LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness has launched a Spanish version of its "Women Infants and Children" (WIC) Web site, according to a news release.
The site, which is located at www.louisvillewic.org, was created to provide families with information on topics such as breastfeeding, nutrition and healthy food choices. Officials say the new Spanish language version will help to provide this information to a larger demographic.
"We hope that Spanish-speaking families in our community take advantage of the WIC Web site to see if they qualify for the healthy foods and the valuable nutritional information provided by the WIC," said Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of the department.
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers and for children younger than age five, according to the news release. The program provides foods like milk, cheese, eggs, vitamin C rich fruit juice, iron-fortified cereal, peanut butter, whole grain bread and fresh fruits and vegetables. Families can shop for these foods at most area supermarkets and grocers using the eWIC card, which looks and works like any debit card. WIC also provides nutritional evaluation, counseling and education.
Click HERE for more information on WIC.
"It is estimated that only about half of the families eligible for WIC benefits actually enroll," the release states. "National studies have shown that WIC significantly increased the head size of infants whose mothers received WIC foods during pregnancy. Head size is one measure of brain development. Pregnant women who participated in WIC also had fewer premature births an sought prenatal care earlier in pregnancy."
According to the news release, many families who qualify for the program don't realize it. They say a pregnant woman with no children making approximately $27,000 a year may qualify, as well as a family of four making approximately $41,000 per year.
For more information, visit www.louisvillewic.org or call (502) 574-6676.
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Photo courtesy: Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness Web site
