Pem. Co. Health Center contracted to continue WIC services

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

The Pemiscot County Health Center has announced that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2018 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health. Under the terms of the contract the Pemiscot County Health Center will be able to serve 803 persons eligible for WIC every month

WIC (the special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children) provides at no cost, specific nutritious supplemental foods and nutrition education to pregnant breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants and children up to the age 5. WIC participants are persons who meet WIC income guidelines and are determined by health professionals to be at nutritional risk.

WIC supplemental food packages are specifically chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, hot or cold cereals high in iron, fruit juices and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables high in vitamin c, whole grain bread, rice, or tortillas dried or canned beans or peas and peanut butter. Although the WIC program recommends and promotes breastfeeding, infants receive supplemental iron fortified formula when needed and infant cereal and baby food at the appropriate age.

Participants are issued vouchers to buy theses food and authorized local retail stores by improving the diets of low income women infants and children; the WIC program improves the health status of a vulnerable population during a critical growth period.

WIC is administered in Pemiscot County by the Pemiscot County Health Center located at 810 East Reed Street Hayti, Mo. 63851 Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and The Steele Community Center at 115 S Walnut St, Steele, MO 63877 Every 4th Tuesday from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Persons interested in applying or in need of more information should contact the Pemiscot County Health Center at 573-359-1656

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.