By Justin Creech
Staff Writer
Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Virginia Department of Health’s Women, Infant and Children program is opening an office at the Fort Belvoir Army Community Service building on Dec. 14.

The WIC program provides nutrition education, breast feeding promotion and support, supplemental nutritious foods, counseling at WIC clinics, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services.

The goal of the program is to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children (under 5 years) through better nutrition and access to health care. To be eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must meet categorical, residential, income and nutrition risk requirements.

Having an office at Fort Belvoir gives WIC a chance to serve the local military community according to Diane Silvester, Senior Public Health Nutritionist at the WIC Mount Vernon Office.

“We’re looking forward to serving the military Families,” said Silvester. “I recently read an article that said sometimes servicemembers feel like the local community doesn’t recognize their service. So, I guess this is a nice partnership between the military community and the local community of Fairfax County. It’s a nice way to support the troops.”

Potential clients must have an income that is 185 percent of the poverty level or below and have an identified health risk.

Hours of operation at the office will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and is only open to servicemembers stationed at Fort Belvoir.

“We try and focus on important nutrition messages because of the prevalence of childhood obesity,” said Silvester. “Healthy eating, making sure the children are active. We try to reinforce activities like that.”

Members are given food instruments, which are coupons for food they can use at the post Commissary or other stores WIC specifies. Foods included in the coupons are eggs, cheese, milk, cereal as well as other items.

WIC added fruits and vegetables to the items eligible for purchase with a food instrument two years ago.

According to Silvester, 25-30 percent of children in the United States are obese.

The goal for each child that WIC helps is to grow into a healthier weight, not necessarily lose weight.

“We are encouraging positive health behaviors like eating family meals together and encouraging fruit and vegetable intake,” said Silvester. “We encourage water intake and a physical activity everyday. Those are the big principals that we encourage.”

The service that WIC provides is recognized by ACS as well.

“Having an office on post is more convenient for the military Families,” said Anne Blair, New Parent Support Program Home Visitor. “Going off post makes for longer appointment times because there is competition with civilian families who also need appointments. So, this is definitely a bonus for our military Families.”