For new moms, breastfeeding can come with plenty of questions, challenges and uncertainty.
Luckily, Blue Valley Community Action Partnership’s Women, Infants and Children program gives local mothers nationally acclaimed support.
The Food and Nutrition Service bestowed the 2026 WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence upon BVCA’s WIC program in August, during Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The award honors local WIC agencies that provide exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
BVCA earned the award at the gold level, which is the first of three levels. Clinics must earn the first level to apply for the second level, and so on. Only two other community action WIC clinics in Nebraska received the honor this year.
This is the first time BVCA WIC has earned this designation.
Having been part of WIC for more than a decade, BVCA health and nutrition services director Danielle Meade said it has been rewarding to watch the staff work together, the program grow and its hard work pay off.
WIC, the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, provides families with education, resources and encouragement they need to reach their breastfeeding goals.
BVCA’s WIC clinic has nurses who are certified lactation consultants (CLCs), a breastfeeding peer counselor (BFPC) and a breastfeeding expert (BE). The clinic can also refer mothers to Milkworks and area hospitals if needed and help connect them with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
“Whether a mom is breastfeeding for the first time or has before, every experience is different,” said health services WIC manager Jamie Vyhnalek. “Having someone like a BE, CLC or BFPC in your corner to talk to can make all the difference. I’m so proud of the work we all do.”
The program also has a breast pump program that helps WIC mothers obtain manual or electric pumps or borrow hospital-grade pumps. It educates mothers on breastfeeding, such as helping them decide between breastfeeding and formula.
Meade said she was proud to see the team’s work recognized, as increasing breastfeeding initiation and maintenance rates has been one of BVCA’s strategic goals.
Breastfeeding can be much more difficult than people often realize, underscoring the need for these services.
“I feel like nobody knows exactly how hard breastfeeding is, and then everybody just kind of expects women to be able to just do it,” Meade said. “Having that support system and having somebody there and be like, ‘No, you are doing an amazing job, because it is a very hard thing to do.’ Just kind of helps those moms keep going.”
BVCA’s WIC program provides new and experienced moms with support and confidence during an often challenging time.
“Having someone who can listen, answer questions, offer guidance and reassurance so they know they are not alone,” Vyhnalek said. “Each breastfeeding mom’s situation is unique to them, and having access to support without judgment is so important during those first few months.”
