Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplace

Photo from HealthCouncil.org

Open enrollment is an annual period when you can apply for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act's Marketplace.

If you are currently uninsured, now is the time to find out if you're eligible for health insurance through the marketplace. Enroll Virginia provides free support to families to connect them to the right health insurance options.

Remember, there is also a special enrollment period for sixty days after you lose healthcare coverage through an employer or through Medicaid, FAMIS or FAMIS Moms. Call Enroll Virginia at 1-888-392-5132 for assistance.

Healthcare coverage is an important part of staying healthy. If you have any questions about enrolling in health insurance, don't hesitate to ask your WIC Nutritionist. You're happy to connect you with the right resources!

WIC teams up with #RVABreastfeeds!

WIC supports breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice and will provide mothers with the support they need to reach their breastfeeding goals (check out out some of our resources on the breastfeeding resources page). WIC is also encouraging the Richmond community to support breastfeeding mothers by providing them with a welcoming environment to feed their infants. Richmond City WIC has joined forces with #RVABreastfeeds to encourage local businesses to show their support by displaying a "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" sticker on on their storefront. Businesses who display the sticker must agree to:

• Display signs notifying breastfeeding-friendly policies
• Provide a clean and welcoming lactation rooms or spaces
• Train staff on breastfeeding-friendly practices

It is important to note mothers have the right to breastfeed in public in Virginia. A mother may breastfeed in any place where the mother is lawfully present. It is illegal to ask breastfeeder to leave or cover up. However, we encourage you to visit and businesses displaying these stickers and thank them  for their support. Together we can diminish the barriers and stigma against breastfeeding in public!

To learn more about #RVABREASTFEEDS visit their website. To become a breastfeeding business fill out an application here.

Something to Smile About: WIC Offers Dental Referrals & Services

WIC helps moms and their children access the dental services they need. Throughout a mother and child's enrollment in WIC, nutrition associates will be able provide dental referrals to fit a family’s needs.

Photo from What to Expect

WIC can help moms and their children access the dental services they need, including:

• Dental referrals to fit a family’s needs; WIC recommends children see a dentist by their first birthday and refers children and pregnant moms enrolled in Medicaid, FAMIS or FAMIS MOMS to Smiles for Children for low-cost dental care. 

• Toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and in-clinic fluoride application, in partnership with Virginia Department of Health. 

•  Educational materials and counseling on how to promote good oral health for children. 

Ask a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor: What is the role of a breastfeeding peer counselor?

What is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor?

Yamesha

Photo from WIC Works

Dear Yamesha,

A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Each Breastfeeding Peer Counselor must go through a training program to help women successfully breastfeed.

A peer counselor helps in many ways, e.g. private counseling, telephone calls, clinic visits and hospital visits. Breastfeeding Peer Counselors will teach you about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and get you off to a good start with breastfeeding. Additionally, she helps mothers prevent and resolve common breastfeeding concerns.

Peer counselors also help manage our breast pump loan program as well as providing bras, shields, pads and other supplies that WIC offers to breastfeeding moms for support. They also act as peer mentors for WIC participants by helping them to see others like themselves breastfeeding or having breastfed.

Sincerely,
Your Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield WIC Staff Training Day

The WIC staff from Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield Health Departments all got together on Friday, August 23 for a fun filled training day. Paula Garrett from the State WIC Office gave a brief demonstration of "Crossroads" - the new WIC system. The staff learned new and exciting information on breastfeeding, policy and procedures and some new and different exercises. 

Pictures of the staff trying the new exercises are below!