WIC Peer Counselors are paraprofessional women, who have successfully breastfed despite barriers and challenges, and are enthusiastic about sharing their breastfeeding experience and knowledge with women of their culture and language. Peer counselors work closely with WIC and healthcare providers to promote breastfeeding in their communities. The use of breastfeeding peer counselors adds value to WIC’s efforts to help women initiate and continue breastfeeding. WIC breastfeeding peer counselors provide a valuable service to their communities, addressing the barriers to breastfeeding by offering breastfeeding education, support, and role modeling. Peer counselors are familiar with the resources available to WIC clients, are familiar with the questions a breastfeeding mother may ask, and recognize when to refer mothers to other resources during critical periods when mothers may experience difficulty. Currently 12 of the 20 WIC Program Agencies in Iowa offer Peer Counseling services and American Home Finding serves Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Wapello, and Van Buren Counties. Statewide there are nearly 40 trained Peer Counselors in these 12 agencies serving over 1,400 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers a year! Peer Counselors are effective in promoting and sustaining breastfeeding among WIC mothers.For more information contact: Kim Proctor, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Coordinator 641-682-8784 Email: kproctor@ahfa.org
