Commission approves WIC agreement with Care Arc for 2026–27

The Board of County Commissioners convened as the Board of Health to review and authorize the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) agreement for the 2026–2027 grant cycle with Care Arc of Emporia (the contract manager for the region). Health department staff explained the updated agreement reflects administrative changes: the county will no longer bill for some services that are now covered directly by WIC grant funds and the registered dietitian duties will be provided by Care Arc as part of the regional arrangement.

Commissioners voted to approve the agreement effective Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027. The health department said it would provide county-level service counts to commissioners upon request; no dollar figures for the county portion were discussed at the meeting.

Quote: "This has worked out well in the past," a commissioner said during discussion.

Next steps: Clerk to obtain the fully executed agreement and distribute a copy to the commission.