Arizona now has enough funding to keep a federal program for low-income mothers and babies running in the state through mid-November if the government shutdown continues that long.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, helps low-income expectant mothers and mothers with young children cover the costs of baby formula, milk, and fresh produce. It also provides breastfeeding support and nutrition education programs. WIC has more than 150,000 participants in Arizona.
The federal government shutdown took effect before WIC got its annual appropriation and funding for WIC in Arizona had been in danger of running out on Oct. 31.
But Celia Nabor, assistant director for prevention services with the Arizona Department of Health Services, said the state on Oct. 16 received a payment from the Trump administration that will cover assistance for Arizona WIC families through mid-November and salaries for more than 550 WIC staffers in the state through the end of November.
“Those dates are continuing to evolve in a positive direction as we get additional contingency funds from USDA,” Nabor said.
The White House earlier this month said it would allocate about $300 million in tariff revenue to keep WIC running nationwide, at least through the end of October.
Nabor said it costs about $415,000 per day to operate the WIC program in Arizona.
Some county boards of supervisors in Arizona have been making backup plans to temporarily fund WIC in their communities if there is any lapse in federal payments during the shutdown.
Supervisors in Coconino, Pinal and Yuma Counties last week approved plans to temporarily fund WIC. The Gila County Board of Supervisors is set to consider a similar plan on Tuesday.
“I have kept all health officers informed of what other counties are considering, but I have not asked for boards of supervisors to give us money,” Nabor said. “That is a very local decision. I know that some [counties] just aren't in a financial position to make that investment, which is not a reflection on the importance they place on the program itself. It is really just based on the individual financial situations that our counties are in.”
Nabor stressed that WIC clinics in the state remain open for now. WIC participants can check for updates on the Arizona Department of Health Services website.
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