Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack proclaimed August 1-7, 2021, National WIC Breastfeeding Week in appreciation of breastfeeding mothers and all the dedicated volunteers, professionals, communities, and organizations who support their efforts.
In support, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced its WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence winners. More than 100 awards were handed out across the country, including 28 in the southeast region.
“USDA established the award program to recognize WIC local agencies that have provided exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support to WIC moms,” said Willie C. Taylor, FNS Southeast Regional Administrator. “The intent is to provide models to help other WIC clinics strengthen their breastfeeding programs to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates nationwide.”
A major goal of the WIC Program is to improve the health of babies and moms through breastfeeding; WIC serves about half of all babies born in the country and is uniquely positioned to help moms successfully breastfeed.
In the southeast region, the following WIC Clinics have received Gold Awards:
Florida
Duval County
Monroe County
Nassau County
Pinellas County
Georgia
Coastal Health District 9-1
Cobb & Douglas Public Health
Dekalb County Board of Health
District 3-4 East Metro Health District
District 4 Lagrange Health Services
District 1-1 Northwest Georgia Public Health
Southwest Georgia Health District 8-2
West Central Health District
Kentucky
Clark County Health Department
Greenup County Health Department
Lawrence County Health Department
Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness
Mississippi
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
North Carolina
Albemarle Regional Health Services
Brunswick County
Richmond County Health Department
Union County
Tennessee
Hamilton County
Metro-Davidson County
Mid Cumberland Region
Northeast Tennessee Region
South Central Region of Tennessee
Sullivan County
Upper Cumberland Region
The award is given at three levels of performance that build on one another – Gold, Premiere, and Elite.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – better known as WIC – serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. More information about WIC can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/WIC.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov.