MONTICELLO – After November 27, Sullivan County’s WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Program will be run by Sun River Health (formerly Hudson River Healthcare), Public Health Director Nancy McGraw announced Monday.
“This transfer makes sense, as Sun River Health has 25 years’ experience in operating WIC programs in the Hudson Valley, and has a Federally Qualified Health Center in Monticello with a variety of services for women, infants, and children, including prenatal care, pediatrics, dental services, MAT treatment, health insurance enrollment, and bilingual staff,” McGraw said.
The director said those “co-located health-related services – which are not part of Public Health’s core mission but are part and parcel of Sun River’s – will be beneficial to current and future WIC participants and may help improve health outcomes in the County.”
Existing services for WIC participants will continue to be available, without interruption, in Monticello and Liberty, albeit in new locations, while the Wurtsboro site will remain the same, at the Wurtsboro Community Church’s hall at 134 Sullivan Street. The Liberty location is still being determined, but the Monticello location will be at Sun River Health’s offices at 19-23 Lakewood Avenue.
All services continue to be provided remotely by phone throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so WIC participants will not have to travel out of the County to obtain their next appointment.
All current Sullivan County WIC employees who wished to transfer with the program will be transitioning to and will be employed by Sun River Health.
“The WIC program has been a part of Public Health since its inception in Sullivan County, but through this state-approved transfer, I fully expect there will be opportunities to increase the availability and accessibility of WIC services to Sullivan County residents,” McGraw said.
Questions about the changes can be directed to Sun River Health at 845-791-3350 in Monticello or 845-454-8204 in Poughkeepsie. All appointments are done by phone – no in-person appointments are required at this time.
Persons can continue to receive WIC services at any WIC agency in New York State by calling The Growing Up Healthy Hotline at (800) 522-5006.
