Anchorage adds behavioral health care to its WIC program

Anchorage's Health Department will place a behavioral health provider in its WIC program, the federal nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children, to help with maternal and postpartum mental health.

The move follows the department's own survey of 629 WIC clients, which found real strain. More than a quarter reported stress, anxiety or depression that affected daily life, and 22 percent expected to go hungry. Nearly half said they had no access to child care, and about a quarter had no steady income.

The department, which calls the effort Healthy Beginnings, told the Municipal Women's Commission this month that it planned the program before it secured federal funding for it. The money comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the same federal fund flowing to health projects across Alaska; Healthy Beginnings is one of six statewide initiatives under it. The department has not said how much Anchorage's project will receive.

The department is also hiring a community health worker, citing the same survey findings.