WIC mobile clinic launching on Standing Rock

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A new mobile clinic will help Standing Rock Sioux Tribe officials reach women and children through a federal nutrition program.

Brenda Finn, tribal director of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and other staff members christened the “WIC Mobile” at an open house earlier this month, according to The Bismarck Tribune.

The mobile unit will be staffed by two people – a certifier to determine whether people are eligible for WIC’s nutrition assistance vouchers and a clerk to issue WIC vouchers that participants can use to buy food and formula from one of the Dakotas reservation’s 11 approved vendors.

There are between 850 and 900 WIC participants on the reservation each month.

Starting Monday, the WIC Mobile will travel to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation districts. Students at United Tribes Technical College on the program also will be served by the mobile unit once a month starting in the fall.

Finn said it is the first tribal owned mobile unit on Standing Rock. It was paid for with U.S. Department of Agriculture funds.

To use the mobile unit, participants must meet WIC’s low-income and age standards. Finn said once those standards are met, it will be up to the certifier to determine what risk factors people have when they come, whether it be malnutrition or a high-risk pregnancy.

Participants’ height and weight will be recorded on site and their blood will be taken for testing. With the mobile unit, they can be certified for the program that same day.

Finn said the main purpose of the WIC Mobile is to serve participants better. She said it makes it easier for people who are disabled or don’t have access to a vehicle because WIC staff can come to them.

WIC operates out of the district building where there are often multiple activities going on. Finn said the mobile unit increases confidentiality.

Finn also said if another propane shortage like the one faced by the tribe this past winter were to arise, heating the mobile unit would be easier and it would be warmer than the district building.

The mobile unit will have a set schedule for visiting each of the districts. WIC is advertising via radio to let people know when it is coming to their area.

Finn said the unit will be parked in the district building parking lots for the time being so people know where to find it.

Little Eagle will be the unit’s first stop, followed by McLaughlin on Tuesday, Wakpala on Wednesday and Cannon Ball on Thursday. Finn said the staff plans to take the vehicle out at least three times a week.

“It will definitely be used,” she said.

Finn said the new unit has been a source of pride and excitement for the tribe. It allows her staff to get out among the people.

“This is what grassroots is all about,” she said.

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com