WIC

Supplemental Nutrition
WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that provides milk, eggs, cheese, juice, cereal, and peanut butter to women and children in working families, as well as the unemployed. Unlike many programs, WIC eligibility guidelines are 185% of the Federal poverty guideline, so a family of four can gross up to $30,895 a year and still receive WIC benefits. In addition to food, each family receives individual nutrition counseling and on-going nutrition education and referral services.

Breast Feeding [Top]
WIC recommends breast-feeding for all babies. WIC staff has been trained to promote and support breast-feeding by providing accurate information and increased food packages to women who choose to breast-feed. These packages include tuna fish, carrots, extra cheese, juice and beans. Formula is provided to infants who are not breast-fed.

Farmer's Market [Top]
Each summer, WIC families receive Farmer's Market Coupons to be redeemed at local participating Farmer's Markets for fresh fruits and vegetables. In 1998, 950 coupon booklets were issued in Chenango County, totaling $19,000 in possible revenue to be returned to area farmers.

In 1999 WIC celebrated its 25th successful year. Research continues to prove that providing good food, access to health care and accurate nutrition information is the right combination for better birth outcomes, and healthier children.

In 1998, over 1800 women and children received checks each month for nutritious food from nine different WIC sites throughout Chenango County. WIC really works!

Community Health Worker [Top]

The Community Health Worker Program (CHWP) is a free, voluntary program that serves pregnant and/or parenting families. Community Health Workers provide confidential case management, health education and referral to appropriate community services for families in crisis. The program goals are to promote positive birth outcomes and enhance parenting skills. Community Health Workers work with families in their home to solve problems such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, housing, relationship issues and health problems which may affect their child's well being.

CHWP outreach workers follow the Family Development Philosophy "empowerment approach" toward helping families develop and achieve their goals promoting self-sufficiency. They offer information and assistance in accessing community resources regarding such issues as nutrition, child care, housing, parenting, education, family health care, transportation, clothing/food resources needs, as well as providing emotional support.

This year CHWP served 97 families including: 63 pregnant women, 34 parenting adults, 25 newborns and 65 children.