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County Nutrition Program In Limbo |
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Marcia E. Lynch
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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
After more than an hour of discussion, the County’s Health and Human Services Committee today declined to advance a proposal that called for the County to discontinue Health Department sponsorship of the federal Women/Infants/Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.
The proposal, submitted by the Health Department, requested Legislature authorization for the department not to seek renewal of the WIC program, which the department has operated since 1980, by not responding to the Request for Applications (RFA) for the next five-year funding cycle, to be issued by the New York State Department of Health.
While indicating that he was not in favor of discontinuing County sponsorship of the program, Legislator Tyke Randall moved the proposed resolution, but the proposal failed for lack of a second. The committee’s failure to make a recommendation means that, unless it is proposed for reconsideration at a later meeting by Legislator Martha Robertson (not present for the vote), then accepted, or unless it is advanced and approved at a Legislature meeting as a member-filed resolution, the Health Department must respond to the State’s RFA to continue the program.
The Health Department has indicated that it wishes to discontinue program sponsorship, in view of the department’s ever-increasing workload and demand for additional services, especially since fixed-rate outside funding often fails to cover overhead costs, including the time spent by Director of Patient Services Sigrid Connors for program administration. While the WIC program delivers valuable service, officials say that service does not have to be provided by the Health Department and could be shifted to another sponsoring agency. Hiring additional administrative support could cost as much as $60,000.
WIC Director Amy Furth told the committee the local program was recently ranked third out of 52 programs statewide and said that, while another agency could assume sponsorship, it could have negative effects on clients and caseload. “Only a good quality staff with good quality support can run a good WIC program,” she added.
Committee members expressed concern that many questions remain to be answered about what discontinuing program sponsorship would mean, including whether collaboration with other local agencies could be investigated. Committee Chair Frank Proto said he will first talk to representatives of the Health Department and Administration to find out more information about the potential for synergy with other agencies and the ability to deliver the service; the financial aspects of support; how a transition could take place effectively, economically and with minimal negative impact; and to try to determine when the State’s RFA will be issued.
If the RFA is issued and the Health Department responds, it will include a request for additional financial support for administration, notes Connors, something the State may not be willing to provide.
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