For immediate release: June 1, 2006 (06-079)

Contacts:
Kristin Sasseen, WIC Program 360-236-3633
Deanna Whitman, Communications Office 360-236-4022

OLYMPIA ¾ If you or someone you know benefits from the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), the program wants to hear from you. Each year the state Department of Health asks for input on the WIC program; this year the program would like to know how people feel about nutrition education, breastfeeding support programs, food available to clients and customer service.

WIC services have a direct effect on the health of Washington’s mothers and babies - over 50 percent of all infants born in our state benefit from WIC. Each year the program provides $104 million worth of nutritious foods along with education on nutrition and physical activity to more than 273,000 women and children. More than 11,000 of those served are women in the armed services or military dependents. Families also benefit from WIC breastfeeding promotion efforts, referrals to other needed health services and WIC’s immunization screening efforts.

"We get great ideas for ways to improve our program from families receiving WIC and from grocery store staff where WIC checks are used," said acting WIC Director Rebecca Waite. "Clients let us know what types of nutrition education they prefer, what type of foods they would like WIC to offer and what kind of experience they had at the WIC clinic or grocery store."

Public comments will be accepted until July 15, 2006. Comments may be submitted by email (stateplan@doh.wa.gov), sent by U.S. Mail to WIC Director, WIC Nutrition Program, P.O. Box 47886 Olympia, WA, 98504-7886, or faxed to 360-236-2345. Additional information can be found on the WIC Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/WIC/default.htm). To see the list of foods provided, click on "WIC Foods" on the left sidebar. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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