Infant and children's nutrition program offers lifelong benefits

Sep. 18—Just about any professional in the children's health field will agree that good nutrition is the best way to give a newborn a head start in life.

That applies even when the child is in the womb, which is where the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Women, Infants and Children program starts.

Mary Jane Johnson, Haywood County's WIC supervisor, provided a program overview for the county commissioner board this week, noting the program has been funded repeatedly since the 1970s because of the positive outcomes it produces.

"It really does work," she said of the four-prong program that's focused on nutrition education, providing healthy foods, breastfeeding support and a strong referral system.

The program is offered to any low-income pregnant woman or family with children under age 5. It not only provides nutrient-dense foods, but plenty of education along the way. About 1,300 individuals are served through the WIC program, though the numbers fluctuate as newborns are added and children age out.

The food portion of the program provides a WIC debit card to purchase items such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, whole grain pasta and breads, peanut butter and milk. The holder presents the the debit card first upon check out, and eligible items are deducted from their bill up to the allowable amount on the card, Johnson said.

The amount of funding fluctuates depending on family size. For instance, an eligible family with two children under age 5 could receive $150 a month; a pregnant woman and one child would receive $190 and nursing mother would receive $240.

WIC recipients receive more than $1 million in benefits in Haywood alone.

"One major difference between WIC and food stamps is that we are engaging and counseling the participants," Johnson said.

During the Covid years, WIC's counseling portion was suspended, but once the public health emergency declaration for the pandemic ended this year, the sessions again became mandatory.

Because many participants had grown used to having the nutrition funds automatically added to their debit card, they neglected to resume the education sessions, which meant their cards no longer worked.

This has led to a slight decrease in participation, but those eligible are returning now that they realize the education component is necessary, Johnson said.

Statistics show that WIC education reduces premature births, low birth weights, fetal and infant deaths, iron deficiency anemia and access to routine health care.

Benefits of breastfeeding

Another push through the WIC program is support for mothers who want to or are breastfeeding. In Haywood, all the WIC staff members must undergo breastfeeding coaching, Johnson said as she emphasized the lifelong benefits to both the child and the nursing mother.

This includes lowering the risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and ovarian and breast cancer in nursing mothers throughout their lifetime, Johnson said. Meanwhile, breastfed infants have a lower risk of asthma, diabetes, respiratory disease, infections and more — benefits that also last throughout their lives.

Even businesses can benefit by making provisions to accommodate nursing mothers in the workplace. Studies show there is a three-to-one return in investment through lower healthcare costs, reduced absenteeism, lower turnover rates and improved productivity and loyalty, Johnson said.

"Formula is a necessity for some families, but its nutritional quality will never match breast milk," Johnson said. "We want to make sure all participants are making informed decisions on how to feed their baby."

The Haywood County WIC program recently received a gold star award from the USDA — the top rating available — for its exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support practices.

Program promotion

WIC employees have established partnerships with many child-centered businesses and agencies to help spread the word about the program benefits. In addition to setting up booths at family-based activities, staff members reach out to medical providers and other agencies to let them know what's offered through WIC and learn about where to refer clients if a need arises, Johnson said.

Those eligible for the program must have an income that is 185% or less than the federal poverty guidelines.

For a mother and single child, that is $26,997, and for a family of three, the maximum income is $45,991. The income level rises with the number of family members, she said.

For more information on the WIC program, call 828-356-2220; drop by the Haywood County Health and Human Services Department at 157 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, or visit the WIC website.