presidents Day.

Application requirements:

• Proof of identity (ID, driver’s license, or other identification)
• Information on income, expenses, and losses due to the disaster
• Proof of residency in an eligible ZIP code (if available)

Apply by phone: Call the D-SNAP hotline at (866) 488-8482 between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM during the application period.

Apply in person at one of the many Los Angeles and Pasadena locations listed below through Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Eligible zip codes

• Eaton: 91104, 91206, 91103, 91016, 91010, 91001, 91214, 91101, 91107, 91006, 91208, 91020, 91105, 91011, 91024, 91008, 91007, 91042, 91106
• Hughes: 91334, 91350, 91355, 91384, 91390, 93532, 93536
• Hurst: 91342, 91344, 91321, 91326, 91381, 91311
• Palisades: 90049, 91302, 91301, 90290, 90272, 90265, 90402, 90073, 90077, 90095, 90401, 90403, 90404, 91316, 91356, 91367, 91403, 91436, 91340
• Other (qualifying power outages): 91750, 93510

For more information, visit getcalfresh.org/d-snap

With a book in one hand and leafy greens in the other, children and their families enjoyed a storytime and hands-on cooking demo event that blended the magic of stories with healthy eating.

On February 4, 2025, Heluna Health, in collaboration with PHFE WIC, hosted a special storytime featuring Poquita’s Garden, read by author Lalo Alcaraz! This inspiring story of a young girl creating a community garden, ensuring access to fresh fruits and vegetables for all—beautifully reflects WIC’s mission to promote nutrition and health.

Growing Hope Gardens led a fun food prep activity where children made and enjoyed fresh salads, while the Little by Little School Readiness Program provided many books and developmental handouts to support early literacy. Each child also took home a copy of Poquita’s Garden! We were honored to welcome Kamille Hemsworth, representing Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez, who recognized Kiran Saluja for WIC’s impact and shared valuable community resources.

The event wrapped up with families receiving nutrition and early literacy materials, ensuring children grow healthy and ready for school. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible!