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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anita Wright, CHW, Montachusett Opportunity Council, Pro Health/WIC (Women, Infants and Children)Program, 689 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, (978)343-6259, awrightsmile@yahoo.com and Vicki Deschamps, CHW, WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Nutrition Program, Hillcrest Campus, 165 Tor Court, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Massachusetts WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services free of charge to families who qualify. WIC's goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy.

WIC is a federally funded Program first established in 1972 in Kentucky and nationally in 1974. In Massachusetts state funds supplement federal funding for the program. Community Coordinators (CHWs) became a part of the Massachusetts WIC Program thru the Child Hunger Act passed in Massachusetts in 1993. Funds were specifically designated, by the Legislature, for the purpose of community outreach to insure that all children have access to better nutrition.

The WIC Program in Massachusetts is the only WIC Program in the country to employ Community Coordinators (CHWs) specifically to perform community based outreach. The unique ability of CHWs to respond to community challenges and recognize opportunities presented by changing demographics in their community's results in increased participation in the WIC Program and other community based programs. The result is improved health outcomes and reduced health care costs for families in Massachusetts.

The entire presentation will be prepared and presented by WIC Community Coordinators (CHWs) from both urban and rural areas of Massachusetts.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• Identify challenges and opportunities to integrate CHWs (Community Coordinators) to improve health outcomes in urban and rural settings.
• Identify strategies that enhance WIC program participation through the utilization of CHWs

Keywords: Challenges and Opportunities,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No