WIC

Finley Keyes, WIC Director Ext. 417

Finley Keyes has worked at ACHD since 1995. She graduated from Caldwell Community College in 1987 with an ADN Degree. Finley started out in Home Health where she fell in love with the people of Taylorsville. She then worked as the Child Health Coordinator for 4 years. In 2006, she was offered the WIC Director’s Job. This is the best job ever working with pregnant ladies, breastfeeding moms, infants, children, and teaching them about their nutritional health. When she is not at work, she loves to spent time with her husband and friends. She also has a retreat center for youth and adults located in Hickory.

Sara Johnson, WIC Nutritionist Ext. 418

Sara Johnson has worked at the ACHD since September 2011. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2011 with at B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has worked for 2 years in UNCG’s Nutrition Department doing Research in “Understanding the Nutrition Needs and Barriers to Health Access Among Low Income, Ethnically Diverse Patients of Guilford Child Health, Inc.” She has also worked for Camp Carolina Trails (a weekly summer camp through the American Diabetic Association for children with Type 1 Diabetes) as the Camp Nutritionist. Her job as a W.I.C. Nutritionist is a perfect fit for her because she works with children and loves teaching nutrition education. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, cheering her sister on at her soccer games, spending time with friends, and reading.

Sarah Dawson, Processing Assistant III Ext. 415

Sarah has been working at the ACHD in WIC for three years. She received her Associates Degree in Health Administration and is currently working on her Bachelors Degree. She enjoys working with the children and moms and they enjoy her. Sarah resides in the Town of Taylorsville with her husband and adorable five year old son. She loves to spend her time off reading and playing with her son.

Nutritious Foods

The WIC Program promotes healthy habits and healthy families.

• Breastfeed your baby
• Eat more fiber
• Lower the fat
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Eat more whole grains
• Drink less juice and sweetened beverages
• Make family meals matter

To help participants practice these habits, WIC provides basic nutritious foods to eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children. These foods are rich in protein, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins.

Participants exchange WIC food instruments (which list specific foods and quantities) and cash-value vouchers (for fruits and vegetables) at authorized retail grocery stores and pharmacies. In some cases, special formulas are distributed directly to the participant from the WIC local agency.

Foods for Infants (Birth-12 mo.)

The Program strongly encourages and provides support for breastfeeding. It recognizes that breastfeeding is the best method of infant feeding and nurturing. However, formula-fed infants receive the WIC contract standard milk- and soy-based iron-fortified infant formula for the first year of life. Beginning at six months of age, infants may also receive iron-fortified infant cereal, and infant fruits and vegetables. Infants who are fully breastfed also receive infant meats.

In some cases, infants may require a formula other than the WIC contract standard milk- or soy-based formulas. Before a WIC agency can issue any formula other than the contract standard milk- or soy-based formula, the participant must obtain a completed prescription from a physician or health care provide. However, please note that the only standard milk- or soy-based formulas provided by the NC WIC Program are those on the current contract; other standard brands are not provided. See the WIC Program Prescription for Infants (Birth - 12 months of age) (PDF, 216 KB).

Foods:

• Mother's Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Infant Cereal
• Infant Fruits and Vegetables
• Infant Meats (for fully breastfed infants only)

Foods for Women and Children

Women and children (one to five years of age) participating in WIC receive food instruments and cash-value vouchers for a variety of healthy foods. The choices may include whole-grain cereal and bread, brown rice, whole-wheat and soft-corn tortillas; milk; cheese or tofu; eggs; peanut butter; dried or canned beans, peas or lentils; fruit or vegetable juices; and fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned). Women who exclusively breastfeed their babies receive larger quantities of foods as well as canned tuna or salmon. Special formulas or nutritional supplements are also available to women and children participants with certain medical conditions. Before a WIC agency can issue any formula or nutritional supplement, the participant must obtain a prescription from a physician or health care provider. See the WIC Program Prescription for Child (12 Months of Age and Older) or Woman (PDF, 216 KB).

Foods:

• Milk
• Cereal
• Whole-grain Bread , Brown Rice, Whole-wheat and Soft-corn Tortillas
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Juice
• Cheese
• Tofu
• Dried or Canned Beans, Peas and Lentils
• Peanut Butter
• Eggs

Additional foods for women who solely breastfeed:

• Larger quantities of the foods listed above
• Chunk-light Tuna or Salmon
• 2009 NC WIC Approved Foods / Los Alimentos Aprobados Por WIC (PDF, 2 MB)
• Effective October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010

Nutrition education is a major benefit of the Program and is provided to all adults and, whenever possible, to children directly. The goals of nutrition education are:

• To teach about the relationship between nutrition, physical activity and good health.
• To improve the eating and physical activity habits as they relate to the participant's nutritional risk.
• To promote optimal use of the WIC Program's supplemental foods, and other nutritious foods.
• To provide nutrition education that is appropriate to an individual's age, educational background, household situation, language, cultural and ethnic preferences, and nutritional needs.

WIC serves as an adjunct to the health care system. WIC enjoys a reciprocal relationship with the health care community, receiving referrals from private and public health care providers and providing referrals as needed for health and social services. Referrals from WIC include immunizations and substance abuse counseling and treatment. WIC encourages persons already receiving medical services to remain under their physicians' care. It also encourages individuals not receiving medical care to seek and maintain appropriate care.

Breastfeeding promotion and support is an integral part of the WIC Program. WIC strives to increase the initiation, duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding among women enrolled in the Program. All WIC agencies have trained personnel ready to assist mothers in making informed decisions about their infant feeding choice. WIC also instructs mothers in the basics of breastfeeding. Many WIC agencies have breastfeeding peer counselor support programs that provide mother-to-mother counseling. In addition, all local WIC agencies provide breastfeeding aids such as manual and electric breast pumps. WIC offers a food package for women who exclusively breastfeed their babies. This food package adds tuna or salmon in cans or pouches, as well as additional amounts of whole grains, cereal, milk, cheese, juice, peanut butter, beans, peas and lentils.

• United States Breastfeeding Committee - The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 40 nationally influential professional, educational, and governmental organizations, that share a common mission to improve the Nation’s health by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.