Committee approves WIC subrecipient contract for CHASS to expand services

The Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee on March 30 approved sending a subrecipient contract for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at CHASS to new business with a recommendation to approve.

Leah Smith, director of administrative operations for the Detroit Health Department, told the committee the contract is one of two subrecipient agreements intended to increase outreach and service access across Detroit. "This is actually one of two subrecipient contracts that we have for our women, infant, and children program, which is funded through Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which they're actually passing funds to us through the USDA," Smith said. She explained the WIC program has an income requirement for low‑ to moderate‑income residents who are pregnant or have children under 5 and provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and breast pumps.

Smith said the city provides services directly and contracts with two subrecipients (one for CHASS and one for the Arab American Child and Family Center — named in the meeting) to expand reach; services are the same at the subrecipient site but clients will go to CHASS offices rather than a Detroit Health Department WIC office.

Vice Chair Denzel Anton McCampbell and other members emphasized telling residents where clinics are located and encouraged sharing information on the city website; the committee approved the recommendation to send the contract to new business without recorded objection.

Next steps: the item will proceed to new business and formal sessions for final approval.