To: Charles Winfrey, Human Services Committee Chairperson
From: RE: Michelle Estell, RS, MSA, Interim Health Officer
title
RE: Special WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Funding FY25
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Acceptance of funding for Special WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling in order to maintain an effective Breastfeeding Peer Counseling in order to maintain an effective breastfeeding program.
Funding Source: MDHHS
Amount: Accept $197,767.00
Funding Account: 2210-608.01
Time Period: October 1, 2024 - September 20,2025
Purpose: Funds accepted will enable Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) to maintain an effective Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program (BPFC)
BACKGROUND:
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program provides nutrition education, access to healthy food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to resources to pregnant women, infants, and children under five years old. Breastfeeding support is integral to the program and funds accepted will enable GCHD to maintain an effective Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program.
DISCUSSION:
Funds are used to maintain and expand activities necessary to sustain a peer counseling program. Activities provided with this funding are based on the Food and Nutrition Services/WIC Breastfeeding Model for Peer Counseling. The primary purpose of the BFPC funds is to provide overall breastfeeding support services, including direct peer counseling. Combining peer counseling with ongoing breastfeeding promotion efforts in WIC has the potential to significantly impact breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
This will allow continued funding of 2.7 FTE in the Breastfeeding Program.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funding will add $197,767.00 to the budget. No County Appropriation is needed.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There is no anticipated impact on facilities related to this request.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
No, existing technology will be used.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Breastfeeding support and promotion in the WIC program directly contribute to making our community healthy, livable, and safe. Pregnant women and children under age 5 enrolled in WIC are provided with healthy food, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other community resources. These services help to avert a range of health problems, thereby reducing future costly medical interventions and treatments.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Health Officer to authorize entering into an agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to accept funding in the amount of $197,767.00 to be deposited into account 2210-608.01, said funding to be used to maintain an effective Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Clients, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request dated June 5, 2024, and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the June 5, 2024 meeting of the Human Services Committee of this Board), and both the WIC Coordinator and Health Officer are authorized to sign the award letter on behalf of Genesee County to accept the funds.