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.
2
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. 33
