Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Staff
April Marlowe, Registered Nurse/WIC Director ext. 7778
April Marlowe has worked at the Alexander County Health Department since September 2010 and, prior to joining the Health Department, she had 16 years of pediatric experience. She graduated from Mitchell Community College in 1995 with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. April worked as a CC4C care manager, helping children ages 0-5 and their families in Alexander County with case management prior to moving to WIC in June 2016. April has also served as child health lead nurse and assisted in all clinical programs. April loves helping all the children and moms that come into WIC because pediatrics is her passion. She lives in Alexander County with her husband and daughter. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and sweet little puppy Sadie.
Becky Ward, Processing Assistant ext. 7777
What Benefits Does WIC Provide?
Nutritious Foods
The WIC Program promotes healthy habits and healthy families. These include:
- Breastfeeding your baby
- Eating more fiber
- Lowering the fat in your diet
- Eating more fruits and vegetables
- Eating more whole grains
- Drinking less juice and sweetened beverages
- Making family meals matter
To help participants practice these habits, WIC provides basic nutritious foods to eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children. These foods are rich in protein, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins.
Participants exchange WIC food instruments (which list specific foods and quantities) and cash-value vouchers (for fruits and vegetables) at authorized retail grocery stores and pharmacies. In some cases, special formulas are distributed directly to the participant from the WIC local agency.
Foods for Infants (Birth-12 months)
The Program strongly encourages and provides support for breastfeeding. It recognizes that breastfeeding is the best method of infant feeding and nurturing. However, formula-fed infants receive the WIC contract standard milk- and soy-based, iron-fortified infant formula for the first year of life. Beginning at six months of age, infants may also receive iron-fortified infant cereal, and infant fruits and vegetables. Infants who are fully breastfed also receive infant meats.
In some cases, infants may require a formula other than the WIC contract standard milk- or soy-based formulas. Before a WIC agency can issue any formula other than the contract standard milk- or soy-based formula, the participant must obtain a completed prescription from a physician or health care provider. However, please note that the only standard milk- or soy-based formulas provided by the NC WIC Program are those on the current contract; other standard brands are not provided.
WIC Program Prescription Form
Foods:
- Mother’s Breastmilk
- Infant Formula
- Infant Cereal
- Infant Fruits and Vegetables
- Infant Meats (for fully breastfed infants only)
Foods for Women and Children
Women and children (one to five years of age) participating in WIC receive food instruments and cash-value vouchers for a variety of healthy foods. The choices may include whole-grain cereal and bread, brown rice, whole-wheat and soft-corn tortillas; milk; cheese or tofu; eggs; peanut butter; dried or canned beans, peas or lentils; fruit or vegetable juices; and fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned). Women who exclusively breastfeed their babies receive larger quantities of foods as well as canned tuna or salmon. Special formulas or nutritional supplements are also available to women and children participants with certain medical conditions. Before a WIC agency can issue any formula or nutritional supplement, the participant must obtain a prescription from a physician or health care provider.
WIC Program Prescription Form
Foods:
- Milk
- Cereal
- Whole-grain Bread, Brown Rice, Whole Wheat and Soft Corn Tortillas, and Whole Wheat Pastas
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Juice
- Cheese
- Tofu
- Yogurt
- Dried or Canned Beans, Peas and Lentils
- Peanut Butter
- Eggs
Additional Foods for Women Who Solely Breastfeed:
- Larger quantities of the foods listed above
- Chunk-light Tuna or Salmon
Nutrition Education
Nutrition education is a major benefit of the Program and is provided to all adults and, whenever possible, to children directly. The goals of nutrition education are to:
- Teach about the relationship between nutrition, physical activity and good health
- Improve eating and physical activity habits as they relate to the participant’s nutritional risk
- Promote optimal use of the WIC Program’s supplemental foods, and other nutritious foods
- Provide nutrition education that is appropriate to an individual’s age, educational background, household situation, language, cultural and ethnic preferences, and nutritional needs
Referrals for Health Care
WIC serves as an adjunct to the health care system. WIC enjoys a reciprocal relationship with the health care community, receiving referrals from private and public health care providers and providing referrals as needed for health and social services. Referrals from WIC include immunizations and substance abuse counseling and treatment. WIC encourages persons already receiving medical services to remain under their physicians’ care. It also encourages individuals not receiving medical care to seek and maintain appropriate care.
Breastfeeding Promotion and Support
Breastfeeding promotion and support is an integral part of the WIC Program. WIC strives to increase the initiation, duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding among women enrolled in the Program. All WIC agencies have trained personnel ready to assist mothers in making informed decisions about their infant feeding choice. WIC also instructs mothers in the basics of breastfeeding. Many WIC agencies have breastfeeding peer counselor support programs that provide mother-to-mother counseling. In addition, all local WIC agencies provide breastfeeding aids such as manual and electric breast pumps. WIC offers a food package for women who exclusively breastfeed their babies. This food package adds tuna or salmon in cans or pouches, as well as additional amounts of whole grains, cereal, milk, cheese, juice, peanut butter, beans, peas and lentils.
Helpful Links
United States Breastfeeding Committee – The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 40 nationally influential professional, educational, and governmental organizations, that share a common mission to improve the Nation’s health by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.