Board of Health

Healthy Lifestyle

Health Commissioner

Health Department

General Information

Women, Infants, Children (WIC)

Breastfeeding Information

Ohio Department of Health Policy on Infant Feeding

The Ohio Department of Health, in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for one year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. The Ohio Department of Health recognizes that there are rare individual and/or family circumstances in which breastfeeding must be limited or is contraindicated.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year of life.

All WIC Offices have trained staff available to help mothers with basic breastfeeding needs. Our staff, including dietitians, Peer Helpers, Certified Lactation Counselors, and an International Board certified Lactation Consultant, are trained to help moms meet their breastfeeding goals. Moms requiring help for more complex breastfeeding questions or problems are referred to the appropriate staff.

 

 

WIC Peer Helpers

A WIC peer helper is a mom who has breastfed her own children and has been carefully selected and trained to help give new mothers information on feeding their babies. The peer helpers provide support, encouragement and information to help other moms meet their own goals for feeding their babies. Our WIC peer helpers are here to listen. They meet with moms in the office and contact by them by telephone to answer feeding questions and help them prepare for having a new baby. They also teach breastfeeding classes at the various WIC offices. After the baby is born, they are available to answer questions and concerns, both during office hours and after hours by telephone. They can also show new moms how to get more help from healthcare professionals, if needed. They can give helpful tips on many topics including returning to work and school while breastfeeding, making plenty of milk, and breastfeeding comfortably, even in public.

To contact breastfeeding support during normal business hours, please call:
330-438-4615
To contact breastfeeding support after-hours, please call:
330-415-5695

Visit wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/ for more information.  

 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.


Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.


To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or


2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or


3. email: program.intake@usda.gov


This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 

 

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