BURWELL, Neb.— Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services will be available to families through Loup Basin Public Health Department (LBPHD), who will start offering the federally funded nutrition program in July.
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to healthcare and community resources for eligible pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children up to age 5.
The addition expands services already available through LBPHD’s main office in Burwell and satellite clinics in Broken Bow, Ord, St. Paul, and Loup City.
WIC services will be offered weekly on Tuesday and Friday mornings in Burwell, during monthly clinics in Broken Bow and St. Paul, and every other month clinics in Ord and Loup City. Appointment availability and clinic dates will vary by location.
Tammy Pinckney, WIC coordinator for LBPHD, said the program is designed to support healthy development from pregnancy through early childhood.
“We’re really looking to get that folic acid early on in the pregnancy, and we’re looking for making sure kids have the iron and protein and all the macronutrients they need to grow properly for body health as well as brain health,” Pinckney said.
Those that qualify for Medicaid or SNAP automatically qualify for WIC services. In addition to food assistance, the program offers nutrition counseling and referrals to other services when needed.
Pinckney said one of the program’s goals is to continue to see numbers grow, with the program helping a larger, wider spectrum.
“We would like to see that our referrals can also hit that population that do just need a little bit of help to get out of sticky situations or to grow in their lives,” said Pinckney.
Loup Basin Executive Director Amanda Jeffres said in a press release that adding WIC is a natural extension of services the department already provides throughout the district, including immunizations, lactation support, and limited dental services.
The program is also available to grandparents caring for children under age 5 and foster parents who meet eligibility requirements.
Families interested in learning more about WIC eligibility or scheduling an appointment can contact Loup Basin Public Health Department at 308-346-5795 or visit the department’s website for additional information.
Listen to our full conversation with Tammy Pinckney here:
