FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Curtis Taylor | (718) 250-8339 | ctaylor@tbh.org
– Press Release –
TBHC Continues to Expand Its Ambulatory Care Network
The Brooklyn Hospital Center recently opened a new WIC Program Center in East New York to provide food assistance to needy families, TBHC officials said.
The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) provides low-income families with nutrition education and checks to purchase healthy foods at no cost to promote good health through a balanced diet, said Egondu Onuoha, WIC Director at TBHC.
The WIC program is regulated and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA) and administered locally by the New York State Department of Health.
The USDA recognized TBHC in 2015 with the WIC Loving Support Gold Award of Excellence for breastfeeding performance measures, effective peer counseling programs and community partnerships. A total of 55 local WIC agencies across the country qualified for this award.
The new East New York WIC Program Center at 1079-1081 Liberty Avenue was officially launched on September 19th during a reception attended by local community leaders. The East New York center is one of seven sites for TBHC’s WIC program serving more than 20,000 women, infants and children every month.
Gary G. Terrinoni, President and Chief Executive Officer of TBHC, said that the WIC program improves the health of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children.
“Studies show that the WIC program enables low-income families to properly feed their children during critical periods of growth and development,” Terrinoni said. “The foods provided at no cost through the program are a good source of nutrients often missing from diets.”
Onuoha said that the program helps with better pregnancy outcomes, assures normal childhood growth, reduces early childhood anemia and increases immunization rates. Participants are also more likely to continue eating nutritious meals once eligibility has ended.
“Expectant mothers who take part in WIC have better pregnancies outcomes leading to fewer premature births, low birth weight babies, and fetal and infant deaths,” Onuoha said. “They are also more likely to seek prenatal care earlier in pregnancy.”
Other key WIC program components include:
- Referrals to healthcare services
- Breastfeeding support
- Postpartum support
- Enhancing Physical Activity (INSTEP)
- The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) offering fruit and vegetable vouchers
Onuoha said that TBHC works with local community groups to reach needy families. For more information about WIC services offered through the TBHC Ambulatory Care Network, call (718) 250-8126 or (718) 250-8012. Or visit: www.tbh.org.
To qualify, an individual must be:
- Enrolled in Medicaid, or have a household income level of 185 percent of poverty or less
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or a postpartum woman
- An infant, or child under age five
- Identified as being at nutritional risk by a WIC-certified healthcare professional; and
- A New York State resident
The Brooklyn Hospital Center WIC locations are:
1. Downtown Campus
121 DeKalb Avenue, Ground Floor (Main Entrance)
(718) 250-8126
2. 61st Street Family Health Center/WIC Center
771 61st Street
(718) 745-3259
3. Coney Island
485 Coney Island Avenue
(718) 282-8904 ext. 221 or 222
4. Bedford Stuyvesant
1606-1608 Fulton Street
(718) 774-6701 (718) 774-6300
5. Crown Heights
495 Empire Boulevard
(718) 467-0010
6. Williamsburg
125 Graham Avenue
718-388-6823
7. East New York
1079-1081 Liberty Avenue
(718) 235-3959
###
ABOUT THE BROOKLYN HOSPITAL CENTER
Since 1845, The Brooklyn Hospital Center has been dedicated to providing outstanding health services, education, and research to keep the people of Brooklyn and greater New York healthy. TBHC’s focus is ensuring optimal patient care through the use of advanced technology, innovative medical and surgical treatments, and staff expertise. Located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, TBHC is a clinical affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and an academic affiliate of The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As Brooklyn’s first hospital, TBHC is proud to be a part of this incredibly diverse community and is committed to Keeping Brooklyn Healthy.
For more information, visit www.tbh.org or call: (718) 250-8000.
and then 