|
|
|
Related Stories
CANTON —
The money to help feed thousands of Stark County women, infants and children will be cut much more than local health officials expected come October, and the four local health departments are considering employee layoffs and closing clinics to trim expenses.
Jim Adams, health commissioner for the Canton City Health Department which distributes the funding for the Women, Infants & Children programs in Stark County, said he had prepared for about a 10 percent cut to the county’s overall WIC funding. But recently learned that the state plans an 18 percent reduction, which is a loss of $258,557, starting Oct. 1.
Each of the local health departments will share in the hit, Adams said, with reductions ranging from 14 to 25 percent. The cuts could mean a longer wait for clients between appointments, and some clients may have to drive farther to get WIC services.
WIC provides nutritional foods as well as nutrition and breast feeding education and referrals to prenatal and pediatric health care services for 7,575 Stark County clients, including pregnant and breast-feeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to 5 years old who are at risk due to inadequate nutrition.
Adams said Canton, which serves 2,807 clients, will not replace a clerk who left and is considering a layoff as well as reducing the hours of some part-time employees, but declined to provide specifics until the employees were notified.
Stark County Health Commissioner Kirk Norris said the department, which will lose 25 percent or $107,353 of its WIC funding, plans to close its satellite WIC clinics in Louisville and Navarre and will not hire a new dietitian to replace an employee who will retire in October.
He said those changes still leave the program, which serves 3,012 clients, with a $37,000 shortfall. He is meeting with staff to explore options, such as seeking grants to retain staff.
In Massillon, Health Commissioner Terri Argent said the department will not replace a dietitian who will resign next week. The department, which serves 911 clients, still would have a dietitian and a clerk to help clients, she said.
Adams said that Alliance employs a health professional and two clerks and likely would have to eliminate one of its clerical positions. Alliance Health Commissioner Randall Flint could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The money to help feed thousands of Stark County women, infants and children will be cut much more than local health officials expected come October, and the four local health departments are considering employee layoffs and closing clinics to trim expenses.
Jim Adams, health commissioner for the Canton City Health Department which distributes the funding for the Women, Infants & Children programs in Stark County, said he had prepared for about a 10 percent cut to the county’s overall WIC funding. But recently learned that the state plans an 18 percent reduction, which is a loss of $258,557, starting Oct. 1.
Each of the local health departments will share in the hit, Adams said, with reductions ranging from 14 to 25 percent. The cuts could mean a longer wait for clients between appointments, and some clients may have to drive farther to get WIC services.
WIC provides nutritional foods as well as nutrition and breast feeding education and referrals to prenatal and pediatric health care services for 7,575 Stark County clients, including pregnant and breast-feeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to 5 years old who are at risk due to inadequate nutrition.
Adams said Canton, which serves 2,807 clients, will not replace a clerk who left and is considering a layoff as well as reducing the hours of some part-time employees, but declined to provide specifics until the employees were notified.
Stark County Health Commissioner Kirk Norris said the department, which will lose 25 percent or $107,353 of its WIC funding, plans to close its satellite WIC clinics in Louisville and Navarre and will not hire a new dietitian to replace an employee who will retire in October.
He said those changes still leave the program, which serves 3,012 clients, with a $37,000 shortfall. He is meeting with staff to explore options, such as seeking grants to retain staff.
In Massillon, Health Commissioner Terri Argent said the department will not replace a dietitian who will resign next week. The department, which serves 911 clients, still would have a dietitian and a clerk to help clients, she said.
Adams said that Alliance employs a health professional and two clerks and likely would have to eliminate one of its clerical positions. Alliance Health Commissioner Randall Flint could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
