August 8, 2024
Media Contact: Kimi Stevens, Public Relations Coordinator, kimi.stevens@vdh.virginia.gov or (757) 382-8650
Chesapeake WIC Receives USDA Gold Breastfeeding Award
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Chesapeake WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is honored to have received the USDA 2024 WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence for Exemplary Breastfeeding Support and Practices, one of only two WIC Gold Awards in Virginia and the second consecutive award for Chesapeake WIC. The Norfolk Department of Public Health WIC Program also received the USDA WIC 2024 Gold Award. WIC is a federally funded nutrition education program supported by the Virginia Department of Health.
The goal of Virginia WIC is to improve the health of pregnant women, infants, and children through better nutrition and access to healthcare. The program provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, supplemental nutritious foods, and counseling at WIC clinics, as well as screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services. To be eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must meet categorical, residential, income, and nutrition risk requirements.
Chesapeake Health Department Director Nancy Welch, MD is a staunch supporter of the program and WIC staff.
“Excellence doesn’t happen by accident,” said Dr. Welch. “The well-earned recognition of our Chesapeake WIC staff exemplifies the very definition of public health as a community value. We are here to serve.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture established the WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence program to recognize local WIC agencies providing exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities. The goal is to help local agencies and clinics to strengthen their breastfeeding promotion and support activities and ultimately increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants. Awards are valid for four years.
Chesapeake WIC will recognize World Breastfeeding Week at the Chesapeake Health Department with a client celebration Friday, August 9, from 12 to 3 p.m.
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