The National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD) have mandated WIC
programs throughout the United States to encourage breastfeeding as the
preferred method of infant feeding.  This mandate was authorized by
congress in Public Law 101-147 in 1989.  Each year since that time NAWD
has increased the pressure on state WIC programs to increase breastfeeding
rates.  As we all know this increase in rates is a slow process but we in
the breastfeeding business within the WIC program see this continued
support at the national level very encouraging.  We (WIC) have all
received guidelines from NAWD that point us in the right direction-of
course it is not a perfect world and will never be one.  Soon each WIC
Agency will be required to spend $21 per woman on WIC for breastfeeding
education and support.  Each state has the freedom to direct their program
as they see fit, or as the Public Health Department or other controlling
agency may demand.  In Delaware we are very fortunate to have support of
both our WIC director and the Public Health Department in our efforts to
change our clients cultural infant feeding practices.  We supply
Breastfeeding Peer counselors who are seasonal state employees to all our
WIC clinics throughout the state.  We provide manual pumps for a nominal
fee and will supply them on "scholarship" if a mother doesn't have this
small amount.  We have hospital grade pumps that we loan to mothers who
are medically seperated from their infants. We maintain a Breastfeeding
Helpline 24 hours a day, manned by a IBCLC.  One of my duties is to sit on
the statewide Breastfeeding Advisory Board and co-host an annual
breastfeeding conference.  We are mandated to provide breastfeeding
education to ALL WIC Staff, including the clerical staff.  Yes, WIC still
gives formula to hungrey babies.  However we in Delaware are giving less
and less formula each year. We all have a lot of work to do.

Linda J. Inglis BS, IBCLC
Delaware WIC Program, Breastfeeding Coordinator
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