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The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), recognized by the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), celebrates the exceptional efforts of local WIC agencies through the WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence program. Formerly known as the Loving Support Award of Excellence, this program was established to honor agencies demonstrating exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities on a 3-tiered level: Gold Award, Premier Award (mid-level), and Elite Award (highest level). North Georgia WIC is one of five WIC programs in the state awarded at the gold level for 2024. The other gold awardees include health districts based in Athens (District 10), Macon (District 5-2), Valdosta (District 8-1), and Waycross (District 9-2).
LaToya Osmani, MPH, Georgia’s Director of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC, spoke at the presentation and said, “The North Georgia WIC team has a superior top-tier partnership with the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. They come together in a community engagement-driven way that can be measured and duplicated throughout Georgia.”
One of the District 1-2 WIC team’s many achievements has been supporting moms through the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, in which experienced breastfeeding mothers reach out to WIC mothers for support. The program has recently introduced a “buddy pairing” system, allowing WIC moms with similar due dates to connect with each other for additional support.
“The peer counselors work closely with our IBCLC [International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant] WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, Carol Hendrix,” said Karen Rutledge, RD, LD, district WIC Program Director. “Together, they provide families with both emotional support and clinical expertise, leading to significantly improved breastfeeding success rates and a supportive environment for families.”
Cedrick Boyd, Program Specialist of the FNS Southeast Regional Office (SERO), highlighted not only District 1-2 WIC’s unique Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program in his presentation of the award but also touched upon the whole gamut of their accomplishments, stating, “In addition to acknowledging that you met all the required components of the FNS WIC Breastfeeding Model for Peer Counseling, FNS applauds the North Georgia Health District and your collaboration with the local hospital lactation staff, pediatricians, and other community partners to close gaps in services that happen during the early postpartum period. As a result of this collaborative work, the hospital’s lactation specialist can connect breastfeeding moms to WIC peer counselors to provide a seamless transition from hospital to home for the WIC client and encouragement and WIC referrals for non-WIC clients. We recognize your work with pediatricians, which led to a dedicated lactation room being opened in a pediatric office. 
The North Georgia Health District is lauded for your advocacy for mothers returning to work, exemplified by your engagement in discussions with local businesses regarding The Business Case for Breastfeeding.”
This accolade is a testament to the team’s commitment to increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants.
Congratulations to our entire WIC staff for their well-deserved recognition and dedication to promoting breastfeeding excellence in the community!