Pregnant women, moms and their families are invited to the Snohomish Health District clinic in Lynnwood on Aug. 15 to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) / First Steps Clinic at 6101 200th St. S.W., Lynnwood. Refreshments, medical and dental resources, family services, and information about WIC services and breastfeeding support will be on hand.

Breast milk is the preferred source of nutrition for infants and is recommended for the first year of life. Breastfeeding can protect both babies and mothers from many chronic health conditions and builds a foundation for life-long wellness.

One way WIC supports clients who are working moms is by providing breast pumps to loan, as well as offering classes and peer advice for breastfeeding women. Most parents who receive WIC services have jobs, but are low income and benefit from monthly food checks worth $50-$100.

The WIC nutrition program serves almost half of all children born in Washington state, and about 7,000 moms and children under age 5 are Snohomish Health District WIC clients. To learn if you are eligible for WIC or for other family services, contact the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

Also on Aug. 15, Premera Blue Cross will be honored with a Healthy Communities Award from Snohomish Health District. The award is presented to honor organizations that have adopted promotion programs or policies that support healthy choices for the people they serve or employ.

Premera is being recognized for providing exemplary pumping rooms for their employees who are breastfeeding. Each of the five buildings on Premera’s Mountlake Terrace Campus has at least one clean and private room for breastfeeding employees, along with an easy scheduling system and separate refrigeration dedicated for breast milk storage. Their facilities demonstrate Premera’s commitment to family-friendly employment and best practices for infant nutrition.

Premera employs approximately 2,300 people at its Snohomish County Mountlake Terrace campus and provides medical coverage for over 1.7 million people in Washington and Alaska.