After noticing a drop in participation in the Butler County Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Food Program, the staff is changing a system that's been in place for more than 20 years.

Starting today, if a WIC participant misses a check pickup appointment, she can visit the office at 323 Sunset Drive any Friday, without an appointment, to pick up her checks. In the past, clients who missed checks had to reschedule appointments.

Linda Griel, nutritionist, market leader and program manager for Butler County WIC, said for July, the Butler office and the nine satellite WIC offices in the county issued checks to 2,410 individuals, but there are more people who could receive WIC benefits.

The WIC program provides healthy food, nutrition counseling and breast-feeding support to expectant mothers, breast-feeding and postpartum women and infants and children younger than 5. Participation is based on income and nutritional risk.

“WIC has been very accommodating with satellite locations, having extended evening and weekend hours and offering preapplication online at pawic.com,” said Linda Mitchell, director of communications for Adagio Health which administers Pennsylvania's WIC services in five counties, including Butler.

“We always have to retool to meet the county's needs,” said Karen Virostek, director of nutrition services for Adagio Health. “We're not seeing population growth.”

One factor limiting participation is people don't know that they can be employed and still be eligible for WIC.

“We are for the working family, too,” said Griel.

Virostek said WIC now serves more people living as extended families.

Connie Feeney, nutrition assistant for Butler County WIC, confirmed that on the day a family is approved for WIC, they leave the office with checks to use immediately.

Then, every three months, the participant can receive checks for specific types and brands of food. Each check is valid for a particular month and a participant cannot cash the check and receive money in return.

“A participant could receive milk, eggs, protein-rich beans or peanut butter, cereal and other whole grain products, juice and a voucher for fruits and vegetables,” said Griel.

“Babies will receive the approved WIC formula if they are not breast fed, and at six months the WIC program adds baby cereal and baby fruits and vegetables. A breast-fed baby also will receive pureed baby meats,” said Griel.

Virostek said a big component of WIC is providing referrals for medical, developmental and economic issues. WIC can be an entry point to the social services system.

“Sometimes the staff has identified a health issue and the care saved the child's life,” said Virostek.

Referrals for prenatal care are included. Adagio Health, located in the same building as the WIC office, often confirms a pregnancy to verify a woman's eligibility for WIC.

“We work well with WIC,” said Rita Watterson, office manager for Adagio Health. “We do things jointly.”

While receiving WIC benefits, participants must visit the office four times a year.

“We do a screening and check their proof of income, phone and address,” said Feeney. “We check shot records for children under age 2. For both the mother and the children, their heights, weights, blood iron levels and eating are reviewed.”

During at least two of the visits the participants also see the nutritionist.

“When participants have check appointments, they must complete an online WIC.NET nutrition education module at the office or at home,” said Feeney.

WIC's Butler County staff is publicizing WIC services through medical offices, churches, businesses, hair salons and community organizations.

“Every $1 spent on the WIC program saves about $3 in health care costs,” said Virostek.

WIC helps families and the local economy. WIC checks yield $161,000 in spending to Butler County vendors each month, according to Mitchell.

“The thing that impresses me most is the food,” said Mitchell. “These are foods that were picked for giving the kids their best start and chance of making the most of their education. We hope they will do better in school, and who doesn't want smarter kids?”

<B>Main site</B>Adagio Health/WIC, 323 Sunset Drive, Suite 1, Butler<B>Satellite sites</B>ChicoraCranberryEau ClaireEvans CityMars ParkerSaxonburgSlippery RockZelienopleFor more information and appointments, call 866-942-2778.