For IMMEDIATE Release: Contact:
April 21, 2014 Januari Smith (217) 558-1544
WIC Celebrates
40 Years of Strengthening Illinois Families
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – The Illinois Department of Human
Services (IDHS) is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the
nation’s public health nutrition program. WIC provides families with the
knowledge and skills necessary to make healthful choices, which they can carry
with them for a lifetime.
“I applaud the WIC program in their efforts to promote
healthy lifestyles and for making a true difference every day in the lives of
women, infants and children in Illinois”, said IDHS Secretary Michelle R.B.
Saddler.
WIC aims to improve the health of low-income women, infants
and children by providing supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education
and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screenings and
referrals to eligible families.
Nearly 40 percent of all babies born in Illinois are WIC
participants and research shows that WIC has been successful in the reduction
of fetal deaths, infant mortality, low birth weight rates, iron deficiency
anemia in children and increased immunization rates.
In addition, in Illinois, women who participate in the
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program offered by WIC tend to have higher rates
of breastfeeding initiation (81.2%) and one month duration rates (73%) than
those who do not participate in the program (61.4% and 61.3%,
respectively). Women who participate in
WIC while pregnant also have lower Medicaid costs than those who do not
participate.
As a result of these outcomes, the health of women, infants
and children has been improved, infant mortality has decreased and Medicaid
expenditures have been reduced. Since
its beginnings, the WIC program has strived to meet the needs of its
participants and has served as a long-standing and important community
nutrition program which will continue to serve the needs of its population for
years to come.
To learn more about the WIC program or to see if you may
qualify, please visit www.fns.usda.gov/wic or at your local
WIC office.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment