Jenny, a WIC program representative, told the Sherman County Board of Commissioners by phone that the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program’s federal fiscal grant year began Oct. 1 and that administrative funds are available for about two weeks into November.

She said the state has indicated it does not have funds to provide food benefits at that point. "So we do have funds, that were, available for us through October. And we have funds that are available for us to provide services. So that's the administrative side of WIC, for probably 2 weeks into November. And at that point, the state is telling us that they don't have the funds to provide the food benefits," Jenny said.

The WIC representative told the commissioners the program serves participants in six northwest Kansas counties and currently has "about 460 people on the program currently utilizing those services." She said reimbursement rates from federal funding have recently fallen from near 100 percent to roughly "90 to 95" percent, and that agency staff have reduced some contract services and expanded remote options to stretch available funds.

Jenny said the local office is coordinating contingency plans with community partners if food benefits pause, including working with Hope's Place and local food drives. "If the program does cease to operate, obviously, I'll let the commission know. I have been in contact with Hope's Place, and we are… planning to do, like, a a countywide, call for help for donations, and that's where we'll refer those families to," she said.

Commissioners asked for an update at the board’s next meeting. "Our next meeting, Jenny, is the tenth. If you could give us an update then, we'd appreciate it," one commissioner said. Jenny agreed to return with more information.

The WIC representative emphasized that the situation has repeatedly been resolved in the past when shortfalls were threatened; the office will notify the commission if services cease.

Ending: The board did not take formal action on WIC funding but noted ongoing coordination with local nonprofits and asked staff to update the commission at the next meeting.