3 Vermont Health Clinics Receive the Highest Level Awards; one the only Elite awardee in the country and two of the 13 Premiere level awardees
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is leading the nation in breastfeeding support- three local WIC clinics have achieved the highest level awards from the US Department of Agriculture. The awardee clinics have some of the highest breastfeeding rates among WIC clinics in the country:
• Morrisville has a 57.9 percent rate of infants who breastfeed, well above the national rate of 34.3 percent of WIC infants rate of exclusive and partially breastfed infants in the WIC program
• Barre has a 49.1 percent breastfed rate, well above the 34.3 percent rate exclusive and partially breastfed infants in the WIC program
• Johnsbury has a 49.2 breastfed rate, well above the 34.3 percent rate of exclusive and partially breastfed infants in the WIC progra
At a virtual awards ceremony August 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its 2023 WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence recipients to health clinics that provide exemplary support to WIC breastfeeding families.
“A major goal of WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) is to improve the health of babies and mothers through breastfeeding,” said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Regional Administrator Lizbeth Silbermann. “These awards recognize local WIC agencies that support WIC moms’ breastfeeding goals through the highest-quality breastfeeding promotion and support activities and serve as models for other local agencies to strengthen breastfeeding among WIC participants.”
Nationwide 125 awards were given out, including 18 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The award is given at three levels of performance that build on one another: Gold, Premiere and Elite. This year USDA awarded 111 Gold, 13 Premier and 1 Elite.
In Vermont the following clinics achieved Elite and Premiere level awards, with the Morrisville Office of Local Health receiving the only Elite level award in the country.
Vermont Department of Health - Morrisville Office of Local Health WIC Program, Morrisville, VT
Premiere
Vermont Department of Health - St. Johnsbury Office of Local Health WIC Program, St. Johnsbury, VT
Vermont Department of Health - Barre Office of Local Health WIC Program, Barre, VT
“For more than 30 years, the Vermont WIC Program has been committed to supporting breastfeeding/chestfeeding parents, and we congratulate the staff of our Morrisville, Barre and
St. Johnsbury Local Health Offices for this well-deserved recognition of their hard work and dedication to supporting families through their breastfeeding journeys,” said Vermont WIC Director Karen Flynn. “Public health is ultimately about reaching people where they are to build relationships and provide supports that result in better health outcomes for all. We look forward to continuing the satisfying work helping families to give their children a healthy start.”
August is Breastfeeding Month, and each year celebrations are held throughout the month highlighting the importance of breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby’s first year of life. WIC serves about half of all babies born in the country and is uniquely positioned to help moms successfully breastfeed. In support of this awareness month, USDA announces its Breastfeeding Award of Excellence winners.
WIC serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. More information about WIC can be found atwww.fns.usda.gov/WIC.
Learn more about WIC in Vermont at HealthVermont.gov/WIC.
Source: BOSTON, August 29, 2023 – Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations
Food and Nutrition Service, Northeast Region
United States Department of Agriculture
