News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Irene G. Warren, Director of Development
February 24, 2004
(937) 374-5626 or
1-866-858-3588
GREENE COUNTY COMBINED HEALTH
DISTRICT
CELEBRATES 3O YEARS OF WIC EATING SMART
(XENIA,
OH) In conjunction with National
Nutrition Month®, The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) for Greene County is among local projects recognized
throughout the month of March as part of “30 Years of WIC Eating Smart –
Staying Healthy Appreciation Month,” as designated by Ohio Governor Bob Taft.
"The
Ohio Department of Health recognizes 30 years of success by Ohio's 75 local WIC
projects to combat the effects of hunger and inadequate prenatal care,"
said Dr. David Schor, Chief, Division of Family and Community Health Services.
"WIC is a win-win program for our moms, children and taxpayers
because everyone benefits when moms and children get a better nutritional start
in life."
"We
have many reasons to celebrate this 30th anniversary because we know WIC
works," said Corey Hamilton, Chief, Bureau of Nutrition Services.
“Numerous studies, from Yale in 1977, through the National WIC
Evaluation in 1986, to the Mathematica studies in 1990 and 1991, have shown that
pregnant women who participate in WIC have longer pregnancies leading to fewer
premature births; have less low and very low birth weight babies; experience
fewer fetal and infant deaths; seek prenatal care earlier in pregnancy; and
consume more of such key nutrients as iron, protein, calcium, and vitamin C.
WIC helps to ensure children's normal growth, reduces levels of anemia,
increases immunization rates, and improves diets.”
Schor
and Hamilton agreed that staff working in WIC believes in WIC! We want to thank
our staffs for their commitment from the beginning in 1974, making WIC available
to 10,175 participants in 18 Ohio project sites to 255,000 participants
statewide in 2004.
Tonja
Lively, RD, LD, WIC Director, Greene County, attributes the success of the local
WIC project to the hard work and tireless dedication of the program staff.
“Our staff works very hard to ensure that the citizens of the county
who need help receive that assistance in a positive and respectful way.
Greene County WIC has participation levels of approximately 348 clients
per each staff member on a monthly basis.”
The WIC staff consists of three registered dietitians, one registered
dietetic technician, one certified lactation consultant, three clerical support
staff and three breastfeeding peer helpers.
WIC
helps income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants,
and children to age five who are at health risk.
Eligibility is determined at a local WIC clinic.
Family income must be within 185 percent of the federal poverty income
level. A WIC health professional
assesses risk by checking factors such as blood iron level, height, weight,
health history and dietary intake.
WIC
provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, and
supplemental foods rich in calcium, iron, and protein that moms and children
under the age of five need to improve their health status.
These foods include milk, eggs, real cheese, peanut butter, 100 percent
fruit juices and low-sugar, iron-fortified cereals.
In addition, WIC provides referral to prenatal and pediatric health care
and other maternal and child health and human services programs.
For
more information contact either the Greene County Combined Health District, WIC Program at 937-374-5600
or-866-858-3588 or the State of Ohio at 1-800-755-GROW.
Greene County Combined
Health District – Your center for public health services and health
information in Greene County for over 70 years.
Healthy People…Healthy Communities
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