Sea Mar to provide WIC services in Clark County

Vancouver, WA—The Washington Department of Health has approved an application by Sea Mar Community Health Centers to provide WIC (Women, Infants and Children) services in Clark County. The state WIC office will help to facilitate the transition of these services from Clark County Public Health to Sea Mar.

According to Doug Spingelt, Sea Mar’s director of preventive health services, Sea Mar plans to provide services at existing WIC locations, including those in Battle Ground and Washougal as well as the WIC office at the Clark County Center for Community Health in Vancouver. In addition to core WIC services, such as nutrition education, food vouchers, breastfeeding education, and health referrals, Sea Mar also intends to continue the farmer’s market nutrition program and the peer breastfeeding mentor program established by Clark County Public Health.

“We are pleased that WIC services will remain in Clark County and believe that Sea Mar’s experience in providing these services in other areas of the state will help ensure a smooth transition,” said John Wiesman, director of Clark County Public Health. “We expect the transition will take place later this year without any interruption in client services. As plans are finalized we will share them with our WIC families and the public.”

County officials began to transition WIC services to another provider last year in response to severe budget challenges. Ensuring that WIC services continue for Clark County residents has been a priority for Clark County Public Health, which plans to stay involved in an advisory capacity. Demand for WIC services is at an all-time high, with more than 10,000 clients as of February.

As the new WIC provider for Clark County, Sea Mar will expand its presence in the Center for Community Health, where Sea Mar also operates an integrated primary care and behavioral health clinic. Headquartered in Seattle, Sea Mar has health centers in 15 Washington communities.