Lewis County Health Department WIC Contract

The Lewis County Health Department would like to announce that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for fiscal year 2021 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Under the terms of the contract, Lewis County will be able to serve 273 clients per month for 2020/2021.

WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility. The primary services provided are health screening, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and referrals to health care. Nutritious supplemental of food is provided at no cost to participants. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be determined by a health professional to be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.

WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100 percent fruit juices, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breast-feeding support, baby foods and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental iron fortified formula. WIC participants obtain their foods by redeeming foods via a EWIC card for specific items at local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in Lewis County at the Lewis County Health Department. Persons interested in applying or who are in need of more information should contact the Lewis Co Health Department at 573-767-5312. WIC clinic are offered 4-days out of a month at the Health Department. All applicants are required to call and schedule an appointment.

Breast pumps are also available at the health department for our WIC client's use. For more information on how to sign up for WIC and our clinic hours, call the Lewiis County Health Department in Monticello at 573-767-5312.