Health Department Renews WIC Services

The McDonald County Health Department announced that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2017 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Under the terms of the contract, the McDonald County Health Department will be able to serve 877 persons eligible for WIC every month.

Women, Infants and Children is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their fifth birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility.

The primary services provided are health screening, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and referrals to health care.

Nutritious supplemental food is provided at no cost to participants. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185 percent of the poverty level and be determined by a health professional to be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.

WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk, cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products and hot or cold cereals, 100- percent fruit juices and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breast-feeding support, baby foods and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental iron fortified formula.

WIC participants obtain their foods by redeeming food checks for specific items at local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnancy have fewer low- birth- weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in McDonald County by the McDonald County Health Department. Persons interested in applying or who are in need of more information should contact the McDonald County Health Department at 417-223-4351. WIC Clinics are offered at the McDonald County. Call 417-223- 4351 for days and times of all clinics.

Health Department located at 500 Olin St., Pineville. In addition, there are two satellite clinics located at the Lord of Our Nativity Church at 227 Sulpher St. in Noel and at the Full Gospel Church at 612 Broadway in Southwest City.