TULSA, OK – [October 1, 2024] – The Tulsa Health Department WIC clinics at the James O. Goodwin Health Center, Central Regional Health Center, North Regional Health & Wellness Center, Mingo WIC Clinic and South Peoria WIC Clinic locations are recipients of the 2024 Gold WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence. The awards are granted annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
This year a total of 82 WIC local agencies across the nation received Gold WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence recognition. The award program was established to recognize local WIC agencies which have provided exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities. The intent is to serve as a model and motivate other local agencies to strengthen their breastfeeding promotion and support activities and ultimately increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants.
“Our WIC peer counselors play a vital role in supporting breastfeeding mothers. Their guidance and encouragement are essential to helping women achieve their breastfeeding goals,” said Peer Counselor Supervisor Janet Potts. “It is an honor to be recognized for our organization’s efforts to promote and support breastfeeding.”
A WIC breastfeeding peer counselor is a trained employee who provides support and guidance to breastfeeding mothers. They are mothers themselves who have had successful breastfeeding experiences and are passionate about helping others achieve their breastfeeding goals.
In addition to the peer counselors, THD employs International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) who provide lactation support at no cost to prenatal and postpartum families who qualify for SoonerCare or WIC and live within Tulsa County. Services are provided for THD WIC clients who live outside of Tulsa County as well.
Local WIC agencies operating a peer counseling program for at least one year, and who met all the required core components of the FNS WIC Breastfeeding Model for Peer Counseling, were eligible to apply for an award. The award is given at three levels of performance that build on one another: Gold, Premiere, and Elite. This approach recognizes three groups of agencies that include those who are demonstrating model practices, as well as those who are at varying stages of implementing exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support practices.
WIC is a federally funded nutrition education and supplemental food program for income-eligble pregnant and breastfeeding women, or women who have delivered within the last six months, as well as infants, and children under age 5. The program offers nutritious foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support that can improve the health of those it serves.
To see if you may qualify for WIC Services, contact the Tulsa Health Department at (918) 582-9355 or visit www.tulsa-health.org/WIC.
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