Resources for Healthy Families

All materials and referrals to resources are provided by the Maine WIC Nutrition Program for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or endorsements of any particular products, services, messages, organizations or entities, or claims and representations as to their quality, content or accuracy or merchantability or fitness for any particular usage, application or purpose.

The web sites listed here can provide you with more information on a variety of topics. This list will be changing, so please come back often!

On this Page:

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Programs for Maine Families

• SNAP (formerly Food Stamps Program)
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/services/snap/index.html
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/
• General Assistance Program
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/services/general-assistance/index.html
• MaineCare
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/OIAS/services/cubcare/CubCare.htm
• Lead Prevention Program
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/index.shtml
• Immunization Program
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/immunization/index.shtml
• Maine Nutrition Network
  http://www.maine-nutrition.org
• Maine Office of Substance Abuse
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/
• Maine Youth Suicide Prevention
  http://www.maine.gov/suicide/
• Cooperative Extension: Food and Health
  http://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/
• Child Abuse Action Network
  http://www.childabuseactionnetwork.com/
• Healthy Maine Walks
  http://www.healthymainewalks.org/
• Maine Parent Federation (A private non-profit organization that provides information, support and training to parents and professionals through numerous grant-funded projects)
  http://www.mpf.org
• Maine Nutrition Council
  http://www.mainenutritioncouncil.org
• Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council
  http://www.drinkmainemilk.org/
• Maine Department of Human Services
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs
• Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  http://www.mainepublichealth.gov
• Maine Cardiovascular Health Council
  http://www.mainecardiohealth.org
• State of Maine Drinking Water Program
  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/water/index.htm
• Bicycle Coalition of Maine
  http://www.bikemaine.org/

National Nutrition Programs

• United States Food and Nutrition Service-has contact phone numbers for every state and tribal organization WIC program throughout the country
  http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsn/
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Guidance on How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Panel on Food Labels
  http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=10935
• Health Eating, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
  http://www.nutrition.gov
• Consumer Product Recalls
  http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
• American Dietetic Association
  http://www.eatright.org/
• Women's Health
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/

Breastfeeding

• La Leche League International
  http://www.lalecheleague.org
• Breastfeeding.com-helpful tips and fun stories
  http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/
• Practical breastfeeding information created by Lenore Goldfarb, Lactation Educator, Lactation Consultant and author.
  http://www.asklenore.com/breastfeeding/abindex.shtml
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
  http://www.bfmed.org
• American Academy of Pediatrics statement on the value of breastfeeding
  http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/default.aspx
• KellyMom: Breastfeeding and Parenting
  http://kellymom.com/

Food Safety

• BPA FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
  Information on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), present in some plastic bottles and cups.
• Food Recalls
  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
• Food Safety Project, Iowa State University Extension
  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety
• Seguridad Alimentos (Food Safety Information in Spanish)
  http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/ask_karen.html
• Food Safety Information & Resources
  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
• Food Safety Information Center
  http://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/
• United States Department of Agriculture-"Thermy" food safety campaign, which teaches about proper food temperatures
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/food_safety_education/Thermy/index.asp
• USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. Phone and Web information about safe storage, handling and preparation of meat, poultry and egg products.
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/ USDA_Meat_&_Poultry_Hotline/index.asp

Raising Healthy Children

• Zero to Three-a resource organization for the first three years of life
  http://www.zerotothree.org/index.htm
• Forming Good Habits in Children to Avoid Obesity
  http://www.ces.purdue.edu/nutrition/childobesity/
• Bright Futures research in community initiatives for children's health
  http://www.brightfutures.org/index.html
• Tiny Tummies-helpful tips and recipes for feeding young children
  http://www.tinytummies.com/
• Nutrition for Kids
  http://www.nutritionforkids.com/
• Kids Health
  http://secure01.kidshealth.org/parent/index.jsp
• Nutrition Café: Nutrition interactive games for children
  http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/
• "Don't Shake Jake" awareness program to educate the citizens of Maine to the risks of shaking a baby
  http://www.dontshakejake.org

Children With Special Health Needs

• Database of information on rare disorders.
  http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/
• Information, resources and web site links for families with children who have special health needs.
  http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/
• Support site for parents; includes message boards and chat rooms to help provide emotional support, and offers referral resources
  http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/coffee.htm
• March of Dimes
  http://www.marchofdimes.com/
• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  http://www.nofas.org/

Nutrition and Activity for Healthy Families

• You’re it. Get fit.
  http://www.presidentschallenge.org
• Aim for a Healthy Weight
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/index.htm
• Fruits and Veggies More Matters
  http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/
• Vegetarian Resource Group
  http://www.vrg.org/
• International Food Information Council
  http://www.foodinsight.org/
• 99 fitness tips for the whole family
  http://www.shapeup.org/pubs/99tips/index.html
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
  http://www.acefitness.org
• Fit Facts
  http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/
• National Association for Health and Fitness-this site includes a calorie use calculator
  www.physicalfitness.org
• HealthyChildren, sponsored by the American Pediatric Association
  http://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
• Healthfinder
  http://www.healthfinder.gov/
• Good information about holistic therapies and herbal remedies.
  National Center for Complementary Alternative Medicine
  http://nccam.nih.gov
• Are you at risk for diabetes?
  http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/heart-disease/
• Disaster Preparedness: Family Readiness Kit
  http://www2.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm
• The Whole Child- Development from Birth through Age Five- Information presented in Public Broadcasting Service video series
  http://www.pbs.org/wholechild/

Smoking

• Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine
  http://www.tobaccofreemaine.org
• You Can Quit Smoking Now
  http://www.smokefree.org
• Information for women who smoke during pregnancy
  http://www.legacyforhealth.org/2110.aspx