Partnership Provides Convenient Services Specifically for Area Head Start Parents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2008
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4297 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Partnership Provides Convenient Services Specifically for Area Head Start Parents
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Partners with Head Start to Provide Special WIC Clinics for Area Parents with Children Currently Participating in Head Start Programs
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has partnered with Head Start to provide additional access to the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program specifically for area Head Start parents. Special clinic hours will available Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 8:00am – 9:30am and 3:30pm – 7:00pm. Weekend hours will also be available Saturday, March 1, 2008 from 9:00am – 1:00pm. All clinics will be held at CUPHD at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Participating Head Start parents are encouraged to call for appointments for FREE health screenings for their children at 217-531-4305.
“CUPHD and Head Start recognize that many local families are struggling with the burden of increased utility costs and other monthly bills and must work long hours to make ends meet”, said Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health at CUPHD. “These special WIC clinic hours are a joint effort in an attempt to accommodate working parents with program eligible children. Many families are unaware that they may qualify for WIC assistance and we encourage them to make an appointment to determine their degree of eligibility.”
WIC provides “food instruments” for nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge. WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. Nutritional risk is determined by a certifying health professional and this health screening is free to program applicants.
To be eligible on the basis of income, family income must fall at or below 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (currently $38,203 for a family of four). A child that is participating in the State of Illinois Medicaid program (ALLKIDS) automatically meets the income eligibility requirement.
For more information on Women, Infants & Children (WIC) or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 531-4305 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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