First State Times

DOVER, DE – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing the launch of Delaware WIC’s new educational website.

The website includes information on nutrition, breastfeeding, and WIC’s programming for families, covering all stages of pregnancy, postpartum, infancy and children up to five years of age. It currently includes a link to information and contact numbers related to the baby formula shortage. The site can be accessed at Delaware.WICresources.org.

WIC, also known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant and Children, is a federal nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well and learn about nutrition.

WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, breastfeeding support, referrals to health care, welfare and social services, and nutrition education.

The new Delaware WIC site provides evidence-based information on breastfeeding, nutritional feeding practices, and information for expectant mothers and fathers.

The website also features information on the Delaware WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program which begins June 1 and ends October 31. The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program materials, located on the site, guide participants on how and where to redeem their one-time $30 nutrition coupon provided by the program.

“Delaware is fully committed to the health and well-being of our residents, particularly our children,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Good health starts with good nutrition. The launch of the Delaware WIC website is happening at a time when it is needed the most. Families can learn how to access healthy foods at Delaware’s farmers’ markets, and they can also get up-to-date information on WIC and its related programs, including information on breastfeeding and infant formula.”

The new website marks a pivotal change in how Delaware WIC provides nutrition education materials. During the pandemic, WIC pivoted from an in-person service provider to offering services virtually. The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique opportunities to provide WIC services to at-risk women, infants and children who may not have participated in WIC before. Waivers permitted WIC to deliver benefits remotely and offered opportunities for nutrition education and breastfeeding support virtually to WIC families. Participants have fully embraced this new model of delivering WIC services to the community.

WIC is one of the nation’s largest federal nutrition programs, serving approximately 6.3 million people nationally, including about half of all infants born in the United States. WIC supports the short- and long-term health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5.

In Fiscal Year 2021, the Delaware WIC program served 17,199 participants, including 9,107 participants in New Castle County, 4,353 in Kent County and 3,739 in Sussex County.

Delawareans are encouraged to visit Delaware.WICresources.org or follow Delaware WIC on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube where they will find information on Delaware WIC’s programs and healthy recipes using WIC-approved ingredients.

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Original source can be found here.