Muscogee (Creek) Nation WIC Program is a step ahead to meet new 2020 Federal mandates

OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation recently opened its new Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program building that will now push it into the new age and help it meet federal mandates.

The new facility is an energy-saving Structural Insulated Panel, or SIPs, project and is the first of its kind on the MCN campus. The Muscogee (Creek) National Council appropriated funds for the half-million dollar facility located on the MCN campus in Okmulgee.

Along with the growing number of clients, the new home will help accommodate the USDA’s 2020 mandate that will require WIC agencies to switch to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (debit card) for transactions. The new building is fully equipped with the latest Information Technology (IT) to successfully make that transition. “Our new space was built with the future in mind, “ MCN WIC Director Katura Bunner said. “We are set up to better serve our participants. The MCN has already begun the planning stages of our EBT project and the new building having the latest technology and equipment to eliminate technological barriers we once faced. We are now better equipped to support that conversion when that time comes.”

The MCN WIC program was established in 1995. Its client base has grown to 3,000 with more than half being served from the Okmulgee agency.

As part of the celebration, the Oklahoma Caring Van will be on site to offer free back to school immunizations for children of all ages.

The MCN WIC program is open to the public for all those who meet requirements. The tribe invites the media and public to come to its Open House, set for Friday, August 29, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Principal Chief George Tiger will be present to make opening remarks. The facility is located at 2507 Raccoon Drive at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Complex in Okmulgee, Okla.