1. Breastfeeding: A WIC Priority
Improves health outcomes for infants
Fewer infections and disease
Improved IQ
Lower rates of obesity and diabetes
Improves health outcomes for mothers
Faster recovery from pregnancy
Lower risk of breast cancer
Reduces health care costs

2. MN WIC Breastfeeding Rates 2005
Data on this page are from MN WIC Program Summary Statistics Supplemental Report – Breastfeeding. Report Month December 2005.
Breastfeeding rates by subgroup: All (Children 14 – 24 mo of age). Note that this report only includes records if the duration data has been completed, so likely under-reports the 6 mo and 12 mo duration.
To get more complete data for your agency enter a date past the first birthday if the I/C participant breastfed longer than a year and make sure the duration data is completed for all I / C participants.
To add your local data after you have downloaded a copy of the PowerPoint:
Right click on the graph.
Select “chart object,” then “edit”
A small Excel spreadsheet will appear.
Change “local agency” to your agency name.
Enter the data.
Close the spreadsheet.

3. Peer Counseling Makes A Difference!
Improves initiation and duration rates among women in:
Disadvantaged populations
Varied cultural groups
Urban and rural settings
Peer counseling has been used effectively in many WIC State and local agencies across the U.S.

4. Who Are Peer Counselors?
Experienced breastfeeding mothers
Ideally a current or previous WIC client
Ideally from the same population group as that served by WIC
Enthusiastic about breastfeeding, and helping other mothers enjoy a positive experience
Provide basic breastfeeding information and support to WIC mothers

5. The Power Of Mother-To-Mother Connections
“That’s what it’s all about…moms helping moms.
WIC Peer Counselor

6. How Peer Counselors Help
Serve as a model for breastfeeding
Establish a connection with the family
Help mothers prevent and manage common concerns with breastfeeding
Provide ongoing encouragement to help mother meet her breastfeeding goals
Link to breastfeeding help beyond the usual 8-to-5 services
Fill the gap in services immediately after hospital discharge for seamless continuity of care

7. WIC Healthcare Team
As part of the WIC healthcare team, peer counselors:
Free up staff time by taking time to help mothers explore and address barriers and concerns
Make referrals to WIC staff if mother has questions or concerns outside her scope
Promote WIC with participants and family members, encouraging participation
Provide information for WIC team that affect health and nutritional status of client and her children

8. USDA’s Vision For Peer Counseling
Institutionalize peer counseling as a core service in WIC
Provide leadership and resources to equip State and local WIC agencies with implementing peer counseling programs
Two training curricula for WIC agencies
“Using Loving Support to Manage Peer Counseling Programs”
“Loving Support Through Peer Counseling”

9. Basic Job Responsibilities For Peer Counselors
Accept referrals of pregnant and breastfeeding WIC clients for follow-up
Contact women at critical intervals
Monthly during pregnancy
Frequently during early days of breastfeeding
Monthly as long as baby is breastfeeding
Be available to mothers beyond usual WIC clinic hours
Document all contacts with mothers
Make referrals of women with concerns

10. Job Settings Telephone calls from home and the clinic Clinic visits
Home visits
Hospital visits

11. Peer Counselors Are Well Trained!
Attend formal series of breastfeeding classes
Personal study
Observe/shadow a lactation professional (such as an IBCLC or senior peer counselor)
Observe WIC nutritionist
Ongoing training

12. Compensation
Paid hourly for all contacts made with WIC participants, including documentation
Will complete weekly activity reports and submit to supervisor

13. Supervision Peer counselors will:
Be supervised by local agency coordinator
Receive weekly contacts from supervisor
Attend monthly staff meetings
Complete contact logs
Have work spot checked

14. A Little Understanding Goes A Long Way!
This may be the peer counselor’s first job
Mentor her by modeling professionalism
As a WIC participant herself, her life has similar stresses to other WIC clients
Loneliness and stress of listening to other people’s problems can lead to burnout
Bringing her nursing baby to the clinic helps model breastfeeding for other WIC mothers
Although she may “come and go” to the clinic, she is on call to handle emergency breastfeeding situations

15. How You Can Support Peer Counselors
Tell her she’s a valued member of the WIC team!
Assist in recruiting qualified peer counselors
Provide referrals of pregnant and breastfeeding WIC clients
Include peer counselors in WIC clinic meetings and activities
Reinforce her education to WIC mothers with consistent, accurate breastfeeding information

16. Create A Breastfeeding-Friendly Environment In The WIC Clinic
Stay up to date with your own breastfeeding knowledge
Ensure the WIC clinic provides positive messages of Loving Support for breastfeeding
Actively promote the peer counseling program with WIC participants

17. “One of the most important things we can do is to nurture and support our peer counselors. We find that the more we do to encourage and support them, the better they are at working with WIC moms.”
WIC Staff Member

18. Peer Counseling: Making A Difference For WIC Families!