Olmsted County Public Health Services’ WIC program receives breastfeeding support award

Olmsted County’s five WIC breastfeeding peer counselors work with WIC qualifying mothers to help them reach their breastfeeding goals.

On August 9, 2021, Olmsted County Public Health Services' (OCPHS) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program received the Gold Premiere Breastfeeding Award of Excellence. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) WIC program presented the award during a virtual meeting for Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

Local WIC agencies may apply for one of three levels of the Breastfeeding Award of Excellence. They will receive the highest level of award they are eligible for based on award criteria. This year the USDA provided 101 awards in the three levels of performance: 90 Gold, 10 Gold Premiere, and one Elite.

Having a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program is one of the requirements to receive the award. This program connects women from the community with other mothers to share their personal breastfeeding experiences and provide support and information.

This is the second time Olmsted County WIC received the Breastfeeding Award of Excellence, having received recognition in 2016.

"We are very excited to receive this recognition. Our staff is passionate about breastfeeding, and this award reflects the commitment and dedication demonstrated every day. Our peer counselors support and encourage WIC parents to enable a positive breastfeeding experience and promote healthy babies in our community," said Olmsted County WIC Senior Nutrition Specialist Sue Santosuosso.

Santosuosso is grateful for the five breastfeeding peer counselors who provide around-the-clock personalized assistance to WIC families. In its tenth year, Olmsted County's WIC Breastfeeding Peer program has five breastfeeding peer counselors. They all have breastfeeding experience and received counseling training.

"I love helping moms feel a sense of empowerment, and I am very passionate about what I do," said Olmsted County WIC Peer Counselor Liz De La Cruz.

"Breastfeeding is an excellent opportunity for mother and baby bonding. It also benefits a baby's brain development and protects infants from short and long-term diseases such as ear and gastrointestinal infections, obesity, asthma, and diabetes. Through breastfeeding, babies can also find protection from SIDS. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding as it lowers the woman's risk of several types of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease," said Olmsted County WIC Services Manager Wendy O'Leary.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women can call or text the WIC office to see if they are eligible for the WIC Program at 507-328-7555. All WIC participants who enroll in the peer program will receive a peer counselor.

The USDA established the Breastfeeding Award of Excellence program to acknowledge local WIC agencies with commendable breastfeeding promotion and support activities. The award provides models and motivates other local agencies to strengthen their programs. The end goal is to increase WIC participants' breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
 

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Media Contact: Emma Diercks, Communications Specialist, 507-328-6166