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Grant Application - FY2026 Alliance for Children-Smart Start Peer Breastfeeding Support
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Starr, Human Services Agency, Community Support and Outreach Director, 704-286-4302
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Approve the Peer Breastfeeding Support program's request to apply for FY26 Smart Start grant funding, 2) upon award of the grant, authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute agreements substantially consistent with this agenda item, and 3) upon receipt of the grant award, recognize, receive, and appropriate the awarded amount to the Community Support and Outreach budget.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
Requests and appropriation of received funding from the Alliance for Children for this program are approved by the Board annually
BACKGROUND:
The Human Services Agency's Department of Community Support and Outreach wishes to apply for FY26 Smart Start grant funding to support the Peer Breastfeeding Support program. Part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, the Breastfeeding Support Program was established in 2000 and is available for at-risk pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants. The Program provides prenatal and postpartum support and education to WIC Program participants and Union County residents, which includes prenatal breastfeeding classes, one-on-one consults from a breastfeeding peer counselor, an after-hours telephone hotline, and issuance of various breastfeeding supplies.
Breastfeeding is the recommended source of nutrition and preventative health care for the first six months of life, and is recommended to be continued for at least one year. Many health and scientific organizations support the benefits of breastfeeding, which is associated with a decreased risk of acute otitis media, nonspecific gastroenteritis, asthma, lower respiratory infection, atopic dermatitis, obesity, childhood leukemia, type I and type II diabetes, necrotizing enteroco...
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