CHECK PRESENTATION – State Health Commissioner Susan Cooper (third from left) holds up the real check that she is presenting County Mayor Kenny McBride (next to her on her left) for $399,690 to build a 1,800 square foot addition to the Carroll County Health Department. At left is Tracy Bird, public health director for Carroll, Benton and Henry Counties. Third and fourth from left are state Senator Lowe Finney and West Tennessee Regional Director Marilyn Barnes. (Photo credit: Carroll Co. News-Leader)
From the Carroll County News-Leader, Oct. 20:
Women, infants and children of Carroll County will benefit from recent funding from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
State Commissioner of Health Susan Cooper was in Huntingdon at the Carroll County Health Department on Oct. 14 to award a $399,690 check to County Mayor Kenny McBride for an 1,800 square foot addition to the Health Department’s east side.
The Health Department is located on High Street, next door to the Office Complex.
“It’s an honor to be able to present this check to Carroll County so that services can be expanded,” said Cooper. “The funds will go for infrastructure so there can be services provided for many years to come.”
The addition will be used to improve services for WIC clients.
“One on one nutrition and breast feeding counseling, group nutritional counseling and on-line nutrition for participants will be offered,” said Cooper.
State Senator Lowe Finney, who was present for the awarding of the funds, said he was pleased that rural counties are receiving these funds.
“This program is particularly important to rural areas,” he said. “Sometimes there’s a struggle between rural and metropolitan areas for the funding.”
McBride said the local health department is definitely an asset to the county.
“We’re proud of all the services it provides the public,” he said. “This funding will assist our countians with even more services. Furthermore, it’s a 100 percent grant and there is no local funding match involved.”
West Tennessee Regional Health Director Marilyn Barnes, who was present for the check presentation, said the addition would enhance the health department’s ability to serve the WIC participants.
“We are so thrilled to receive the funding,” she said.
The WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program is a federal program designed to provide supplemental food to low income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children until the age of five. It also provides nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support and referrals for health care.
The Carroll County Health Department is a primary care provider and has recently opened a dental clinic as it latest health care offering.