Day Kimball Health's (DKH) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program was recently awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Breastfeeding Excellence Premiere Award, making it the first program in Connecticut to achieve this recognition. This award highlights DKH’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers and their infants, placing the hospital among an elite group of 103 WIC programs out of 10,000 nationwide.

The USDA Breastfeeding Excellence Awards recognize WIC programs that excel in providing breastfeeding education and support to families. Awards are presented at three levels—Gold, Premiere, and Elite—with the Premiere Award being the second-highest honor. Day Kimball’s WIC program has demonstrated a strong track record of helping mothers successfully breastfeed, with 32% of its participants either fully or partially breastfeeding.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said Bianca Grover, IBCLC, Program Nutritionist and Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Lactation Consultant for DKH’s WIC Program. “It truly reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We provide personalized care to each breastfeeding family from prenatal through weaning, ensuring they have the support and resources needed for success.”

“Being the first WIC program in Connecticut to receive this award from the USDA is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our staff and their commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Kyle Kramer, CEO of Day Kimball Health. “It underscores the importance of the personalized care and support we provide daily to families throughout Northeast Connecticut.”

In addition to offering support through its certified lactation consultants and breastfeeding peer counselors, DKH WIC collaborates with organizations such as Pacify to provide a network of virtual and in-person breastfeeding assistance from doulas, lactation consultants, and registered nurses. This collaborative effort has contributed to the increase in breastfeeding rates at the hospital, which qualified DKH for the Premiere Award after being awarded the Gold level in 2023.

WIC programs, like the one at DKH, are vital in ensuring the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five. By providing nutritious foods, education on healthy eating, and crucial breastfeeding support, WIC helps safeguard the health of families at nutritional risk.

For more information on DKH’s WIC Program, visit www.daykimball.org/wic