Starting today, Northern Kentucky families can get primary medical care and services from the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition supplement program in one visit, with the opening of a WIC office at HealthPoint Family Care in Covington.
The site, located at 1401 Madison Ave., will provide nutritious foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support for income eligible and nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to 5 years old.
All WIC services, including issuing of new benefits cards, re-loading of cards, enrollment and follow-up visits, will be provided at the HealthPoint site, which will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. WIC services will continue to be offered at the Health Department’s four county health centers, located in Covington, Florence, Newport and Williamstown.
“Many of the families enrolled in the WIC program are already receiving their medical care at HealthPoint,” said Dr. Lynne M. Saddler, District Director of Health. “Proper nutrition is just one piece of health for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children. By providing WIC along with routine medical services such as well-child visits and immunizations, we can help families improve their overall health in just one stop.”
More than 7,000 people in Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties participate in WIC; and benefits are accepted at 45 local stores. In a typical year, approximately $4 million of WIC benefits are redeemed in Northern Kentucky stores.
Dr. Saddler
“While many of our clients already utilize WIC services, we also know that some who are eligible are not currently taking advantage of the program,” said Chris Goddard, CEO of HealthPoint. “This new partnership with the Health Department can help ensure that more families who could benefit from the short-term assistance that WIC provides are able to do so.”
WIC is designed to influence lifetime nutrition and health behavior in low-income women who are pregnant or gave birth and children younger than 5 who need nutritional help. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC offers nutrition education and services; breastfeeding promotion and education; monthly food prescription of nutritious foods utilizing an electronic benefits card; and access to other maternal, prenatal and pediatric health-care services.
To be eligible for WIC, families must:
- Be a resident of Kentucky
- Have a household income at or below 185 percent of the poverty level (currently $21,978 for individuals and $44,955 for a family of four) OR
- Have a medical card, receive Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) benefits or food stamps, or have a pregnant woman or infant in the family who receives Medicaid or K-TAP
Families who meet eligibility requirements will then be evaluated by a health care provider or WIC staff person to determine nutritional risk before being enrolled in WIC.
For more information on WIC in Northern Kentucky, please visit http://www.nkyhealth.org/Services/WIC.aspx. To schedule an appointment for WIC services at the new HealthPoint location, please call 859.655.6100.
Northern Kentucky Health Department
