September 30, 2022

News Release: Temporary benefit increase extended for Missouri WIC participants

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri WIC announces the extension of the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) starting Oct. 1, 2022. The new amounts will be $25 per month for child participants, $44 per month for pregnant and postpartum participants and $49 per month for breastfeeding participants. Previous CVB values range from $9 – $11. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

Eligible participants need to contact their WIC local agency starting Sept. 30 to schedule an appointment to load the additional benefits on their eWIC card before redeeming any October benefits. Participants who redeem any October benefits before receiving the increase will not receive the increase until November.

Missouri WIC provides additional healthy fruits and vegetables for up to 60,000 women and children per month. WIC families have the opportunity to shop for nutritious foods at approximately 600 authorized WIC retailers throughout Missouri and can receive services at any of the 116 local agencies. WIC serves financially eligible women, infants and children under the age of five. Fathers, stepparents, foster parents, grandparents and guardians are also encouraged to apply for WIC benefits for any children in the household under the age of five.

Missouri WIC provides quality nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods and referrals to health services. It is also one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country.

Missourians interested in learning about the benefits of WIC may visit wic.mo.gov or call TEL-LINK at 1-800-835-5465 to find the WIC local agency closest to them.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Nondiscrimination and complaint information can be found on our website at wic.mo.gov.

WIC is funded by the USDA and is administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

September 30, 2022

News Release: Missouri’s leading he3alth official appointed to two national policy committees

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Paula Nickelson, acting director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), has been appointed as Vice Chair of the Performance Improvement and Accreditation Policy Committee for ASTHO, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Additionally, Nickelson has been appointed to ASTHO’s Preparedness Policy Committee. Both terms are effective through August of 2023.

“I am looking forward to serving in these roles and advocating for the public health system at the national level,” said Nickelson. “Preparedness and performance improvement are both areas in which our state and national public health systems have great opportunities to make significant progress as we pursue the collective goal of protecting and promoting health across the nation.”

This month, DHSS and the Missouri Hospital Association have been observing National Preparedness Month, encouraging Missourians to be prepared for any type of disaster. Additionally, this year marks 20 years of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement, which has been a critical source of funding for health departments to build and strengthen their abilities to effectively respond to a range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. Preparedness activities funded by the PHEP cooperative agreement specifically target the development of emergency-ready public health departments that are flexible and adaptable.

The Performance Improvement and Accreditation Policy Committee provides leadership and recommendations in the areas of policy, practice, and research to strengthen the ability of ASTHO members and partners to deliver quality public health services and improve health outcomes. The committee provides strategic direction in performance management, quality improvement, accreditation, data to action, financing, return on investment, and workforce research.

The Public Health Preparedness Policy Committee provides a critical link with and represents ASTHO’s best interests to senior leadership of key federal agencies and programs in the preparedness, response, recovery, and community resilience space. The Committee analyzes and provides insightful information to guide the formulation of national policy and strategy, with specific focus on all-hazards public health infrastructure needs, strengthening state and territorial public health readiness capacity and capabilities, and in fulfilling the requirements of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and the National Health Security Strategy, among other issues.

ASTHO is a national non-profit organization representing public health agencies in the United States, the U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and the over 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, formulate and influence sound public health policy and ensure excellence in state based public health practice. The Board of the ASTHO primary function is to track, evaluate and advise members on the impact and formation of public or private health policy which may affect them and to provide, and them with guidance and technical assistance on improving the nation’s health.