Lyon County WIC Program Honored with USDA Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence

CareArc is proud to announce that Lyon County WIC has received a prestigious Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizing its outstanding efforts in promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Lyon County is one of only two counties in Kansas to receive this honor in 2025.

Awarded annually through the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, the Breastfeeding Award of Excellence honors local WIC agencies that implement exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities. In 2025, Lyon County WIC stood among 122 Gold-level recipients nationwide in the Mountain Plains region, demonstrating leadership in best practices and positive outcomes.

To qualify, WIC agencies must have operated a peer counseling program for at least one year and fully complied with the WIC Breastfeeding Model for Peer Counseling. Lyon County WIC exceeded these expectations, developing a model peer counseling program, supporting local mothers through educational initiatives, and producing measurable impact through sustained breastfeeding rates.

Under the leadership of CareArc WIC, Lyon County has gone above and beyond by providing inclusive breastfeeding services, including peer counselor support, community events like the annual Breastfeeding Bash, and public awareness across all county residents, not limited to WIC participants.

Their efforts result in tangible improvement in infant health, support for maternal wellness, and reduced healthcare costs, while strengthening community trust in local healthcare services. This award bolsters Lyon County’s reputation as a leader in maternal and child health among Kansas counties.

“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Diana Moore, WIC Director for Lyon County. “Our peer counselors and staff are dedicated to empowering families with education and support, ensuring each mother feels supported in her breastfeeding journey.”

This recognition is especially meaningful as it comes during a year of transition. Despite recent adjustments in staffing and scheduling due to reductions in federal WIC funding, the Lyon County WIC team remained focused on their mission, ultimately earning national recognition for their efforts. In response to community needs, WIC services are now available again on Fridays, reinforcing the program’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and excellence in care.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally funded program providing nutrition education, healthy foods, and breastfeeding support to income eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under five. The Breastfeeding Award of Excellence recognizes local agencies for outstanding performance in supporting breastfeeding initiation and duration.

The Breastfeeding Award of Excellence is a multi-tier recognition—Gold, Premiere, and Elite—designed to motivate consistent implementation of model practices across WIC agencies nationwide. Lyon County WIC joins an elite group demonstrating the highest standard of breastfeeding support in the Mountain Plains region.