EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WIC The special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutri- tion and breastfeeding education to pregnant wom- en, breastfeeding women and children under the age of five who qualify. Individuals and families who live in Washington and Greene counties can access WIC benefits through Blueprints. The agency, formerly known as Commu- nity Action Southwest, enables families and individ- uaís to attain the skills, knowledge, motivation and opportunities to become self-sufficient. Their four pillars of service: mind, home, health and wallet, fea- ture programs that lift people out of poverty, addic- tion or other circumstances. WIC falls under the agency's health pillar. Chandra Dyne, the WIC Director for Blueprints, said the agen- cy offers education, nutrition assessment and inter- vention to improve the health and pregnancy out- Dyne said there are six health comes of their participants. professionals on staff, including Registered Dieticians, Registered "WIC benefits families and communities by providing Nurses and Certified Lactation additional support month-to-month with groceries Counselors. Blueprints' WIC also and provides nutrition and breastfeeding education has two Breastfeeding Peer Coun- to help families live healthy lives," Dyne said. selors to support families on their Last year, the Blueprints' WIC served roughly 4,813 breastfeeding journey. indivíduals. WIC provides food benefits for healthy "Our staff are well trained and foods rich in protein; iron; calcium and vitamins C have an education in the nutrition and Dincluding milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit, vegetables, field." Dyne said. whole grains, eggs, peanut butter, beans, infant foods and formula. The program also provides farmer's mar- While WIC focuses on pregnant, To learn more about WIC and ket vouchers for locally grown fruits and vegetables breastfeeding and postpartum to check your eligibility, visit during the summer months to eligible participants. women and children under the pawic.com. "When we meet with our participants, we discuss age of five, Blueprints offers 35 To learn more about Blueprints their health and nutrition and ways they can incorpo- that qualify. Dyne said her staff myblueprints.org. For more infor- rate heathy foods to meet their goals," Dyne said. "We work to identify other limitations mation about Blueprints' WIC pro- work with each family to set SMART goals, and help families and individuals may expe- gram, call 724-225-9550 ext. 440. those goals be achieved by their next appointment." programs free of charge to those and the services they offer, visit rience in effort to remove barriers "If you have a picky eater, we can offer support and they may be facing. education to resolve those behaviors," Dyne said. Sponsored content brought to you by "We work with families to see what blueprints Additionally, Blueprints' WIC provides breastfeeding other needs they may have and support and counseling for women who are preg- work to connect them to other nant or breastfeeding and breast pumps to women Blueprints' programs or commu- who need them. Food benefits for formula are avail- nity resources to help the whole able for babies who are not breast fed. break barriers- buld futures powered by communityection family," Dyne said. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WIC The special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutri- tion and breastfeeding education to pregnant wom- en, breastfeeding women and children under the age of five who qualify. Individuals and families who live in Washington and Greene counties can access WIC benefits through Blueprints. The agency, formerly known as Commu- nity Action Southwest, enables families and individ- uaís to attain the skills, knowledge, motivation and opportunities to become self-sufficient. Their four pillars of service: mind, home, health and wallet, fea- ture programs that lift people out of poverty, addic- tion or other circumstances. WIC falls under the agency's health pillar. Chandra Dyne, the WIC Director for Blueprints, said the agen- cy offers education, nutrition assessment and inter- vention to improve the health and pregnancy out- Dyne said there are six health comes of their participants. professionals on staff, including Registered Dieticians, Registered "WIC benefits families and communities by providing Nurses and Certified Lactation additional support month-to-month with groceries Counselors. Blueprints' WIC also and provides nutrition and breastfeeding education has two Breastfeeding Peer Coun- to help families live healthy lives," Dyne said. selors to support families on their Last year, the Blueprints' WIC served roughly 4,813 breastfeeding journey. indivíduals. WIC provides food benefits for healthy "Our staff are well trained and foods rich in protein; iron; calcium and vitamins C have an education in the nutrition and Dincluding milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit, vegetables, field." Dyne said. whole grains, eggs, peanut butter, beans, infant foods and formula. The program also provides farmer's mar- While WIC focuses on pregnant, To learn more about WIC and ket vouchers for locally grown fruits and vegetables breastfeeding and postpartum to check your eligibility, visit during the summer months to eligible participants. women and children under the pawic.com. "When we meet with our participants, we discuss age of five, Blueprints offers 35 To learn more about Blueprints their health and nutrition and ways they can incorpo- that qualify. Dyne said her staff myblueprints.org. For more infor- rate heathy foods to meet their goals," Dyne said. "We work to identify other limitations mation about Blueprints' WIC pro- work with each family to set SMART goals, and help families and individuals may expe- gram, call 724-225-9550 ext. 440. those goals be achieved by their next appointment." programs free of charge to those and the services they offer, visit rience in effort to remove barriers "If you have a picky eater, we can offer support and they may be facing. education to resolve those behaviors," Dyne said. Sponsored content brought to you by "We work with families to see what blueprints Additionally, Blueprints' WIC provides breastfeeding other needs they may have and support and counseling for women who are preg- work to connect them to other nant or breastfeeding and breast pumps to women Blueprints' programs or commu- who need them. Food benefits for formula are avail- nity resources to help the whole able for babies who are not breast fed. break barriers- buld futures powered by communityection family," Dyne said. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.