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Well Child Center

Growing Health Families

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Events

Free Childbirth Education Classes

Well Child Center has partnered with Advocate Sherman Hospital to offer Childbirth Education classes. These classes are taught in 4-week sessions by certified instructors every month. Expectant mothers are provided with instruction and support to help navigate pregnancy through the postpartum period.

The class schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Week 1 – Labor & Delivery, Pre-Eclampsia, Diabetes and Pre-term Labor

Week 2 – Epidurals, Cesarean Section and Post-partum Depression

Week 3 – Breastfeeding: Latching, Positions and Practice

Week 4 – Newborn care: Diapering, Holding, Bathing and Nutrition

Normally you would pay $125 to take similar classes at the hospital, but our programmimg is free to WIC participants. Additionally, an infant car seat will be raffled at the end of each class series!

We are proud of our collaboration with Advocate Sherman Hospital to create an innovative curriculum to motive expecting mothers to breastfeed. The benefits of breastfeeding are abundant! Therefore, we are happy to share our knowledge and support mothers through their breastfeeding journey.

The class outcomes are undeniable for the 565 pregnant women who have attended:

  • 97% of mother attendees initiate breastfeeding at birth
  • 77% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 weeks
  • 64% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 weeks
  • 35% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 months
  • 26% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 months

If you or someone you know are interested in attending the Advocate Sherman Hospital and Well Child Center Childbirth Education classes, please call:

Well Child Center at (847) 741-7370 or

Chayo at (630) 391-0001

Helping Families Eat at Home Together During National Family Meals Month™

With an aim to inspire families to eat at home together more often, to foster the best health possible for individuals and families now and into the future, we are proud to celebrate National Family Meals Month™!  During September, we encourage families to share one more meal together per week and we will highlight tips, resources, information, inspiration, and simple, healthy meal solutions to help make that happen.

Did you know that numerous studies underscore the long-term health, academic and societal benefits of consistently eating together as a family?  Home-cooked meals nourish the spirit, brain, and health of all family members.  Not to mention, people who frequently cook at home eat fewer and healthier calories.’ Additionally, regular family meals are linked to the kinds of outcomes that we all want for our children: higher grades and self-esteem, healthier eating habits and less risky behavior.

However, according to a 2013 Harris poll, only 30 percent of American families share dinner every night. Why is this?  Yes, juggling jobs, kids and the demands of a busy, modern life often come at the expense of family mealtime at home. But, this doesn’t need to be the case. You have allies all around you to provide solutions to your mealtime dilemma. We are committed to helping your family eat well to be well together.  Check out easy, budget friendly recipes on https://www.wichealth.org or ask your WIC Nutritionist for ideas at your next appointment. 

So, as the new school year starts, we challenge you to renew your commitment to creating and serving meals at home that nourish your kids and your whole family, because family meals make families stronger. Pledge to Raise Your Mitt to Commit™ to sharing one more family meal at home per week. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for family meal- focused content, including shopping tips and recipes

Share your own family meal experiences, misadventures, and solutions within your social channels.  And, remember, use the hashtag #familymealsmonth to be part of the conversation!  

About Linda Rusenovich

Linda is the mother of four young adults and has worked at the Well Child Center since 2005. She encourages parents to take small steps toward better health for themselves and their children.

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with Us!

Breastfeeding Event

Breastfeeding aficionados, this blog’s for you! Is there anything quite as special as a mom cradling and nursing her newborn baby? The oldest image of a mother breastfeeding dates back to Babylon, approximately 2003-1595 B.C. and throughout history breastfeeding sustained life. However, in 2019 a simple internet search for “breastfeeding” produces over 100 million results that range from its benefits, oppositions, complications, personal blogs and instructional videos. How is a person curious to learn more about breastfeeding supposed to navigate all this information without becoming confused? Although breastfeeding has many supporters, today an image of a woman breastfeeding her baby is often a divisive and much debated topic. Sadly, this creates barriers for a woman deciding how to feed her baby.

At Well Child Center (WCC), we strive to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. We have two Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultations (IBCLC’s) and three Breastfeeding Peer Counselors dedicated to ensuring our community’s breastfeeding experience meets expectations.

Every August since 1992, The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) celebrates World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) to highlight the joy and importance of breastfeeding. WCC, as a member of the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition, is participating in the Fourth Annual Global Big Latch-on. This year’s event takes place at Advocate Sherman Hospital on August 3rd from 9:30-11 a.m. Pregnant women, mothers and families are welcomed to enjoy fun activities and learn more about new Illinois breastfeeding laws that protect women breastfeeding at work.

Once again, the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition will be recognizing employers in Kane County who provide breastfeeding friendly practices in the workplace. If you are an employer that accommodates breastfeeding or work for a company that you would like to recognize please share here: http://kanecountyconnects.com/2019/07/coalition-celebrates-breastfeeding-friendly-workplaces-in-kane-county/ Last year, 25 businesses were congratulated on their commitment to help make breastfeeding easier for their employees.

Continuing August’s breastfeeding celebration, WCC is thrilled to be one of 200 sites selected nationwide to debut the groundbreaking documentary “Chocolate Milk.” This project is an exploration of the racial divide in breastfeeding and discusses why more African American women are choosing not to breastfeed as told by three African American women: a new mother, a midwife and a WIC lactation educator. Our screening is August 7th at 1:00 p.m. If you are interested to attend, please contact Cindy Anderson at cla@wans.net

About Cindy Anderson

Cindy has been an IBCLC since 2001 and has worked at Well Child Center for 22 years. She is the mother of three grown daughters and grandmother to one granddaughter. Difficulties with her own breastfeeding experiences led her to become a Lactation Consultant. Breastfeeding does not always go as planned and Cindy believes every mother deserves compassionate care to help achieve her breastfeeding goals.

Cartoon Cavalcade – July 12 and 27, 2019

  • Cartoon Cavalcade Postcard Front
  • Cartoon Cavalcade Postcard Back

Oddball Art Labs presents

“Cartoon Cavalcade”
A Celebration of all things ‘Toony!

The Well Child Center has been selected as the recipient of funds from this year’s playful summer gallery show from Oddball Art Labs. Be a part of it all when things get ‘Toony’ this July in ‘Cartoon Cavalcade!‘

From the creators who brought you ” Strange Imaginations and Other Perplexing Wonders”, “Robots, Rockets and Space Vixens”, “Cheesecake Anyone?”, “Cheesecake Seconds Please! A Salute to the American Pin-up!” and “Fez Fest” comes: Cartoon Cavalcade, A Celebration of All Things Toony!

The Summer 2019 Oddball Art Labs group art show promises to bring you back to those care-free Saturday mornings of your childhood. Let us help you remember the joy of the one time of the week when you were in complete control of the TV, soaking in Technicolor lunacy while stuffing your face with sugar coated cereal.

Opening Reception

Friday, July 12th, 2019
Hours: 6pm-10pm

ArtSpace Gallery
51 S. Spring St.
Elgin, IL 60120

Opening Reception on Facebook

Closing Reception

Saturday July 27th, 2019
Hours: 10am-3pm

ArtSpace Gallery
51 S. Spring St.
Elgin, IL 60120

Closing Reception on Facebook