Seasons of Wellness - Winter 2019

Seasons of Wellness

Winter 2019

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CENTERING REUNION

ON THE MOVE

A Healthy

Start!

Sitting in a circle of eight women with newborn babies, Isabel Smith introduces her bright-eyed son, Bruce (pictured on the right) This is a reunion for the women who bonded in CCI Health & Wellness Services’ CenteringPregnancy® program—an innovative group model of prenatal care.

Today, they meet each other’s babies and take turns sharing their birth stories in between bites of cake.

On the Move

Isabel credits CCI’s CenteringPregnancy® with giving her supportive relationships and information to navigate pregnancy with a greater sense of confidence.

CCI Health & Wellness Services’ Langley/Takoma Park WIC Center recently moved down the street to an expanded site, nestled on top of La Union Mall in Hyattsville.

Reflecting on her experience, she says, “the Greenbelt health center and staff have been great.” The clinicians gave her a sense of ownership over her health by teaching her how to monitor her weight gain and the baby’s growth.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, is a program that provides health education, healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and other services free of charge to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to the age of five.

Isabel expresses gratitude for receiving medical information about topics commonly considered taboo within her cultural context. For example, the curriculum addresses potential postpartum depression.

“You know, in the Latino community, you don’t talk about it—period,” she says.

The new site’s welcoming environment features ample well-lit spaces. In the waiting room, large monitors provide educational videos about WIC in English and Spanish. It also boasts a carpeted area with toys and books.

According to Isabel, the community dynamic with the staff and other mothers is a primary benefit of CenteringPregnancy®: “It feels like we all became friends. We can talk about almost anything.”

She urges other women to consider CCI’s CenteringPregnancy®, noting that the benefits outweigh the time commitment associated with the group visits. “Seriously, we need the circle of ladies for support,” Isabel says.

CCI has been providing nutrition education and assistance for healthy living since 1996. As the largest WIC provider in the state, CCI makes a difference in more than 31,000 lives annually.

Meanwhile, through CCI’s partnership with the Greater DC Diaper Bank, CenteringPregnancy® participants receive items to stock their nurseries. After attending a certain number of visits, they receive gifts of increasing value, like diapers, a diaper bag, crib, stroller, and car seat. These provide added incentive for the women to adhere to the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, which gives their babies a greater chance of a healthy start to life.

Isabel shared that the Greater DC Diaper Bank items reduce her financial burdens and accompanying stress.

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Ensure all babies have a healthy start:

MAKE A GIF T

The program’s breastfeeding initiation rates have remained the highest in Maryland for the third year in a row. Contributing to this success, CCI Health and Wellness Services’ WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors provide one-on-one consultations, sharing techniques, tips, and assistance to any participating mom who requests it.

TODAY!

See back cover for more information.

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Seasons of Wellness

ACT OUT!

Find Fun in

Nutrition and Fitness

Girls on the Run

May 2019 marked a turning point for 13-year-old Sheyly. Before that, she overate, chose unhealthy foods, drank lots of soda, and exercised infrequently. She says that those behaviors contributed to bloating and fatigue. Moreover, she had high cholesterol.

This summer, CCI health & Wellness Services partnered with Girls on the Run Montgomery County to offer the first ever summer Girls on the Run program. Led by CCI staff, girls ages 10 -13, who were participants of the ACT Out program were invited to join the Girls on the Run Heart & Sole program at a reduced cost. The Girls on the Run program provides a positive, structured space where girls can learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy and strengthen connections. Running is incorporated into each lesson to encourage physical wellness and teach life skills such as team building, creating a support system, standing up for themselves and others and decision making. The group met twice weekly throughout the summer at the Long Branch Community Center. At the end of the summer, the girls and coaches all completed the Run Baby Run 5K. Sheyly even received a top finisher award!

Then, Sheyly began receiving services through ACT Out, CCI Health & Wellness Services’ childhood obesity management and prevention program. She met with Angela, a CCI nutritionist who taught her how to read nutrition labels, manage portion sizes, choose healthy snacks, prepare smoothies with fruits and vegetables, and drink more water.

As a result, her diet changed. “I have junk food one day a week or less,” Sheyly says. Instead, she eats cucumbers, broccoli, salad, smoothies, and other healthy foods.

Sheyly even started to pack a healthy lunch, rather than getting it at school. Additionally, her mom incorporates more healthy foods when cooking for the family.

Angela also gave Sheyly a Fitbit fitness tracker and connected her with CCI’s Girls on the Run (GOTR) group. GOTR couples exercise with education about the importance of physical and emotional health.

Starting in July, Sheyly attended GOTR practices once a week with volunteer coaches and other girls her age.

“The coaches were amazing to us,” she says. “They motivated us and taught us to never give up, especially during the [CCI Run Baby Run] 5K.” Over time, Sheyly has lost weight and gained energy, which she attributes to CCI’s program: “Without ACT Out, I wouldn’t have made changes. Without GOTR over the summer, I wouldn’t have done anything like exercise.”

Sheyly encourages others to participate, noting that ACT Out “helps kids have fun while being healthy.”

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“

The coaches were amazing to us, they motivated us and taught us to never give up, especially during the [CCI Run Baby Run] 5K” - Sheyly

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Seasons of Wellness

5K FOLLOW UP

Off to the

Races On Saturday, August 17th, more than 500 runners, joggers, walkers, and community members gathered in the early morning heat at Wheaton Regional Park to Run Baby Run! Because of your support, over $43,000 was raised for CCI’s Maternal and Child Health Programs to support healthier moms and babies.

After crossing the finish line, participants and community members enjoyed a health and wellness expo, including interactive fitness instructions by Planet Fitness of Silver Spring, cooking demonstrations, samples, information from many community resources and organizations, face painting and raffles.

Thank you to our

Sponsors

Through support from generous sponsors, donors, and vendors, our funds raised directly support CCI Health & Wellness Services’ Maternal and Child Health Programs. Through your generosity and continued support, CCI can continue to ensure access to services for those in our community who need it the most.

Mark your calendars for the Third Annual Run Baby Run 5K!

August 2020

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Many of our generous sponsors participated in the race, including Ben from HealthyTenant, who was our first racer to cross the finish line with a stroller!

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