Section 2 Peer Counseling: Making a Difference for WIC Families

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Memory Game
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Who Are BreastfeedingPeer Counselors?

• Women in the community with personal
  breastfeeding experience who provide information
  and support to other mothers.
• Thats what its all aboutmoms helping moms.
  
• 
  WIC Peer
  Counselor

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The Power OfMother-to-Mother Connection
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How Peer Counselors Help

• Serve as a model for breastfeeding
• Establish a connection with families
• Help mothers manage common concerns
• Provide ongoing encouragement
• Offer breastfeeding help outside the usual
  workday
• Fill the gap in services after hospital discharge
  for seamless continuity of care

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Texas Breastfeeding RatesHouston Health and
Human Services Department
8,542
248
? Start of PC Program
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Texas WIC Project 76 Outreach Health Services
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Are Peer Counseling Programs Effective With
Diverse Population Groups?
EXTRA!
Peer Counseling Works!
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Research With WIC Programs

• In-depth interviews with State and local
  management staff and peer counselors
• Participation from all geographic regions
• Representation from varied program types
• WIC programs that currently provide peer
  counseling
• WIC programs that do not
• WIC programs that discontinued peer counseling
• Non-WIC programs that provide peer counseling
• Curriculum assessments of WIC and non-WIC peer
  counseling programs

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Research Objectives

• Understand perspectives of both management and
  direct services staff about peer counseling
  program management
• Identify barriers and motivators for implementing
  and sustaining peer counseling programs
• Determine internal WIC barriers to integrating
  WIC peer counseling with hospitals and other
  community partners

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Research Objectives

• Isolate factors that contributed to the demise
  of peer counseling programs within WIC
• Uncover factors perceived to contribute to
  successful programs
• Define requisite training needs for WIC staff to
  support successful implementation and maintenance
  
• Define requisite skills and training needs for
  peer counselors

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Current Programs In WIC

• Diverse program administration models
• Factors contributing to success
• Leadership
• Support from management and local staff
• Standardized training for PCs and other WIC staff
• Appropriate supervision
• Funding for breastfeeding coordinators
• Retention
• Ongoing funding

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Current Programs In WIC

• Barriers
• Lack of funding
• Limited time and availability of trained staff
• Low caseload
• Lack of support from WIC staff
• Language differences
• Limited or inadequate supervision of staff
• Inadequate peer counselor recruitment and
  retention

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WIC Programs That DoNot Offer Peer Counseling

• Barriers to initiating a program
• Initial and ongoing funding
• Selection of program sites/rural areas
• Program coordination
• Required personnel
• State and local level support
• Recruitment of peer counselors
• Training curriculum
• Lack of partnerships in the community

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WIC Programs ThatDiscontinued Peer Counseling

• Factors that contributed to demise
• Control relinquished to local agencies
• Reliance on volunteer peer counselors
• Departure of program champions
• Lack of funding
• No designated program manager

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WIC Programs ThatDiscontinued Peer Counseling

• To reinstate peer counseling, States want
• Train the trainer programs for staff
• Help with policies that support peer counseling
• Funding to implement and sustain the program
• Information on realistic program oversight
  time needed, staffing, job descriptions,
  recruitment, retention, and staff supervision

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Common Beliefs About Peer Counseling

• WIC staff believe Peer Counseling
• Improves breastfeeding initiation rates
• Increases duration rates
• Supports the WIC team
• Improves WIC enrollment and participation
• Generates appropriate referrals

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Benefits To Peer Counselors

• Longer durationof their own breastfeeding
• Satisfaction of helping other mothers
• New job skills
• Professional growth

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