Celebrating National Nutrition Month and 50 Years of Service

In 2024, the Lancaster County Health Dept.'s Women, Infants and Children (LLCHD WIC) is celebrating 50 years of being part of a national program that has provided healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to tens of millions of families.

This March, the LLCHD WIC program is also celebrating National Nutrition Month with the theme Beyond the Table, helping families incorporate health eating into the various ways they eat -- from home cooked meals to restaurants and schools.

The WIC program offers free nutrition education from a registered dietitian who can help clients utilize their WIC benefits by providing tips on how to eat healthy using the foods and recipes. Read more about the WIC program in their March highlight.

Importance of Prenatal Care

Why is early prenatal care so critical for babies and moms? For babies, it substantially lowers the risk of birth defects as well as infant mortality. For moms, it can prevent or minimize complications from pregnancy risks such as hypertension, anemia, infections, depression and gestational diabetes. But too many families are not getting the care they need.

Nebraska’s infant mortality rate is higher than most of the developed world and our racial and ethnic disparities are much worse than the U.S. average. But a group of Nebraska health professionals have charted a path to address this crisis.

Read about it in our latest Health & the City column in the Lincoln Journal Star. Cowritten with LNKTV Health.

A Wellbeing Community

The mission of Wellbeing Initiative, Inc. is to empower individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges to reach their fullest potential by cultivating communities through training, education, and opportunities for success. Their Wellness and Education Centers are places to do just that.

The Lincoln center had its grand opening October 2023, with Nebraska City center opening this past February. All of the offerings in the centers are strengths-based and recovery-focused, and are developed to be a positive and uplifting support for individuals and for the community.

Learn more about Wellbeing Initiative and their future plans for additional centers in other Nebraska communities in their March highlight.

Measles on the Rise

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known on Earth. In a population that doesn’t have immunity, just a few cases can become many very quickly. This means it takes a huge effort to contain it. With the advent of the measles vaccine developed in the 1960's, widespread use of the vaccine drastically reduced the disease rates. By 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. 

But, with the rise in vaccine hesitancy, the U.S.is seeing an increased number of cases. For every 10,000 children infected with measles, 2,000 will be hospitalized; 1,000 will develop ear infections with the potential for permanent hearing loss; 500 will develop pneumonia; and 10 to 30 will die. Learn more about vaccinating your children against measles.

Community Crops

Free Urban Grower March Classes

March 2, 2:30 – 4:30 PM, Seed Starting 101, learn seed-starting essentials, in the Community Crops Greenhouse.

March 30, 11AM – 12:30 PM, Gardening in Nebraska. Discover and explore SE Nebraska’s food-growing essentials, Community Crops office. 

Learn more, register.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Free take-home colon cancer screening kits called FIT are available at participating pharmacies in Lincoln during March.

Request a free kit to be mailed to your home or to find out where you can pick up one up here.

Nebraska Sports Council announces that registration is open for the 2024 Cornhusker State Games (CSG).

Nebraska Sport Council and CSG are celebrating 40 years of promoting healthy, active living this year through family friendly sports competition. Learn more or register.  

Housing Advocacy

NeighborWorks Lincoln (NWL) and Collective Impact are hosting a Housing Code Enforcement Workshop on March 28, 5:30 – 7PM, at NWL office, 2530 Q St. Learn more. 

Civic Nebraska is sponsoring a day of housing justice advocacy (Housing Lobby Day) on March 13. Learn more and RSVP.

Lincoln Federal Credit Union is sponsoring a free How to Purchase Your First Home seminar, March 19, from 6 - 7:30 PM at 1746 N St. Reservations required.

Postpartum Benefits Change

Nebraska Medicaid healthcare and dental care coverage for postpartum moms has changed. Effective January 1, 2024, Nebraska Medicaid will expand postpartum coverage for Mothers from 60 days to 12 months. Get details.  

Supporting Health Equity

Clinic with a Heart (CWH) serves people who are uninsured and underinsured through a ministry of healthcare.

CWH will celebrate 20 years of free healthcare with its RX For Hope Fundraiser on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The event will be held at the Scottish Rite Ballroom in Lincoln, starting at 6:00PM. The gala will include live auctions, dinner, a program, and entertainment. RSVP now or donate.  

Youth Spring Break Programs

Sign up is open for Lincoln Parks and Recreation Spring break programs in March - Kids Day Off; Kids Week Off; Extreme Teens; and Explorers Spring Nature Camp. Get dates, times, more information, and register here.

Lincoln YMCA Youth Sports

March registration is required for several YMCA spring/summer youth sports camps and leagues, including a variety of softball, soccer, volleyball, golf, and basketball programs. Get dates, times, and register here.