USDA reps visit Fairmont, West Virginia, based Mon. County WIC office

Haught explained that the offices offer nutrition information to pregnant and post-partum women, as well as education services for children under the age of 5.

“We offer breastfeeding counseling for our participants and try to get them connected to community resources if they need those, and we supply a monthly supplemental food package if they need it,” Haught said. “The importance is making sure that women and children are nourished and have adequate nutrition. The population we see is typically iron deficient, and that’s one of the areas we try to target.”

Between the six counties, Haught said that the WIC offices serve roughly 4,900 people every month.

Thursday, representatives from the USDA, including USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long, toured the Fairmont-based WIC office, speaking with Haught and others about their ongoing efforts.

Long said that, in addition to the WIC office, she and her colleagues toured a West Virginia-based school meals program and a community farmer’s market program, as well, all in the effort to see how the USDA’s national nutrition programs support rural communities.

“Folks have done an incredible job of taking advantage of these national federal resources and tailoring them in a way that meets local needs,” Long said. “The WIC program here has utilized part of the $390 million investment that the administration has made to the WIC program to start an (effort) where WIC participants can be communicate about their appointments not only via phone, but via text and on the website. ...

“It’s things like that where folks are making those decisions to better serve those communities that’s really great to see.”

Long said it’s a critical moment to visit these locations, as next year’s federal budget is being planned, stressing that WIC very much needs all the support it can get.

“This is a program with a demonstrated research base of being effective, and for 25 years, there has been a bipartisan commitment for Congress to fund it so that every eligible person who walks through the door can be supported,” Long said. “We’re in a time where we’ve seen participation increasing. ... Here in West Virginia, participation has gone up by 11%. Congress really needs to provide that additional funding through the budget process in order for this program to keep serving those folks and avoid things like establishing waiting lists.”

Haught said she was excited to host Long and her colleagues at the Fairmont office, noting that any time she has the opportunity, she wants to show people the benefit and the need of programs like WIC.

“It’s exciting that we get to showcase our office and staff and the wonderful job they do just to let them know how important this program is to the community,” Haught said.

Haught encouraged expecting or new mothers in need to reach out to the Mon County Health Department’s WIC office in their area so they can get the help for which they’re looking.

“Don’t be ashamed or feel like you’re taking away benefits from somebody else,” Haught said. “We get funded based off of caseload, so the funding is there to provide. If you are on Medicaid, you’ll automatically qualify for us. If not, it’s based on income, and you can go to the West Virginia WIC website to check the guidelines. It’s a great service, and we take care of so many needs by you just coming here.”