Month: February 2019

Mark remembers running around the WIC office with his siblings as his mother met with WIC staff. He and his siblings enjoyed choosing WIC foods at the store with his mother, not knowing about the nutritional value the food brought to the family. Fast forward 15 years later, Mark is majoring in Nutrition and decides to apply for an internship at WIC. Mark sees himself in the children at the WIC office, and sees his mother in the women that participate in the WIC program. Mark now serves the same community as a WIC Nutritionist, that his single mother, his siblings, and himself were once a part of many years ago.

At each WIC appointment during your pregnancy, we will provide you with personalized pregnancy information. These “in-person” discussions are tailored and specific for each trimester of your pregnancy. Learn about how your baby is growing, how to nourish your baby, and much more!

1^st trimester discussion includes:

• Increasing knowledge towards breastfeeding
• Barriers and common concerns about breastfeeding
• Benefits of breastfeeding

2^nd trimester discussion includes:

• When the body starts making breast milk
• How to breastfeed
• When to breastfeed

3^rd trimester discussion includes:

• Preparing for breastfeeding in the hospital
• Ways that family, friends, and doctors can support breastfeeding
• How WIC supports mothers

See you in the prenatal discussion at your next WIC appointment.

PHFE WIC is pleased to share this good news with families who receive CalFresh benefits.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) announced that the full amount of CalFresh benefits for March will be issued on March 1, 2019 to eligible households, rather than the normal staggered issuance cycle of the first through the tenth of the month. These early benefits are not to be mistaken for additional benefits, and customers are strongly urged to budget their benefits accordingly to ensure that funds are available to purchase food through the month of March.

Read the full DPSS news announcement here:  DPSS Announces Single-Day Issuance of CalFresh Benefits for March

If you or someone you know would like to apply for CalFresh benefits, go to www.GetCalFresh.org and apply in less than 10 minutes.  If approved, you’ll receive your benefits to purchase groceries in 30 days on a Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

To find the closest help site, call 1-800-906-9887, OR visit http://caleitc4me.org/get-it/.  Other options include Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers provide FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance. Although sites are not available in every county, you can search for VITA sites on the IRS website by ZIP code, city, or county.

File tax returns for free online and get information about tax filing at TaxACT Online.

During the month of February, PHFE WIC families are invited to participate in our “Spread the Love” activities and to enter a raffle drawing.

How to enter the raffle:

• Follow @PHFEWIC on Instagram or Facebook
• Post a photo of your little one(s) or a healthy homemade spread, using the hashtag #WICSPREADSTHELOVE

Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages for recipe ideas and “like” your favorite.

Try these tasty recipes that were created by our WIC staff last year.

#WICSPREADSTHELOVE