WIC:
Breastfeeding Promotion and Support
The Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC),
funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, operates under the broad
goal of improving the health of women, infants, and children by providing
supplemental foods, nutrition and breastfeeding education, and access to
health services. In support of this goal, the four standards noted below
have been established to guide WIC State Agencies in their breastfeeding
promotion and support activities. Each State Agency is required to
1) Have a policy that
creates a positive clinic environment which endorses breastfeeding as
the preferred method of infant feeding;
2) Designate a
staff person to coordinate breastfeeding promotion and support
activities;
3) Incorporate
task-appropriate breastfeeding promotion and support training into
orientation programs for new staff involved in direct contact with WIC
clients; and
4) Ensure that women
have access to breastfeeding promotion.
Since the program began
in 1974, WIC Program staff have counseled and encouraged women, both
before and after delivery, regarding breastfeeding and infant care.
Although these services continue to be a major program benefit,
breastfeeding promotion and support has been strengthened over the years.
In the late 1980s, program and funding changes enabled WIC State Agencies
to provide breastfeeding aids (breast pumps, pads etc.), offer an enhanced
food package to women who breastfeed exclusively, and designate a staff
person to coordinate breastfeeding promotion activities at the State
level.
Through its promotion
of breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding studies show that
the program has had a positive impact. For more information about WIC's
impact on infant feeding practices see http://www.fns.usda.gov/WIC/ProgramInfo/howwichelps.htm
To learn more about
breastfeeding promotion and support activities in the WIC Program in your
state contact your state breastfeeding coordinator. Visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/coor.htm
for more information.
Contact
information:
Address:
Supplemental Food
Programs
Division Food and Nutrition Service — USDA
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22302
Telephone: (703)305-2746
Web: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Breastfeeding/breastfeedingmainpage.htm
Related
information
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