WIC Program Recognized for Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers

New Mexico Program One of Eight in Nation to Receive USDA Award, More Than 51,000 Women and Children Served Each Month

Today, the New Mexico Department of Health’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program was recognized nationally for supporting breastfeeding mothers.  New Mexico’s program was one of only eight in the nation to receive the Loving Support Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Agriculture. To receive the award, programs have to go above and beyond in their support of mothers and their children. The WIC Program in New Mexico serves more than 51,000 mothers and children each month.

The rate of New Mexico mothers in the WIC program breastfeeding their newborns reached 80.6 percent in 2015, which was the first time the statewide rate exceeded 80 percent. The 2015 rate is just shy of the Surgeon General’s Healthy People 2020 goal of 81.0 percent for the statewide breastfeeding initiation rate. In addition, three of five New Mexico WIC public health regions and both WIC contract agencies exceeded the Healthy People 2020 goal.

“Breastfeeding promotion and support is a core component of the benefits the New Mexico WIC program provides,” said Department of Health Secretary Designate Lynn Gallagher. “We recognize the hard work and effort that occurred at both the State and local levels to provide this important benefit to all pregnant and postpartum mothers.”

The USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC provides Federal grants to New Mexico and other states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

For more information, please visit the National Woman, Infants & Children Program website. You obtain New Mexico WIC requirements and registration information from the Women, Infants and Children section of our website.

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El Programa WIC Reconocido por Apoyar a las Madres que Amamantan