|
|
Government Activities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC)
The goal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is to
improve the health of women, infants, and children by providing
supplemental foods, nutrition and breastfeeding education, and access to
health services.
To help achieve this goal, WIC suggests that state agencies
administering the WIC program adhere to four standards in their
breastfeeding promotion and support activities:
- Create a positive clinic environment which facilitates and endorses
breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding.
- Require each local agency to designate a staff person to coordinate
breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
- Require each WIC local agency to incorporate task-appropriate
breastfeeding promotion and support training into orientation programs
for new staff involved in direct contact with WIC clients.
- Establish a plan to ensure that women have access to breastfeeding
promotion.
Breastfeeding Support Services at the State and Community Levels
In WIC, pregnant women have always been encouraged to breastfeed their
babies, and counseling services have been available before and after
delivery. Although these services continue to be a major program benefit,
breastfeeding promotion and support has been strengthened over the years.
WIC Works Resource System
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has worked with the Food and
Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) to launch a new Web site to serve
health and nutrition professionals. Visit the WIC Works Resource System at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks
for an E-mail discussion group, links to training materials, and
information on how to share your resources and recommendations.
To learn more about other programs administered by the Food and
Nutrition Service, USDA, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns
Contact information:
Address: Supplemental Food Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service — USDA
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22302
Telephone: (703) 305-2746
Web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns
|
