March is National Nutrition Month! Healthy, nutritious foods are important for people’s overall health, but healthy foods can be expensive and more difficult to cook. One of Green County Public Health’s programs, the Women, Infants and Children (or WIC), program is trying to help Green County families have access to and eat more healthy foods.
The Women, Infants, and Children Program, or WIC, is a resource for eligible families to help ensure they are getting adequate nutrition and information about healthy eating. Families also receive referrals to health care services and other programs they may find useful. Families work with a Dietitian, Public Health Nurses, WIC Clerk, and a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to get important health information and support.
In 1972, WIC was added as an amendment to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to help families meet nutritional needs in response to the growing concern about malnutrition among low-income families. The WIC program was piloted for two years to see how well the program worked. In 1974, the first official WIC site opened in Kentucky; by the end of that year, WIC was in 45 states across the country. Green County has had a Women, Infants, and Children program since the 1970s and is still serving families today.
One of the primary services that WIC offers is food packages that provide supplemental foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of families. The packages offered to families will be different depending on who in the family is eligible for the program, how many kids in a family are eligible, and how old they are. Every package provides participants with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein-rich foods, eggs, and dairy products. Packages for families with infants may also include formula, baby cereal, and baby food. To make grocery shopping easier, the WIC app shows participants which products on the shelves are WIC-approved. In addition to regular food packages, in the summer, WIC participants also receive farmer’s market checks to purchase additional food from local farmer’s markets.
In addition to the food packages, WIC also provides nutrition and breastfeeding education. Families work with our Dietitian and Nurses to talk about dietary recommendations, eating habits, feeding concerns, and so much more. Families also get resources like recipes and cookbooks to help them prepare healthy foods. At Green County WIC, a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, a mom who has recently breastfed, is available to connect with pregnant and breastfeeding moms. The Peer Counselor provides prenatal breastfeeding education and support to breastfeeding moms after they deliver. The Peer Counselor can help support breastfeeding after returning to work, provide tips for breastfeeding in public, and review other helpful topics. Green County WIC also has two Certified Lactation Counselors who can work with moms on issues they may be experiencing while breastfeeding their baby. Our goal is to help moms meet their goals and celebrate their breastfeeding accomplishments. However a family chooses to feed their baby, WIC is ready to provide support!
WIC staff can also help people connect to other important resources in Green County. Our team can connect families to BadgerCare Plus for healthcare coverage, FoodShare to receive additional food benefits, and any other services a family may need when preparing for a new baby.
There are certain eligibility requirements for families to participate in WIC, a person needs to be pregnant or have had a baby in the past six months, or have a child under the age of five. The family also needs to meet income eligibility. Families that are already enrolled in BadgerCare, FoodShare, Medicaid, and some other programs may also qualify for WIC. This is not a complete list of eligibility requirements; community members interested in seeing if they qualify for WIC can complete this survey: https://wicfamily.wicvendorwi.org/wic-pre-application-form/DHS, or contact Green County WIC at (608) 328-9390 to ask questions about the program and the eligibility requirements or to enroll.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
