The Clay County Public Health Center announces a contract continuance to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2024 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

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 healthy, supplemental food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screening and referrals to health care.

To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and 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, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breastfeeding 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 food by using their eWIC cards for specific items at participating 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 Clay County by the Clay County Public Health Center. Persons interested in applying or who need more information should contact the Clay County Public Health Center at 816-595-4358. The Clay County WIC office is located in Clay County Public Health Center at 800 Haines Drive in Liberty, Missouri. Appointments are provided Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WIC extension clinics are also held monthly at four locations:

North Kansas City School District Early Education Center, 6479 N. Prospect Ave, Gladstone, MO 64119 (first Tuesday of the month, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Northland YMCA Head Start, 3100 NE 83rd Street, Suite 1501-A, Kansas City, MO 64119 (second Monday of the month, 1:00 – 5:30 p.m.)

Excelsior Springs School District Early Childhood Center, 500 N Jesse James Road, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024 (second Friday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Bethel United Church of Christ, 4900 NE Parvin Road, Kansas City, MO 64117 (third Tuesday of the month, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story