Public Notice- WIC Supplemental Nutrition Contract- Fy 2023

Health Center Receives WIC Contract

The Cooper County Public Health Center announced that a contract to continue to provide Women, Infants & Children services for federal fiscal year 2023 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.  Under the terms of the contract, the Cooper County Public Health Center will be able to serve 408 persons eligible for WIC every month.

The WIC program 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 and 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 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 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 Cooper County by the Cooper County Public Health Center.  Persons interested in applying or who are in need of more information should contact the Cooper County Public Health Center at 660-882-2626.  WIC clinics are offered at the health center at 17040 Klinton Drive, Boonville.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.