Health Professionals and Community Partners

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Working With WIC

WIC is proud to offer healthy foods and experts in nutrition, health, and breastfeeding to assist families at critical periods of growth and development.

CDPH/WIC Division counts on health care providers to refer WIC-eligible families to the WIC Program.

Whether you work in a hospital, the community or a clinic, WIC is here to help your patient population!

Order WIC Outreach Materials

Outreach Materials for Non-WIC Programs Only

WIC Breastfeeding Support Services

Breastfeeding Clinical Guidelines and References

Therapeutic Formula Guidelines

A WIC participant may have a medical condition and need therapeutic formula that is not a WIC contract formula. Therapeutic formulas should be covered by the WIC participant's health plan when the clinician provides adequate medical justification. Should a WIC participant be denied therapeutic formula coverage by his or her health plan (Medi-Cal or other health insurance), the WIC Program may provide the therapeutic formula.

More information on therapeutic formula

Residency Rotation Program

Purpose

To foster collaborative efforts between Pediatricians and community-based organizations to optimize on the continuity of care provided to residents of Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa Health, WIC Program offers Residency Programs an opportunity to introduce residents to program services offered through Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.). The rotation highlights nutrition disparity and equity of the socially and economically disadvantaged, obesity and lead exposures in the medically underserved, as well as public health policy and child health advocacy.

Tentative Schedule

Orientation

Tour of the WIC office and staff introductions

Breastfeeding Support Clinic

Review breastfeeding issues/challenges with participants who have appointments that day with Lactation Consultant.
If a client telephone appointment is scheduled, observe telehealth breastfeeding assessment; otherwise, meet with LC and review typical scenarios, reasons for referrals and answer any questions

WIC Individual Education

Observe WIC phone counseling by WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA) and/or high-risk phone counseling with a Registered Dietitian (RD)

WIC Group Education

Participate in a virtual class (one-on-one or group)
Complete a wichealth.org class
Review CDPH nutrition and breastfeeding materials

Peer Counselor Program

Review Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program services and meet with site BFPC
If possible, also meet with BFPC Coordinator to discuss services offered

Partnerships

Review Regional Breastfeeding Liaison program
Review referral programs offered

Social Media WIC Outreach

Review and subscribe to Contra Costa Breastfeeding Task Force Newsletter
Review/discuss WIC outreach efforts through our website, social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) @contracostawic

Reference

Breastfeeding Curriculum

Breastfeeding Research and Data

Resources for Hospitals

All mothers should receive breastfeeding guidance and information.

California law (Hospital Infant Feeding Act) requires all hospitals with a perinatal unit to have an infant-feeding policy that promotes breastfeeding guidance according to standards set by the California Department of Public Health.

"All hospitals providing maternity care shall make available a breastfeeding consultant or alternatively, provide information to the on where to receive breast feeding information". (AB 977)

Forms