By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday approved the temporary use of local health department funds to keep the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program operating as federal funding remains delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Reno County WIC Coordinator Heather Peterson, RDN, LD told commissioners that while the federal fiscal year began Oct. 1, the federal government has yet to release its planned allocations for the program.
“Each state is allowed to continue offering food benefits for families until their federal food dollars are depleted,” Peterson said. “For Kansas, the state agency anticipates having funds to last until Oct. 31, but they’re hopeful that will extend into part of November.”
Peterson said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) provided Reno County with enough money to cover about eight days of staff costs, which would expire this week. Without local support, the county’s WIC office could be forced to halt services before federal dollars resume.
Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the Reno County Health Department to use its Public Health Fund 003 to cover staffing expenses until the federal government restores funding or the state’s WIC food allocation runs out.
County Commissioner Randy Parks made the motion to approve the measure, sharing a personal reflection on the program’s importance.
“We started a family pretty young,” Parks said. “WIC was a help to us at one time as well.”
Peterson emphasized the program’s long-standing impact on community health and the local economy. Reno County WIC serves more than 1,400 participants each month, providing nutritional support, education and health screenings for women, infants and children up to age 5. She said the program has helped identify and treat cases of severe anemia in children and connects families with local resources.
“WIC provides healthy foods for growing families and helps ensure children are developing properly,” Peterson said. “Each year, about $1 million in WIC benefits are used at six local vendors here in Reno County.”
Health Department Director Karla Nichols confirmed the department’s fund has adequate resources and said using it would not place an additional burden on taxpayers.
The motion passed 5–0, with Commissioners Parks, Vincent, Winger, Hirst and Chairman Bogner all voting in favor.