08/03/2026
🏆𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐇𝐈𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐔𝐒𝐃𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 🏆
What an incredible way to kick off Breastfeeding Awareness Month!
The Paulding County Health Department is bursting with pride to announce that our small-but-mighty WIC program is making history not only for our County, but for 𝐎𝐇𝐈𝐎!!
Congrats to Paulding County WIC / Breastfeeding Peer Andrea for leading the way for Ohio public health (Lactation Support) and placing Paulding County on the national map!!
Our Paulding County WIC clinic has received the National 2026 USDA WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence at the Premiere level for Exemplary Breastfeeding Support and Practices! 🤱🏾✨
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⚙️ What Makes This Award So Rigorous?
This prestigious Federal recognition is not divided among the states, and no state is guaranteed a recipient. Each local WIC agency is evaluated independently and must demonstrate that it meets rigorous national standards for breastfeeding education and support, staff training, community promotion, outreach, continued follow-up, and local collaboration.
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✨ The National Picture:
⭐ One of only 44: Out of approximately 𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐖𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 Nationwide, our Paulding County WIC clinic was one of only 44 local WIC agencies in the Nation to receive a 2026 Premiere Award.
⭐ Making Ohio history: Paulding County WIC and the County Health Department /WIC are the first two WIC agencies in Ohio history to meet the rigorous federal requirements and receive this prestigious National Award!!!
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💙 Please join us in congratulating our remarkable WIC team:
🔹 Kristen Kuerlic, RD, CLS—WIC Administrator, Registered Dietitian, and Certified Lactation Specialist
🔹 Andrea Schlueter, CLS, CLC—Breastfeeding Peer Helper, Certified Lactation Specialist, and Certified Lactation Counselor
🔹 Sophia — WIC Clerk and the heart of the clinic, who has lovingly served Paulding County families for more than 20 years!!
🤱🏾 The WIC staff members have each breastfed their own children and bring not only professional knowledge but also personal experience and genuine understanding to the families they serve.
This historic recognition reflects years of teamwork, education, advocacy, outreach, relationship-building, and compassionate care. The Paulding County Health Department is incredibly proud of how Kristen, Andrea, and Sophia work together to create a welcoming, respectful, and nonjudgmental environment where families receive evidence-based information, practical assistance, and continued support while working toward their individual feeding goals.
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🏠 Bridging the Gap for Our Rural Community:
Did you know our small rural county has neither a birthing hospital nor a practicing pediatrician? Our families may travel 30–60 minutes or farther to give birth, and to receive IBCLC Lactation support.
Our WIC team works every day to help bridge those gaps because living in a rural community should never mean receiving a lower standard of care!
🤝 A True Community Achievement:
An accomplishment of this magnitude is never achieved alone. The Health Department and our WIC staff sincerely thank all of our Paulding County Health Department staff, our Board of Health, County leadership, and Community Partners for supporting thiscountyam and the families it serves.
Most importantly, we thank our WIC families for trusting this dedicated staff to walk alongside them during some of life’s most important and vulnerable moments. Our families continually inspire this team to learn, grow, and advocate for the care our community deserves.
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Again, also a huge congratulations to our friends at Medina County Health Department!!
We are honored to stand alongside you as the first two WIC agencies to bring this historic recognition home to Ohio.
Congratulations, Sophia, Andrea, and Kristen! The Paulding County Health Department and our entire community could not be prouder of your dedication to knowledgeable, compassionate, and community-centered care! 🎉🏆💙
Ohio WIC Program
📞 Families interested in WIC services or breastfeeding support may contact Paulding County WIC at 419-399-2621.
