October 17, 2017
Contact: Doug Bolnick, Public Information Officer, 636-949-7408
St. Charles County, Missouri - The Department of Public Health extended its contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to continue operating the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in St. Charles County through 2018. The WIC program provides specific supplemental foods and nutrition education at no cost to participating families.
By participating, pregnant or breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5, receive nutritious foods that are designed to maintain overall health and aid in development. These food options are specifically chosen to be ones that are high in protein, iron, calcium, vitamins and other nutrients proven to enhance the well-being of women and their children. Studies confirm that women who participate in WIC have fewer low birth-weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see a doctor earlier in their pregnancy and eat healthier.
To qualify, St. Charles County WIC participants must meet income guidelines, be a Missouri resident and be at “nutritional risk” as determined by a health professional. The current income eligibility guidelines are based on gross household income and may be viewed online at http://www.sccmo.org/577/Income-Guidelines.
Funded and administered at the federal level through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and managed at the state level by Missouri’s Bureau of Nutrition Services and WIC, St. Charles County’s program operates through the Department of Public Health. Services are provided at the WIC offices, located at 1650 Boones Lick Road in St. Charles, by scheduled appointment, from 8:30 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Persons interested in applying for WIC services in St. Charles County should call 636-949-7402 or visit http://www.sccmo.org/WIC to learn more about the program.
Because doctors have determined it to be the ideal food source for babies, St. Charles County’s WIC program encourages and provides support for breastfeeding families. To further this, the Department of Public Health and all County buildings are established as breastfeeding friendly sites, with specific lactation areas open to employees and guests.
In accordance with federal law and USDA policy, the St. Charles County Department of Public Health is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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