Denton County’s Women, Infants and Children program has been selected for a two-year national initiative to strengthen health screening and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women.
The county’s Oct. 27 announcement identifies Denton County WIC as one of nine participating agencies nationwide. Its focus will be psychosocial screening and referrals to appropriate care.
The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration and led by the WIC Maternal Health Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Participating agencies will receive funding, training and technical assistance as they test approaches to improving maternal health. The county announcement does not specify an award amount or when screening will begin at individual clinics.
Connecting mothers with care
Denton County’s component will address mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth. The broader initiative also seeks to improve recognition of warning signs associated with severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality.
Alex Reed-Harbour, the county’s community health division manager, said the effort is intended to help expecting and new mothers connect with appropriate services.
The WIC Maternal Health Center brings together partners with expertise in WIC, research and community engagement. Findings from participating agencies will help inform maternal-health efforts across the country.
WIC services near Flower Mound
Families in Flower Mound and Highland Village can contact the Lewisville WIC office at 190 N. Valley Parkway.
The county directory lists regular hours as Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and a phone number of 940-349-2930. Families should call about appointments and current services.
WIC serves eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children younger than 5. Existing services include nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and supplemental food benefits.
Residents can find eligibility and application information on Denton County’s WIC page.
