Sonoma County Public Health Division

The Sonoma County Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health (MCAH) and Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program are located within the Public Health Division of the Department of Health Services.  MCAH provides direct client services to high-risk populations and works with community partners to improve the health of women of reproductive age, children, and adolescents.  There is an emphasis on reducing health disparities, especially among vulnerable populations including families struggling with lack of financial resources, complicated medical conditions, lack of access to quality health care, unstable home environments, mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or exposure to violence.  WIC provides nutritional information and support so that low-income pregnant women and children under five have access to healthy and nutritious meals and includes access to breastfeeding support and information, electric breast pumps, and a Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program.

 

Program staff includes public health nurses, social workers, registered dieticians, health information specialists, public health assistants, nutrition assistants, an epidemiologist and dedicated support staff. Funding for this work comes from a variety of resources including local government funds as well as state and federal sources.