Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced the creation of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Advisory Group appointing 16 members that will focus on providing support to increase healthier pregnancies and postpartum care.
These committed professionals will engage in efforts to improve the quality of services and support connections between WIC and other state services to address the social, health and educational needs of pregnant individuals, mothers, infants and children.
"From my work as an OBGYN physician, I know how important it is that women, children and infants receive the right nutrition during pregnancy, post-pregnancy and throughout the child's development," said Acting Secretary of Health and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson. "The advisory group will make recommendations to connect resources to women, infants and children across Pennsylvania to ensure the highest number of those eligible benefit from this program and are aware of the services available to them. I look forward to working with this group to identify solutions and positively impact Pennsylvania families for generations to come."
The WIC Advisory Group members include:
Theodore Deitman, District Manager, Maternal and Family Health Services, Towanda
Gerria Coffee, Owner and Founder, Genesis Birth Services, Williamsport
Melanie Readal, Public Health Administrator, Allegheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh
Charlotte Dorsey, WIC Education Manager, York
Cathy Moffit, WIC Director, Mon Valley Community Health Services Inc., Monessen
Raeni Yock, WIC parent, Johnstown
Katja Pigur, Senior Director of Programs and Business Development, Maternity Care Coalition, Philadelphia
Carol Gerner, Food Equity Ambassador, Pittsburgh
Danielle Morgan, Distribution Center Coordinator, Genesis of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
Kelly Kane, Lead Physician at UPMC CCP, Altoona
Lisa Sanchez, CPA and medical liaison, Community Health Services, Linesville
Mim Seidel, Assistant Professor, Chatham University, Pittsburgh
Britney Zwergel, Senior Director of Nutrition Services, Adagio Health, Pittsburgh
Brian Whorl, Division of Federal Programs Director, Department of Human Services, Office of Income Maintenance, Bureau of Policy, Harrisburg
Alex Baloga, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Wormleysburg
Michael Howells, Director of Research and Association Services, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Wormleysburg
The WIC Advisory Group will hold its first meeting virtually next month.
Those interested in applying for support through WIC can apply online or via phone by calling 1-800-WIC-WINS.
The federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum individuals, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk. The program, administered at the state level by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, has helped Pennsylvania families since 1974.
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