NC Receives Federal Grant To Grow Telehealth WIC Services

North Carolina is getting a federal grant to help address food insecurity in rural communities.

The $1 million grant will use telehealth solutions to provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support to WIC participants. WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services administers the program. Agency officials say the grant will help decrease barriers to these services and improve access, especially in rural counties.

The money will be used to upgrade software in the state system. This will allow for making online appointments, and it will streamline services making the certification process easier for participants.

North Carolina is one of seven state agencies across the country to receive the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Tufts Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC grant.

North Carolina's WIC program provides services to more than 250,000 participants each month.

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