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Despite Ongoing Shutdown, Low-Income Women And Children In Oklahoma Will Receive Nutrition Services

Donnie Ray Jones / Flickr

Low-income women and children in Oklahoma will still receive federal food benefits despite the partial federal government shutdown.

The Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program helps low-income pregnant and nursing women and parents of young children buy nutritious food, like eggs, milk, and formula.

The partial government shutdown has delayed funding for many federal programs, but state health officials say they tapped leftover money from last year and money from an infant formula rebate program to keep the food benefits coming.

For now, officials say there is no interruption in the services, which about 70,000 Oklahomans receive each month. The supplemental funds last through February. The agency is looking at other funding sources if the shutdown continues into March.

Lenora LaVictoire was a KOSU reporter and host from May to August 2019, following a five-month internship with StateImpact Oklahoma.
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