Programs promote healthy lifestyles through nutrition (press release)

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The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) are being highlighted this month. Both programs, offered in Columbus through the East Central District Health Department and Central Nebraska Community Services, are meant to promote healthy lifestyles through proper diet and nutrition.

Both programs target a specific audience - namely, pregnant women, infants, children and people older than 60. The programs are funded through the USDA.

Roberta Miksch, WIC coordinator at the health department, said her program is for women who are pregnant, have an infant up to six months old or are breast feeding and have an infant up to 12 months old, and infants and children up to 5 years. Anyone on Medicaid also automatically qualifies for the program. To use the program's services, nutritional and income guidelines must be met.

For example, a person who has nutritional risks, such as being over or under weight or an inadequate diet, and makes $17,224 per year or less would qualify for the program.

After meeting the guidelines, a person meets with a dietitian, who analyzes their diets and advises them on proper nutrition, and also meets with a nurse to discuss health issues.

Also, depending on the individual, they can receive tests measuring their hemoglobin levels and lead levels.

People in the program are given checks to purchase supplemental food at participating grocers. Typically, the food provided includes milk, cheese, juice, eggs, dry beans and cereal, all foods that Miksch said provide good nutrition and are not consumed enough by clients.

Miksch said WIC is an important program because of the people it helps.

"First of all, financially it is hard for a lot of people ... let's take a teenage girl who graduated from high school and is pregnant and is going to college. She might just want help until she gets her feet back on the ground. There are many people who only want (help) for a limited time," Miksch said.

In the four-county region covered by the East Central District Health Department - Platte, Colfax, Boone and Nance - WIC serves nearly 1,600 women, infants and children each month. More than one-third of all Nebraska babies benefited from it. WIC has centers located in Columbus, Schuyler, Fullerton, St. Edward and Albion. There are interpreters available to help non-English speaking members of the community, Miksch said.

CSFP is similar to WIC as it is an income-based program that offers nutritional information and food to clients, but the program also serves seniors.

"CSFP provides food, nutritional education and related services to senior citizens 60 and over who are at or below 130 percent of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. It also serves pregnant and postpartum women and children up to 6 who are at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines," said Bill Cattau, CSFP specialist at Central Nebraska Community Services.

An eldery person earning $12,441 per year would meet income-eligible guidelines.

Because it extends its services to seniors, Cattau said CSFP is an important program.

"Some of these seniors are getting $500, $600 per month, and that's it. They have to pay rent and for medications and then for their food," Cattau said.

Through the program, those who meet the guidelines are able to come to the CNCS office and pick up packages of food prepared for them. The food includes items such as canned fruits and vegetables, powdered milk and cereals.

Cattau said that last month that within the service area that includes the counties of Platte, Colfax, Boone, Nance and Polk, that 950 people were served through CSFP, with 794 of them seniors. Across the state, CSFP serves 12,960 seniors and 1,363 women and children each month. CSFP distributes surplus food at 69 sites serving all 93 counties in Nebraska.

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