FELLSMERE – Beginning next month, the Women, Infants and Children Program will be able to offer more services more days closer to the majority of its patrons.
Moving from the Treasure Coast Community Health site near Country Road 512 and Interstate 95, the program will now reside at the former Fellsmere City Hall.
Officials from both the city and the Indian River County Department of Health cut the crepe-paper ribbon on the new office’s space Thursday evening.
“The city has been so supportive,” Health Department Miranda Swanson said.
Treasure Coast Community Health will continue to offer its services at its permanent location on the east end of town, with the exception of WIC.
“It looks really good,” Mayor Susan Adams said of the spruced up former City Hall building.
City Manager Jason Nunemaker began making overtures to the Health Department before the city moved to the Old Fellsmere School for two reasons – one, to bring some health services closer to town, and two, to fill up what would have otherwise been vacant office space.
Though the modular buildings have been fully depreciated financially, they are still in shape and still have years of life left before they would need to be removed.
Having a place all its own, the Women, Infants and Children Program can expands its services, according to WIC Coordinator Joni Gathmann.
One such new service planned is breast-feeding peer counseling.
Gathmann said they have recently hired a couple counselors who will be able to provide support for new mothers.
The new office also has space available to offer other health classes. And more space means room more staff who can serve more people, according to Gathmann.
“We’ll be open for service soon,” Gathmann said.
The center, once open, will be available to all county residents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday – which will effectively double WIC’s availability to the public.
Prior to the move, the program was only available two days a week.
