WIC gives boost to low-income families

HOLLAND

Warren County residents are among millions of low-income women who have achieved dramatic gains in health and nutrition thanks to the WIC program, the nation’s premier public health nutrition program which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

“We are very proud of WIC’s documented success in improving health and nutrition of the area’s most vulnerable population,” said Katie McMinn, nutrition educator with the Warren County Health Department. “We are hoping the program’s 30th anniversary will provide an opportunity to spread the word about how this program supports a healthy future for Tennessee participants.”

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, provides breastfeeding support, nutrition education, health care referral, and supplemental nutritious foods to over 160,000 participants in 95 Tennessee counties.

Studies have shown low-income children in WIC have a lower prevalence of anemia than those who are not enrolled. Additionally, 4- and 5-year-olds whose mothers participated in WIC during pregnancy have achieved better vocabulary test scores than children whose eligible mothers did not receive WIC benefits.

The focus of the 30th anniversary celebration is breastfeeding, the gold standard for infant feeding. Breastfeeding promotion staff are available across the state to provide breastfeeding education and support to breastfeeding families. Breastfeeding rates are growing faster among WIC participants than among the rest of the population. WIC has had a three-fold increase in the percentage of breastfeeding mothers since 1990.

“Breast-fed children benefit from higher IQ scores and better school performance, as well as decreased risk of obesity later in life,” said Glenda Holland, director of the Warren County Health Department.

For more information about WIC and hours of clinic operation, call the Warren County Health Department at 473-8468, or call 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942).