BATAVIA — Clermont County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) earned the 2026 USDA Breastfeeding Award of Excellence, placing the local program among a small group of Ohio agencies recognized for their work supporting breastfeeding families.
As Millennial and Gen Z mothers grow their families during a period of economic uncertainty, many lack access to the early motherhood and infant care resources they need.
Source: Magnific
Staff currently offer virtual breastfeeding classes for new families and can source breast pumps for eligible mothers in need. The WIC program also provides peer counseling, which connects families with breastfeeding support as they navigate questions and challenges.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized the staff at Clermont County Public Health just weeks after the organization earned awards and national acclaim for its WIC remote service model and modern workforce succession strategy.
Annual award winners across the country, www.fna.usda.gov.
Only 10 WIC agencies in Ohio received the USDA Gold Award this year.
“Receiving the Breastfeeding Gold Award indicates our program demonstrates excellence in breastfeeding practices and support,” said Katherine Schneider, director of Clermont County WIC. “We are going beyond the core components of WIC’s breastfeeding model for peer counseling.”
Access to infant care education and breastfeeding supplies reduces the mental and material burden put on families raising a child.
Mothers who do not feel like breastfeeding is an option for them approach WIC for support and alternative solutions, like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program. The CDC reports that 80.4% of infants on this program are less likely to be breastfed by their mothers due to a wide range of factors.
Families who apply to WIC programs manage difficulties with income, employment, access to healthcare, maternity leave, support, and other circumstances. Those factors can affect their relationship with breastfeeding. The CDC notes that factors such as lack of parental leave, work policies, family support, and lactation/latching difficulties can influence whether someone decides to breastfeed and for how long.
Clermont County WIC addresses these concerns and provides more than supplemental food and nutrition services. The program also gives pregnant and breastfeeding mothers access to one-on-one counseling to ensure they have informed options when it comes time to raise their child. In some cases, WIC has helped mothers overcome their breastfeeding complications and supplied a wide variety of healthy foods to support nursing moms who exclusively breastfeed.
Clermont County Public Health WIC peers.Schneider said the timing of the USDA award makes the WIC’s recognition especially meaningful.
The USDA Gold Award comes during August, which marks Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Clermont County WIC celebrated the month with a community event on August 8, connecting families to other professional networks and resources.
About 40 people attended the event. Several local organizations joined WIC to offer additional services, including:
The Breastfeeding Award of Excellence praises WIC agencies that build programs focused on encouragement and practical support. For Clermont County families, that support can begin during pregnancy and continue after a child arrives.
Families can learn more about Clermont County WIC online or by calling 513-732-7329.
Clermont County Public Health also provides public and environmental health services across the region. The agency focuses on preventing disease and promoting healthcare solutions for at-risk individuals.
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