SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, MO - The Saint Louis County Department of Health has announced that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2007 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. Under the terms of the contract, the county will be able to serve 7,868 persons eligible for WIC every month.
Across the nation, the WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program serves nearly one out of every two infants born in the U.S., and their mothers. In Saint Louis County, the WIC program issued checks for 95,000 food packages last year.
WIC provides nutritious supplemental foods and individualized nutrition education and counseling for at-risk pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children to age five. WIC makes critical referrals to other health care and public assistance programs as needed. Breast-feeding education and support groups are open to all residents of Saint Louis County.
Who is eligible for WIC services? Guidelines are based on income and family size. For example, a family of three earning up to $30,710 or a family of eight earning up to $62,160 annually, would qualify. Pregnant women are counted as two family members. Medical or nutritional eligibility is determined by the WIC
WIC has five sites located throughout Saint Louis County. For more information about WIC, please call the Department of Health at 314-615-0685. |
