Joplin city WIC program announces 2017 contract

(From the City of Joplin)

Joplin City WIC has announced that a contract to continue to provide Women, Infants and Children (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, Joplin City WIC will be able to serve 3,312 persons eligible for WIC every month. . In 2016, the Joplin WIC contract allowed service to 3,504 persons eligible for the program.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th 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% of the poverty level http://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/eligibility_income.php 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 and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products and hot or cold cereals, 100% 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.

Joplin City WIC has also received the distinction of being a Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic for a sixth year. There are four International Board Certified Lactation Consultants on staff, and provide a meeting location for Chi Chi Mama’s a local community Breastfeeding support group. The group meets the first Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. For more information, residents may call the WIC office at 417-623-1928 or visit us on Facebook.

WIC is administered in Jasper County by Joplin City WIC located at 321 E 4th Street in Joplin and hours of operation are 8-5 Mon-Fri. Persons interested in applying or who are in need of more information should contact Joplin City WIC at 417-623-1928or visit our web site by clicking the link below. WIC clinics are also offered at Jasper County Health Department 105 N. Lincoln by appointment 8:30-4:30 on first three Thursday/Fridays of the month. Please call to confirm dates.

Joyce Doty, RDN, LD, IBCLC serves as the Joplin City WIC Coordinator within the Joplin Health Department.

Additional Info on Joplin City WIC program...