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County officials raise alarms as state reorganizes WIC and community health nursing services
Summary
Clay County commissioners and department heads reported reductions and shifting structure in state‑provided WIC and community‑health nursing services; county leaders warned the change risks reduced immunization access and greater clerical burdens for county staff.
County leaders and department heads warned in late‑2023 that a state restructuring of WIC and community health nursing (CHN) services will reduce on‑site county nurse coverage and shift clinical responsibilities in ways that could leave gaps in vaccination and follow‑up care. Commissioners reported that nurses are being moved into a regional model and that County clerical staff are being asked to take on more paraprofessional duties for WIC, while CHN coverage in Clay County would drop to a single weekly presence under the state’s current plan.
Commissioners and the auditor asked the South Dakota Department of Health for clarifications and emphasized potential risks: lowered vaccination access for infants, extra travel or scheduling burdens for residents, new training and mileage costs for County clerical staff and emergency gaps in public‑health surveillance. County leaders said they would press the state for written commitments and to explore local alternatives if necessary.
