The Dare County Department of Health & Human Services’ WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program was recently recognized during the 2024 North Carolina WIC Conference with the award of Highest Breastfeeding Duration Rates at Six Months in a Rural Setting.
National Breastfeeding Awareness Month offers an opportune time to highlight WIC’s recent achievement and also focus on the many benefits of breastfeeding as well as the support available to breastfeeding moms in the community and their families.
“It was certainly an honor for our agency to receive this award and I think it shows the hard work and dedication of all of our Dare County WIC employees,” said Dare County WIC Supervisor Rylee Simonsen. “This is an effort that has been ongoing for many years, with a dedicated staff that prioritizes breastfeeding education and support.”
Simonsen said that support from North Carolina WIC has been crucial to building skills among local staff. “We have many training sessions that we take on the local agency level that equip us with a better understanding of breastfeeding mechanics and support.”
WIC is one of many community resources that helps to support breastfeeding mothers both prenatally and postpartum. During appointments, WIC team members provide information, education and referrals to WIC participants on not only the benefits of breastfeeding, but also what to expect when breastfeeding an infant. In addition, WIC provides nutrition education and counseling on a variety of topics for mothers, infants, and children, and also provides food packages to promote health and nutrition among these populations.
Other community breastfeeding programs and support networks in Dare County include the Baby LINKS program, Waterlife Pregnancy Care Center, and the Outer Banks Breastfeeding Bistro.
“Working with and referring to these programs gives the women and infants we serve a stronger base of support in their breastfeeding journey,” Simonsen explained. “Breastfeeding is a worthwhile journey, but it certainly takes time and effort. A very important part of success is having appropriate information and support – it truly takes a village.”
WIC’s Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program is available to anyone on WIC and partners participants with a trained peer counselor who also has breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding supplies, such as single and multi-user breast pumps,are also available to help support moms who need to be separated from their infants for work, school or other reasons.
“A large part of WIC is making appropriate referrals, so we often refer women to other resources to support lactation,” Simonsen said. “We keep an updated list of community resources in the area to provide to women who want extra information and support.”
Simonsen said that Dare WIC is excited to receive the recent recognition the same year that WIC is celebrating its 50th anniversary. “WIC is a program that is effective in promoting health and nutrition in critical periods of life,” she said. “The benefits of our program – nutrition, supplemental food, breastfeeding support and referrals to community resources – all work hand in hand to promote overall health.”
WIC has three offices in Dare County. The main office is located at 109 Exeter Street, Manteo, NC 27954. Satellite offices are also at 2601 N. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 and 50347 NC Hwy 12, Frisco, NC. 27936. For more information on WIC, please contact 252.475.5068.
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