Denton County WIC Lands a $90,774 Federal Grant to Screen for Maternal Mental Health

If you're pregnant or parenting a baby in Denton County and already on WIC, something just got added to your visits — without any extra cost or paperwork on your end.

Denton County's WIC program was awarded the WIC Maternal Health Center grant, a federally backed award administered through a contract between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and UNC-Chapel Hill. Denton County's focus under the grant is perinatal mental health.

The grant totals $90,774. That money covers temporary personnel through a public health fellowship, software to support screening and referrals, staff training, and any required travel for grant recipients. Federal dollars fund all of it — no cost to the county or to enrolled families.

The focus is mental health screening, not just nutrition. Alex Reed-Harbour, division manager for community health with Denton County Public Health, told Commissioners Court that WIC sees participating families every three months. If a pregnant woman or new mother shows signs of mental health struggles during a visit, WIC can refer her to someone who can help.

The project is built to increase access to maternal mental health screenings and catch needs early. Anyone who screens positive gets connected to care.

Reed-Harbour noted that perinatal mental health is not currently part of the nationwide WIC service delivery model and said she hopes this initiative will eventually be adopted nationally. She plans to return in two years to report on results.

WIC Director Fabiola Vanegas said in a press release that "maternal mental health is an essential part of the health and well-being of mothers and families."

Who qualifies for WIC: WIC serves women who are pregnant, recently postpartum, or currently breastfeeding, along with families raising children under the age of five. Families already receiving Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF meet the income requirements automatically, and others may still qualify even without those programs. Denton County has WIC offices in Carrollton, Denton, and Lewisville. The main office can be reached at 940-349-2930, Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. New and expecting mothers can also apply to WIC online.