JACKSON, Miss.–The supplemental nutrition program for pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants and children under five years of age, known as WIC, is still functioning in the state for now.
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced the program many women and children depend on will remain open through the month of October even without congressional action, but if the shutdown somehow goes longer it’s up in the air.
“We will continue to monitor, assess and make plans for every contingency as we know that no new federal funding can be used until Congress acts to appropriate fiscal year 2014 funds,” said State Health Official Dr. Mary Currier. “Please know that we are working every way possible to continue our services to moms and babies in Mississippi, and to protect the jobs of our dedicated employees.”
The MSDH has been given permission to use available funds from the end of last fiscal year to keep the program open for 94,000 clients in the state for now.
The Mississippi Program operates and maintains 96 distribution sites serving clients statewide
