Owego, N.Y. — Tioga Opportunities, Inc.’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has been awarded the 2022 USDA Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence by the Northeast Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of Food and Nutrition Service. The award was presented at a virtual ceremony held on Tuesday, August 23rd. TOI was one of eight programs to be honored in New York State.
This annual award recognizes local WIC agencies that have provided exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities. The intent is to provide models and motivate other local agencies to strengthen their breastfeeding promotion and support activities and ultimately increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants.
“We are honored to receive this award in recognition of the excellent work of our breastfeeding support team. They do an outstanding job connecting with families and developing relationships that starts with pregnancy and extends beyond their breastfeeding experience, leading to increased positive child health outcomes,” said Loriann Spatola-Davis, WIC Program Coordinator.
Tioga Opportunities, Inc.’s WIC program team of certified lactation consultants, peer counselors, and registered dietitians and nutritionists provide breastfeeding support, supplemental food packages, and nutrition education to eligible women, infants, and children up to age five. To learn more about the WIC program, call 607-687-3147 or visit www.tiogaopp.org.
