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:

---

 

Programs for Maine Families

• SNAP (formerly Food Stamps Program)
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/services/snap/index.html
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/
• General Assistance Program
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/services/general-assistance/index.html
• MaineCare
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/OIAS/services/cubcare/CubCare.htm
• Lead Prevention Program
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/index.shtml
• Immunization Program
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/immunization/index.shtml
• Maine Nutrition Network
  https://www.maine-nutrition.org
• Maine Office of Substance Abuse
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/
• Maine Youth Suicide Prevention
  https://www.maine.gov/suicide/
• Cooperative Extension: Food and Health
  https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/
• Child Abuse Action Network
  https://www.childabuseactionnetwork.com/
• Maine Parent Federation (A private non-profit organization that provides information, support and training to parents and professionals through numerous grant-funded projects)
  https://www.mpf.org
• Maine Nutrition Council
  https://www.mainenutritioncouncil.org
• Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council
  https://www.drinkmainemilk.org/
• Maine Department of Human Services
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs
• Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  https://www.mainepublichealth.gov
• Maine Cardiovascular Health Council
  https://www.mainecardiohealth.org
• State of Maine Drinking Water Program
  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/water/index.htm
• Bicycle Coalition of Maine
  https://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
  https://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
  https://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=10935
• Health Eating, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
  https://www.nutrition.gov
• Consumer Product Recalls
  https://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
• American Dietetic Association
  https://www.eatright.org/
• Women's Health
  https://www.womenshealth.gov/

Breastfeeding

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

Food Safety

• FDA instructions for safely preparing formula: "In most cases, it’s safe to mix formula using ordinary cold tap water that’s boiled for one minute and cooled. Remember that formula made with hot water needs to be cooled quickly to body temperature—about 98 degrees Fahrenheit—if it is to be fed to the baby immediately. If the formula is not being fed immediately, refrigerate it right away and keep refrigerated until feeding." https://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM400238.pdf
• For premature or immuno-compromed infants, the WHO Safe Formula Preparation Instructions should be discussed with your child's doctor
• BPA FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
  Information on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), present in some plastic bottles and cups.
• Food Recalls
  https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
• Food Safety Project, Iowa State University Extension
  https://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety
• Seguridad Alimentos (Food Safety Information in Spanish)
  https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/ask_karen.html
• Food Safety Information & Resources
  https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
• Food Safety Information Center
  https://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/
• United States Department of Agriculture-"Thermy" food safety campaign, which teaches about proper food temperatures
  https://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.
  https://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
  https://www.zerotothree.org/index.htm
• Forming Good Habits in Children to Avoid Obesity
  https://www.ces.purdue.edu/nutrition/childobesity/
• Bright Futures research in community initiatives for children's health
  https://www.brightfutures.org/index.html
• Tiny Tummies-helpful tips and recipes for feeding young children
  https://www.tinytummies.com/
• Nutrition for Kids
  https://www.nutritionforkids.com/
• Kids Health
  https://secure01.kidshealth.org/parent/index.jsp
• Nutrition Café: Nutrition interactive games for children
  https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/
• "Don't Shake Jake" awareness program to educate the citizens of Maine to the risks of shaking a baby
  https://www.dontshakejake.org

Children With Special Health Needs

• Database of information on rare disorders.
  https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/
• March of Dimes
  https://www.marchofdimes.com/
• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  https://www.nofas.org/

Nutrition and Activity for Healthy Families

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

Smoking

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