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North Idaho WIC recognized for breastfeeding
program |
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September 1, 2017 |
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| WIC Staff
after receiving Loving Support’s Gold
Elite Award at the Breastfeeding Summit
in Boise in August. (l-r) Jennifer Post,
USDA, Mary Monroe, PHD WIC, Kim Young,
PHD WIC, and Mimi Fetzer, Idaho WIC. |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
recently awarded Panhandle Health District’s
(PHD) Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC) Program with the
Loving Support Gold Elite Award of Excellence.
This is the highest level of recognition by
Loving Support. PHD’s WIC Program is the first
local agency in the country to have achieved
this prestigious honor.
“This award underscores the amazing work our
staff do every day to support local families,”
said Mary Monroe, PHD Breastfeeding Coordinator.
“We aim to provide encouragement and support to
empower mothers as they strive to meet their
personal breastfeeding goals.”
Over 7,600 people, including more than 1,000
infants, received WIC benefits from Panhandle
Health District in 2016. Over 40 percent of
infants enrolled in WIC were fully breastfed for
their first six months. That is far and above
the national average, reported at 13 percent of
infants in the USDA’s 2016
Breastfeeding report.
In addition to remarkable breastfeeding data,
PHD was recognized for its peer counseling
services, supportive and breastfeeding-friendly
environment, and strong community partnerships.
Panhandle Health District WIC has six locations
in Hayden, Post Falls, Kellogg, Sandpoint, St.
Maries and Bonners Ferry.
Qualified WIC families receive nutritional
education, monthly vouchers to purchase healthy
food, breastfeeding support and counseling, as
well as resources and referrals to meet each
clients’ needs.
To learn more about WIC services in North Idaho,
call (208) 415-5130 or visit
panhandlehealthdistrict.org/wic. |
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