In September, it was announced that the local office of WIC - Women, Infants and Children - was moving from downtown Clarksburg to Bridgeport's Main Street Corridor. Later that month, the organization took occupancy in the offices formerly utilized by Enliven Wellness and thereafter opened its doors to clients. Wednesday afternoon, an official ribbon cutting and grand opening was held at the new WIC office. Officials said the move was a good one and they are happy to be part of Bridgeport's downtown community. See photos from today's ribbon cutting at the gallery link below and read the Sept. 9, 2018 story about the anticipated move below: 

 

This article originally ran Sept. 9 on Connect-Bridgeport:

Main Street space left vacant when Enliven Wellness relocated to White Oaks is getting a new tenant. Moving from Clarksburg’s Colonial Village, the local office of WIC – Women, Infants and Children’s – Program is moving in later this month. Doors are expected to be opened to the public Sept. 24.

 

“We looked at a number of different options,” said Jason Nguyen, WIC dietitian. “We had some history in Bridgeport several years ago – about three or four blocks away - so we’re turning to that same area. Bridgeport seems like an up-and-coming area of Harrison County as opposed to the area where we have been located. There are plans to tear that building down.”

 

Though WIC serves predominantly low-income individuals, the majority of which are women – serving them with everything from nutritional services and breastfeeding support to formula, infant foods and immunizations – WIC plays a larger role than many know, Nguyen said.

 

 

“We do see a number of dads who are guardians or relatives and see grandparents, as well,” he said. “We also serve children in foster placement.”

 

WIC was established in 1972 as a pilot project following a national survey that found anemia and inadequate growth to be common among American children in low-income families. In 1974, WIC was established as a discretionary program, available throughout the United States. WIC is primarily funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. It is administered by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services.

WIC is a federally funded discretionary program. It provides services to as many eligible individuals as funding allows. WIC focuses on the link between good nutrition and good health. In West Virginia, eight local contract agencies – including those in Fairmont and Morgantown - provide direct participant services.

The goal of the organization, Nguyen said, is to identify and correct nutritional deficiencies which, if left untreated, could lead to poor quality of life.

 

“We focus on healthy eating habits and lifestyle and also make referrals to other health providers or services in area,” he said.

 

Free breastfeeding classes are provided to pregnant clients. The organization also supplies breastfeeding equipment, baby formula and baby food to qualifying recipients. As children grow, their nutritional needs are met.

 

“We have basic food package which kind of covers staple foods, but healthy ones,” Nguyen said.

 

For instance, children of age 2 and older receive low-fat milk and certain cereals are covered.

 

“The healthy foods we offer hopefully encourage them to make healthy choices further down the line, reducing childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other conditions,” Nguyen said.

 

He said coming in October, additional foods will be approved through the system.

 

Those meeting financial income criteria are serviced, as well as those who qualify for Medicaid and any children placed in the foster care system.

 

It is likely that many individuals and families qualify for WIC assistance and do not take advantage of it, Nguyen said. For a household of two – and that includes a yet-to-be-born baby – annual income criteria is $30,451.

 

“That’s a decent starting salary for a single pregnant mom,” Nguyen said. “Financial guidelines are based on household size so the more people in the home, it goes up.”

 

The income guidelines are reviewed and adjusted annually. As to why more individuals don’t seek WIC assistance, he has a theory.

“I think it’s sometimes for reasons of pride or embarrassment or people think that’s for someone else and that they can get by without it,” he said. “They think someone else needs it more and that they are helping others by not coming.”

 

That is certainly not the case, Nguyen said.

 

“Our case load and our funding is based on the number of people we see, so the more people that come to us, the more money that is available to help them out,” he said.

 

A debit card, combined with use of the WIC app, is utilized for spending through the program. In Morgantown WIC has merged its services with the local Farmers Market with qualifying clients receiving seasonal vouchers to purchase food through the market. Personnel at some WIC offices work in more than one location, rotating between offices.

 

Nguyen, who has been with WIC for 13 years, said he finds his work rewarding.

 

“Coming out of college, my interest was in the pediatric population and it’s been really neat to see them grow and try out new foods,” he said. “I see kids grow up and sometimes come back into the office with a new, younger sibling, and I get to follow up and catch up with them.”