WIC IS GOING FOR GOLD: Celebrating the USDA Breastfeeding Award of Excellence

Posted by: Michelle Boxell 11 months ago

Cardinal Services’ WIC Program has received the USDA’s Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence! This award, given on August 1st, is a meaningful recognition of our team’s dedication to supporting new mothers and their families.

We are incredibly grateful for this honor, which affirms the importance of the work we do. It’s a testament to the fact that our efforts to help mothers with breastfeeding are making a real difference in the community.

What is the USDA Breastfeeding Award of Excellence?

Administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this award recognizes WIC programs that have shown outstanding support for breastfeeding mothers. To earn the Gold standard, a clinic must meet several strict requirements, including:

A strong breastfeeding culture: Creating an environment where breastfeeding is encouraged and supported.
Comprehensive staff training: Making sure our team has the knowledge and skills to provide expert support.
Peer counseling programs: Offering a network of mothers who can share their experiences and provide support and advice.
Strong community partnerships: Collaborating with hospitals, lactation consultants, and other community resources to create a system of support for new mothers.
High breastfeeding rates: Showing a significant number of our WIC participants are initiating and continuing to breastfeed.

Achieving this award wasn’t easy; it took a lot of hard work and commitment from everyone involved. It shows that we’re a reliable resource for mothers seeking help on their breastfeeding journey.

A Team Effort

Amber Rooney Hyde has been the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor at the Warsaw location since 2012.

In Peru and Wabash, Sarah Johnson (left) has been the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor since 2022. Ann Votaw (right), Registered Dietician and Board Certified Lactation Consultant supervises the Peru & Wabash locations and has been our agency’s Breastfeeding Coordinator since 2021.

This award truly belongs to everyone at WIC. It’s for the peer counselors who spend countless hours on the phone, offering a listening ear. It’s for the clinic staff who make every mother feel comfortable and supported. Most importantly, it’s for the mothers themselves, who trust us to be a part of their journey.

We’re humbled by this recognition and see it as a reminder to continue our mission with the same passion and dedication that got us here. The health of our children is a collective effort, and we’re proud to be a part of it.