NUHEALTH’S LI FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, INC. AWARDED $9,948,055 BY NYSDOH OVER FIVE YEARS FOR SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN
Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP Michael B. Mirotznik, Esq.,
President/CEO Chairman Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2015
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUHEALTH’S LI FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, INC. AWARDED $9,948,055 BY NYSDOH OVER FIVE YEARS FOR SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN
East Meadow, NY……….Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP, NuHealth/NUMC’s President/CEO, announces that the Long Island Federally Qualified Health Center, Inc, has been awarded a $9,948,055 by the New York State Department of Health, over a five year period, to provide a special supplemental program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The contract period runs from October 1, 2015 until September 20, 2020. The first year contract value is for $1,969,611 for the period from October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2016. The approved sites are the Roosevelt Family Center, the Elmont Family Health Center and the Westbury Family Health Center, with a total anticipated caseload of 6190 and with renovation funding provided for Elmont and Westbury.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals and a variety of nutritious foods to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants and children up to age five to promote and support good health. Pregnant women, mothers of babies up to six months of age, mothers breastfeeding babies up to twelve months of age, infants and children up to their fifth birthday are eligible to participate in the WIC Program. Mothers can receive monthly checks for nutritious foods such as milk, cheese, cereal, vegetables, fruits, juice, bread, formula, eggs, baby food and more. Mothers must live in NY State, meet household income guidelines, have a nutritional need and do not need to be a legal resident.
The award letter was received from April Hamilton, MBA, MHSA, NY State WIC Director in the Bureau of Supplemental Food Programs who wrote: “Congratulations! This is to inform you that Long Island FQHC, Inc. has been selected for an award to provide WIC Program Services. We look forward to working with you to provide these important program services.”
Dr. Politi stated: “This is great and exciting news for the LIFQHCs as the WIC Program improves the health of pregnant women, new mothers and their infants and children. The foods provided through WIC are a good source of nutrients often missing from the diets of women and young children and WIC participants have longer, healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births.”
David Nemiroff, LCSW, Executive Director for the LIFQHCs, added: “We are delighted that our LIFQHCs at Roosevelt, Elmont and Westbury will be able to provide this valuable nutritional program for our vulnerable populations, helping to reduce obesity, health disparities and promote positive health outcomes. In addition, this program will enable us to provide referrals to lactation specialists, well baby and child care, as well as assistance with Medicaid applications, all to improve and expand access and care for those women and children who most need it.”
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.