A program geared to all aspects of a mother and young child’s life will start weekly appointments in Fort Scott, next Wednesday.
The Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) federal program is for low-income pregnant women and follow up care, and also for children five years and under who are at nutritional risk.
The program will start on October 5 by appointment in Fort Scott at the Southeast Kansas Multi County Health Department, 6th and Lowman Street.
- Supplemental nutritious foods. Examples of WIC foods include milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, juice, fish, whole grains, cereal, peanut butter, beans (dried or canned), fresh fruits and vegetables, infant formula and baby food.
- Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics.
- screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services.
“WIC has been available to the county for years now by the Crawford County Health Department, but will be now located in one location rather multiple locations,” said Becky Johnson
Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer at the SEK Multi-County Health Department. “Since the Bourbon County Health Department moved to a much larger building, we have been working to acquire other services here at our new location.”
“Previously WIC was at Buck Run Community Center, Mercy Hospital and for the last couple of years it has been at our new location about three days a month,” she said.” We are excited to have it housed in one location and are very glad to be able to provide this program to our residents.”
Breastfeeding Help
“We also will be starting training for a new service next month which is the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program through WIC,” she said. ”
“Breastfeeding Peer Counselors (BFPC) are women in the community with personal breastfeeding experience similar to WIC participants including: age; language; similar ethnic/cultural background; current or previous WIC participation; and an enthusiasm for breastfeeding. Peer Counselors provide education and support for WIC mothers. Programs vary but in general peer counselors are available to WIC clients both inside and outside usual clinic hours and the WIC clinic environment,” according to https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1433/Breastfeeding-Peer-Counselor-Program
“Our Breast Feeding Peer Counselor, Holly Fritter, has been working for us since 2019 as the Home Visitor for Bourbon County,” Johnson said. “Home visiting for families with young children is a longstanding strategy offering information, guidance, risk assessment, and parenting support interventions at home.”
“The typical ‘home visiting program’ is designed to improve some combination of pregnancy outcomes, parenting skills, and early childhood health and development,” Johnson said. “Holly works out of our Fort Scott office, but will also cover Allen, Anderson and Woodson Counties for the BFPC Program. These programs are an asset to our counties, as it is free to the clients, and provides much needed support and guidance to mothers and families. ”