CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Editor's Note: The story has been updated to correct the source of the grant incorrectly attributed to Texas Department of State Health Services in a recent Corpus Christi City Council agenda.
This year the Nueces County - Corpus Christi Public Health District will receive over $1.2 million from the Texas Health and Human Services funding their Women, Infant and Children program, or WIC.
The district has been receiving this grant for over 20 years.
Not only is it able to help fund a multitude of services for new and expecting parents, but it also supports the grant-funded staff who make the WIC programs possible.
WIC is able to provide dozens of services to families who need it most. One of the most recognizable benefits would be the WIC EBT nutrition card that allows parents to purchase necessary groceries for their children at participating stores.
"In addition to the EBT card, the WIC program provides one-on-one nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support to those that need it by a breastfeeding counselor," Director of Public Health Fauzia Khan said.
That $1.2 million grant from the Texas Health and Human Services will allow these services to continue in the Coastal Bend.
Those nutrition and breastfeeding classes give parents a chance to meet with registered dieticians, nurses and even board-certified lactation consultants.
These are all things that Khan says are crucial in setting new parents up for success.
"The grant is extremely important to those who rely on the WIC program benefits and these are the pregnant moms, postpartum, breastfeeding moms, as well as children under five," she said.
Khan adds that without the grant, the health district couldn't support the over 4,700 participants they serve every month.
"From the moment you find out that you are pregnant, till your child is 5 years old, WIC is here to support you with healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition classes and so much more," she said.
For more information about WIC benefits or to learn how to apply, you can call the public health district at (361) 826-1355, or you can visit their website.