Local program that feeds mothers and babies commended for perfect score

Wood River Health Services WIC staffers are “Picture Perfect”

Wood River Health Services Nutritionist and WIC Coordinator 

Sarah Giorno (l) and Program Assistant and Breast Feeding Peer 

Counselor Terry Reis, both in their first year, were given the “Picture 

Perfect” award for having no deficiencies during the state’s 

annual program evaluation.

HOPE VALLEY, RI – Wood River Health Services Nutritionist and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program Coordinator Sarah Giorno and Program Assistant and Breast Feeding Peer Counselor Terry Reis were given the “Picture Perfect” award for having no deficiencies during the state’s annual program evaluation.

Ann Barone, Director of the RI Department of Health’s WIC program, commented that the recognition was especially impressive since Giorno and Reis are both new and that evaluators were just as hard on them as they were on any other agency during the evaluation.

WIC's primary mission, as an adjunct to good healthcare, is to provide education for optimal nutrition during critical stages of growth and development.

The program provides an array of support for families including breastfeeding support and promotion; referrals to needed medical and social services in the community; and assessment of client nutritional status. WIC also provides checks for healthy foods based on the clients’ nutritional needs.

WIC recipients show higher birth weight, lower infant mortality, improved blood iron levels and diets, improved brain and neurological development, and lower use of intensive care nurseries compared to infants born to lower income mothers that have not benefited from proper nutritional food supplements.

Wood River Health Services is the Federally Qualified Community Health Center for southwestern Rhode Island, providing medical and dental care and social services to over 9,000 area residents.

The center also provides a nationally recognized chronic disease management program, on-site lab testing in cooperation with Westerly Hospital, and behavioral and mental health counseling and referrals.

Wood River Health Services is located at 823 Main St., Hope Valley (on Route 3 south of the village, just off Route I-95 at Exit 2). For more information, call (401) 539-2461 or visit www.wrhsri.org.