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USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) announces the Loving Support Award of Excellence program to recognize local WIC agencies that have provided exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
Obesity risk is a grave concern facing WIC agencies because low-income children are at the greatest risk for obesity and are the least likely to breastfeed. In California, 80% of Latina women initiate breastfeeding, but only 29% breastfeed exclusively while in the hospital. Since a major goal of the WIC Program is to improve the nutritional status of infants, WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants, and WIC agencies are provided with evidence-based programs and training, such as breastfeeding peer counselors, to support WIC mothers.
Breastfeeding peer counselors must have successfully breastfed for 1 year, must have participated in WIC at some point, and must complete Loving Support peer counseling training. Additionally, WIC recruits peer counselors from the target population to reduce language and cultural barriers.
It is important to provide linguistically and culturally relevant breastfeeding support services, such as peer counseling, to support Latina mothers who may experience a lack of support from hospitals, the workplace, and even their family. WIC agencies are the perfect location to reach mothers and build healthy habits early on to reduce their child’s risk of obesity.
Apply for the Loving Support Award of Excellence before December 4th here.
Contact your state breastfeeding coordinator here.
By The Numbers
142
Percent
Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years
