Edgewater WIC Clinic Moves to 7495 W, 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Jefferson County Public Health announced today that it will be moving its Edgewater WIC clinic on Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7, 2017 to its new location at the Jeffco Family Health Services Center, 7495 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.  The clinic will be open and available to clients on Monday, April 10, 2017 at the new location.  Jefferson County Public Health also has WIC clinic sites in Lakewood, 645 Parfet Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 and in Arvada, 5150 Allison St, Arvada, CO 80002.

“We are thrilled to be collocating with the Jeffco Family Health Services Center” said JCPH Community Nutrition Manager Kylie Harrison, “Our WIC participants will now have the option to receive medical, dental, mental health and care coordination services along with their WIC benefits, all at the same location.”

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, prescriptions for healthy food, health referrals and other services free of charge to Colorado families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy.

WIC is for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working.  If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under 5, you can apply for WIC. In Jefferson County, please call 303-271-5780 and join WIC today.

We apologize for any inconvenience this move may cause and will do our best to minimize any disruptions to services provided.  Stay tuned for any updates at jeffco.us/public-health.

“Put Your Best Fork Forward” - March is National Nutrition Month

Jefferson County Public Health and the JCPH WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program encourage everyone to “Put Your Best Fork Forward” for this year’s National Nutrition Month®.  

“Put Your Best Fork Forward” acts as a reminder that each bite counts. Making just small shifts in our food choices, can add up over time. More specifically this year’s theme focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. 

Making small changes during National Nutrition Month®, and over time, helps improve health now and into the future. 

The National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests everyone try the following five ways to make eating healthier easier: 

1. Create an eating style that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods. 
2. Practice cooking more at home, and experiment with healthier ingredients.
3. How much we eat is as important as what we eat. Eat and drink the right amount for you, as MyPlate, a healthy eating tool from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, encourages us to do.
4. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
5. Manage your weight and lower your health risks by consulting a registered dietitian nutritionist. Registered Dietitian Nutritonists (RDNs) can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.

Eating healthy also means paying close attention to what you and your family are drinking. Many parents and caregivers are not aware of the hidden sugar in many of the beverages that they give to their children. That’s why Jefferson County Public Health, in conjunction with the Healthy Beverage Partnership,  is promoting a new campaign aimed at educating parents and caregivers about the harmful effects of sugar, and informing them of the high sugar content in many of the beverages they may be giving to their kids. 

Parents are encouraged to visit www.hidden-sugar.org and take a pledge to reduce the amount of sugary drinks they provide to their children. Pledge to serve your family healthy beverages for 30 days and you’ll be automatically entered to win a family plus membership to the Denver Zoo, Children’s Museum, or the Museum of Nature and Science. 

JCPH also has more about this topic on display in the Jefferson County libraries throughout the months of March and April, with educational handouts available. 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day is celebrated March 8 and raises awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists as the indispensable providers of food and nutrition services. JCPH recognizes RDNs for their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives. Click here to download flyer and Meet the JCPH RDNs. You can also learn more about what they do for the JCPH WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program by watching this video. 

For more information on National Nutrition Month, please visit Eat Right, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Visit http://jeffco.us/public-health for more information on Jefferson County Public Health and the WIC Program, one of the communituy nutrition resources JCPH offers.

The Jefferson County WIC Program is an active member of Healthy Jeffco, a network of over 300 community partners working collectively to make Jefferson County a healthier place to live, learn, work and play.

Tell a Friend About WIC

WIC - The federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and community resources including social services for hundreds of families in Jefferson County, Colorado and millions across the U.S. Extensive research shows that participating in WIC leads to healthier babies, more nutritious diets and better health care for children, and higher academic achievement for students. JCPH knows there are more families in Jefferson County that could benefit from this program and is reaching out to teachers, parents, employers and others who interact with families to remind others about WIC and encourage families to see if they qualify. Many working families qualify for WIC. See the guidelines here. Thank you for telling a friend about WIC. Visit the JCPH WIC Program web page.

Call today to make an appointment at our Arvada, Edgewater or Lakewood WIC offices to see if you qualify. - 303-271-5780.

Please note that the Arvada WIC offices are moving to Jeffco Headstart, 5150 Allison St, Arvada, CO 80002 in late summer. Check our website for updates.

Parents Needed for Online Survey (survey closes July 24)

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has developed a survey to better understand attitudes and perceptions about its statewide nutrition focused programs.  The survey is available in English and Spanish and takes 10 minutes to complete. Participants will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 15 gift cards to Amazon, Target or Walmart, each valued at $50.

This data will be used to ensure programs continue to engage parents and attract more families

to nutrition support services in Colorado. The survey is designed for parents and caregivers

who:

● live in Colorado

● are pregnant and/or have children under the age of 5

● have enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in the past

● are currently enrolled in the WIC program

● are WIC eligible and potentially interested in using services in the future

Public health reminds parents to Turn off the TV and Play together as a family.

Research shows too much “screen time” with television, video games, cell phones and other devices can lead to obesity and other health problems. TV advertising is loaded with commercials for sugary cereals, high-sugar energy drinks, candy, fast food and processed meals.

To stay healthy, turn off the TV and play together as a family.

• Allow no screen time for children under 2 years.
• Limit screen time for children 2 years and older to 2 hours a day. 
• Make your children’s rooms “no screen zones” - they’ll sleep better. 
• Turn off the TV when no one is watching it. 

Ever since they could toddle, your children followed you. To limit their screen time, be a role model.

• If they see you with your face buried in a screen all day, they will do the same. 
• If they see you turn off the screen and pick up a book, listen to music or go outside to play, they will do the same.

Try out some Healthier snacks

Banana Bobs

• 2 bananas cut into ½ inch slices
  
• ¼ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
  
• 2 tablespoons oat and honey granola cereal 

How to make:

1. Place the sliced banana pieces on plate.
   
2. Place 2 tablespoons of yogurt onto the plate.
   
3. Place the tablespoons of granola cereal onto the plate.
   
4. Use fork to pick up a slice of banana and dip into the yogurt, then into the cereal. 

** Try different flavors of yogurt.

Jefferson County Public Health WIC Program

5210 Jeffco

Celebrate Healthy Food Choices: National School Breakfast Week

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) wants all Jefferson County children as healthy and strong as possible in order to make the grade this school year! National School Breakfast week from March 7-11, 2016 is right around the corner. The NSBW 2015 theme, “Wake Up to School Breakfast” is about making sure students, administrators, teachers and parents understand and encourage the importance of a nutritious breakfast. 

According to a report “Breakfast for Learning, 2014 by the Food Research and Action Council, students who participate in school breakfast show improved attendance, behavior, standardized achievement test scores, and decreased tardiness. Providing students with breakfast in the classroom setting is associated with lower tardy rates and fewer disciplinary office referrals.

JCPH understands the importance of fostering a healthy diet and making healthy food choices for children from day one. Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program can get answers to your health and nutrition questions. WIC helps mothers make infant feeding choices and provides breastfeeding support, children's growth checkups and referrals to other health services. Additionally, you can get one-on-one help to learn how to make healthy meals for your family to ensure everyone in your family is getting the proper nutrition and therefore achieving optimal health.

For toolkits, handouts, activity sheets and more information and fun activities, visit the School Nutrition Association’s National School Breakfast Week webpage.  

Celebrate Healthy Food Choices: National School Breakfast Week

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) wants all Jefferson County children as healthy and strong as possible in order to make the grade this school year! National School Breakfast week from March 2-6, 2015 is right around the corner. The NSBW 2015 theme, “Make the Grade with School Breakfast” is about understanding and encouraging the learning connection between healthy breakfast and good grades, attendance, and less visits to the nurse’s office.

JCPH understands the importance of fostering a healthy diet and making healthy food choices for children from day one. Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program can get answers to your health and nutrition questions. WIC helps mothers make infant feeding choices and provides breastfeeding support, children's growth checkups and referrals to other health services. Additionally, you can get one-on-one help to learn how to make healthy meals for your family to ensure everyone in your family is getting the proper nutrition and therefore achieving optimal health.

For toolkits, handouts, activity sheets and more information and fun activities, visit the School Nutrition Association’s National School Breakfast Week webpage.

For information on the JCPH WIC program visit our Women, Infants and Children webpage.

“Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” . . . JCPH Celebrates March as National Nutrition Month

Jefferson County Public Health’s (JCPH) Nutrition Services dietitians and WIC educators (Women, Infants and Children) are celebrating National Nutrition Month by offering the latest in nutritional guidelines and educational information, as well as healthy recipes for you to “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” as this year’s theme encourages. “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” is meant to encourage individuals to make food and physical activity plans that focus on lowering calorie intake, making smart and empowered healthy food choices and getting daily exercise in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health. These are all things JCPH dietitians and WIC educators work with helping individuals and families to achieve on a daily basis. The importance of making informed food choices and creating healthy eating and physical activity habits for overall health cannot be over emphasized. Take a step towards a healthier lifestyle today and visit the JCPH Nutrition Services web page or our social media sites to get some new educational handouts and healthy recipes for you and your family! Mix together with a little physical activity, and you’ve got the recipe for a healthier Jefferson County!

There is a wealth of information on the internet and through various social media applications regarding nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight. However, nothing quite compares to the expertise and practicing knowledge of registered dietitian nutritionists. Wednesday, March 11, 2015 is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Day. The day offers an opportunity to recognize RDNs for their excellence and commitment to helping people create and enjoy healthy lives.

• Jefferson County Nutrition Services provides nutrition education and counseling, the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program and more. For more information or to enroll in the WIC Program, call our appointment line at 303-271-5780.
  
• Visit the National Nutrition Month website for more information, meal suggestions, fun quizzes and games about nutrition and more.

Jefferson County Public Health Consolidates Its Clinical Services

Jefferson County Public Health announced today that it will be moving the clinical services housed in Arvada to its new location in Lakewood on 645 Parfet Street. While the clinical services, including immunizations, family planning, STD and HIV counseling at the JCPH Arvada site, currently located at 6303 Wadsworth Bypass are moving, the JCPH Arvada WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program will remain at the 6303 Wadsworeth Bypass location. This has been a year of moving for many health department employees and programs. The new offices at 645 Parfet street are filling up and all of us are happy to be able to serve the public from our new location with clinic, environmental health, WIC and other services.

We apologize for any inconvenience this latest move may cause and will do our best to minimize any disruptions to services provided. Stay tuned for any updates at jeffco.us/public-health or call 303-232-6301. We look forward to serving Jefferson County residents with their clinic services needs from our new location at 645 Parfet Street in Lakewood, Colorado.

Resources:
View 645 Parfet Street on map

Reminder: WIC is not moving from Arvada location, just the clinical services at this time.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) . . . Strengthening families for 40 years

The special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a public health nutrition program under the USDA that provides nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals for income-eligible women who are pregnant or post-partum, infants, and children up to age 5. The national WIC office is celebrating 40 years of strengthening families. Watch the overview video of the WIC Program. Jefferson County WIC has offices in Arvada, Edgewater and Lakewood. If you or someone you know could benefit from this nutrition education program, please call 303-239-7143 for more information. Many working families qualify.

Jefferson County WIC provides:

• Quality nutrition education and services. 
• Breastfeeding promotion and education. 
• A monthly food prescription (package). 
• Access to maternal, prenatal, pediatric and other health care services. 
• Screenings and referrals as needed

“Breastfeeding Support . . . The First Six Weeks”

A special class for new moms offered by Jefferson County Public Health

Jefferson County Public Health and the rest of the public health and healthcare world want moms to breastfeed because of the health benefits of breastfeeding. The JCPH WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program offers "Breastfeeding Support . . . The First 6 Weeks" at its Arvada, Edgewater and Lakewood locations. All new moms are invited to come and bring their babies. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant will provide breastfeeding help and support as well as answers to any questions about breastfeeding.

Making the decision to breastfeed is one of the best things a mother can do for her baby. Not only does breast milk provide essential vitamins and nutrients, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it reduces an infant's risk of childhood obesity, diabetes, ear infections and respiratory illnesses. Breastfeeding also reduces the odds of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by as much as 36%. Studies show that getting early breastfeeding support helps moms reach their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding can also help financially. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that Mom's who breastfeed for the first full year of an infant's life can save between $1,200 and $1,500 on infant formula.

Get help with Breastfeeding at Jefferson County Public Health.

"Breastfeeding Support . . . The First Six Weeks" is a one time class free to all WIC families and only $3.00 for those not enrolled in WIC. Come and learn why positioning and latch are important, how to know what your baby needs, why sleep is so important and other important information to help you breastfeed successfully.

For a class schedule, please contact the Breastfeeding Support coordinator, Cindy Kisselman, BSN, RN, IBCLC at ckisselm@jeffco.us or text Cindy at 720-257-4885. For locations of the Jefferson County WIC offices, see below:

• Arvada, 6303 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80003
• Edgewater, 1711 Sheridan Blvd. Edgewater, CO 80214
• Lakewood 645 Parfet St. Lakewood, CO 80215

Resources:

• CDC Guide to Support Breastfeeding
• Surgeon general's call to action to support breastfeeding
• JCPH Breastfeeding education and support web page

“Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right” . . . JCPH Celebrates March as National Nutrition Month

JCPH dietitians and WIC educators (Women, Infants and Children) are celebrating National Nutrition Month by offering healthy recipes for you to “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right” as this year theme encourages. Eating a variety of foods can help keep meals interesting by adding new flavors. Beginning March 17, JCPH Nutrition Services will provide food demonstrations and healthy recipes for their WIC clients in the Jeffco WIC clinics, Arvada, Lakewood and Edgewater. Visit the JCPH nutrition web page or our pinterest recipe board to get recipes for your family! Mix together a little physical activity, and you’ve got the recipe for a healthier Jefferson County!

Jefferson County Nutrition Services provides nutrition education and counseling, the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program and more. For more information or to enroll in the WIC Program, call our Lakewood office at 303-239-7143.

Here is a sample recipe from WIC Registered Dietitian, Kelsey Rivera.

Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern bean dip rich in protein, iron and calcium. It makes a wonderful snack or appetizer. Serve with warm pita bread, crackers or veggies. 

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes

Yield: 2.5 cups

Ingredients: 1 clove garlic 1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved 4 tablespoons lemon juice or orange juice for a sweeter dip

2 tablespoons tahini* 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon salt Black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, chop the garlic to a fine paste. Add the garbanzo beans and reserved liquid and puree. Add the lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, salt and pepper; blend until creamy and well mixed.

2. Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl and serve with crackers, pita breads, or veggies. You can also store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com.

*Tahini is a ground sesame seed paste, similar to peanut butter and rich in calcium. Look for tahini in a glass jar or a can in the ethnic foods aisle of your regular grocery store.

If you cannot find tahini or choose not to use it, you can leave it out of the hummus but will have a slightly different taste and may need to add more olive oil to get a smoother product.

Growing Healthy with WIC

Women , Infants & Children Program

The JCPH Nutrition Services Woman, Infants & Children (WIC) Program provides nutrition education and support for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women. This program also helps infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. In addition, WIC has teamed up with Cavity Free Families to help implement good oral health habits. At Jefferson County Public Health , our WIC educators are here to help you. If you or anyone you know might benefit from WIC services, call 303-239-7143 to set up an appointment at our Edgewater, Lakewood or Arvada clinics.

Be sure and visit one of the Health and Produce fairs being held this summer for low-income residents and seniors who may not otherwise have access to fresh fruits and vegetables:

Healing Waters Family Center

6475 W. 29th Ave 

Wheat Ridge, CO, 80214-8002 

(between Wadsworth & Sheridan on W. 29th Avenue)

Friday, June 14; Friday, July 12 and, Friday, August 9

9:00 am-11:00 am.

Please note that while there is no income or residential requirement to participate, JCPH trusts that the goal of providing nourishment and education to low-income residents will be respected and supported. The produce fairs are coordinated by the Produce and Health Fair County Collaborative: Food Bank of the Rockies, Cooking Matters, CSU Extension, Denver Public Health, Jefferson County Public Health, City of Thornton and Tri-County Health Department.

Jefferson County Produce & Health Fair

Jefferson County Public Health Nutrition Services has organized three produce and health fairs again this year for low-income residents and seniors who may not otherwise have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Last year the JCPH Produce and Health Fairs distributed food and information to over 1,980 households in Jefferson County. This year, as in previous years, the produce and health fairs will be held at:

Healing Waters Family Center

6475 W. 29th Ave 

Wheat Ridge, CO, 80214-8002 

(between Wadsworth & Sheridan on W. 29th Avenue)

Friday, June 14; Friday, July 12 and, Friday, August 9

9:00 am-11:00 am.

Please note that while there is no income or residential requirement to participate, Jefferson County Public Health trusts that the goal of providing nourishment and education to low-income residents will be respected and supported. The produce fairs are coordinated by the Produce and Health Fair County Collaborative: Food Bank of the Rockies, Operation Frontline Colorado, Adams County Food Distribution, Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank, Denver Public Health, Jefferson County Public Health and Tri-County Health Department. Please contact JCPH Nutrition Services, Nancy G. Obrien at 303-239-7126 with any questions. To view pictures of previous produce fairs click here.

JCPH Celebrates March as National Nutrition Month

Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day

JCPH dieticians and WIC educators (Women, Infants and Children) are celebrating the 40th anniversary of National Nutrition Month by offering healthy recipes for you to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day!” This year’s theme encompasses the idea that each of us has our own food preferences, lifestyles, traditions and health concerns. “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits.

Visit the JCPH nutrition web page or our social media sites to get recipes for your family! Mix together a little physical activity, and you’ve got the recipe for a healthier Jefferson County! Jefferson County Nutrition Services provides nutrition education and counseling, the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program and more.

Helping Families Grow Healthy

Jefferson County Public Health offers nutrition counseling and education for all families through its Women Infant Children Program, also known as WIC. Moms, Dads, Grandparents and legal guardians can participate in the program if they:

• Live in Colorado 
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding and/or have a child under 5-years-old. 
• Have a family income less than the WIC guidelines. 

WIC helps keep families healthy by providing personalized nutrition consultants, breastfeeding information, checks for free healthy food and referrals for health care, housing and much more. This program also offers help with meal planning, weight management, and caring for a new baby. If you need help with your family’s nutritional needs, please do not hesitate to get more details at one of our WIC clinics.

JCPH Nutrition Services also offers nutritional assistance for families with children with special needs. Please call to make an appointment or visit us online:

Lakewood- 303-239-7143

Arvada- 303-275-7510

Edgewater- 303-271-5780