June 23, 2009
WIC Teams Up with Sesame Street
for Education Campaign
According to Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials, the state’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is rolling out its new Sesame Street Healthy Habits education campaign this month.
To help spotlight the new options to the WIC food package coming soon, WIC staff around the state will be distributing to participants a new multimedia packet featuring Sesame Street characters.
The new campaign takes a fun approach to fighting a serious problem. “Our challenge right now is to eliminate childhood hunger,” said DPHHS director Anna Whiting Sorrell. “The WIC program does a great job of helping low-income mothers get their infants and children off to a healthy start and assist those nutritionally at-risk. I’m confident the message in this multimedia campaign will resonate with children and adults alike.”
The Sesame Street’s ‘Health Habits for Life: Get Healthy Now’ kit features ‘The Get Healthy Now Show’ that consists of a DVD and storybook starring Sesame Street characters Elmo, Telly and Rosita.
“The storybook is really geared to helping children get moving, get motivated and really engage in the idea that eating well and being active are fun,” said Joan Bowsher, WIC supervisor for DPHHS. “And there’s also information for parents and caregivers that include hands-on activities for everyday and on the go.”
The ‘Healthy Habits for Life’ booklet includes with quick and easy activities, read-along poems and cut-out recipe cards.
The WIC program is funded by the USDA and has about a $1 million a month food budget. In Montana, the WIC program is offered through 27 local agencies with services available to over 22,000 participants in all 56 counties and seven reservations. In addition, over 225 grocery stores accept WIC checks.
The program helps low-income families who meet the program qualifications. To qualify, a woman must be pregnant, breastfeeding, or recently had a baby. Age eligibility for infants is birth to 12 months, and a child up to five years old.
For more information call Bowsher at 406-444-4747.
Page last updated: 06/23/2009
