Delta and Montrose counties have launched a new partnership to strengthen WIC services across the region. The collaboration expands nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and family assistance while improving flexibility and access for rural families on the Western Slope.
Families in Delta and Montrose counties will soon see expanded coordination and support for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services through a new regional partnership between the two public health departments.
Beginning May 1, 2026, Delta County Public Health and Montrose County Public Health officially launched a collaborative agreement designed to improve access, efficiency, and nutrition support services for families across both counties.
Under the new arrangement, Delta County Public Health will serve as the WIC Local Agency Director for both counties while each county continues operating its own clinics for routine services.
WIC is a federally supported nutrition and health program that provides:
• Supplemental food assistance
• Nutrition education
• Breastfeeding support
• Referrals to additional health and social services
The program serves pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five.
Public health leaders say the partnership is intended to strengthen service delivery in rural communities where staffing, specialized counseling, and administrative resources can sometimes be limited.
“This partnership is a win-win for both counties,” said Mirza Ahmed. “By working together, we can ensure continued compliance with state and federal requirements while improving services for families in our communities.”
As part of the expanded regional structure, registered dietitian April Houk will oversee WIC services across both counties.
Houk specializes in high-risk nutrition counseling, an area both counties identified as especially important for strengthening long-term service quality and continuity.
“Our communities are closely connected,” Houk said. “People live, work, and travel between them every day. This approach allows us to build a stronger, more coordinated program that is both high-quality and accessible, while giving families the flexibility to receive services where it’s most convenient for them.”
The agreement allows the two counties to share staffing coordination, compliance oversight, and specialized nutrition services while maintaining local clinic operations.
The partnership reflects a broader trend among rural governments and public health agencies across Colorado and the Western Slope, where collaboration is increasingly being used to maintain service levels amid rising operational costs and workforce shortages.
Officials say the coordinated approach can help stabilize programs while also expanding flexibility for families who may travel between Delta and Montrose counties for work, school, healthcare, or childcare.
“We’re really pleased to be able to partner with Montrose County to support and strengthen WIC services across both counties,” said Jacqueline Davis. “At the end of the day, this work is about expanding access in our rural communities and ensuring families can receive services they need, when and where it works best for them.”
WIC programs are widely viewed as one of the most effective early childhood and maternal health interventions in the country, helping improve birth outcomes, childhood nutrition, and long-term health stability for low-income families.
For rural Western Colorado communities, maintaining reliable access to those services can be especially important given transportation challenges, provider shortages, and geographic distance between services.
Families seeking more information about WIC services in Montrose County can visit:
Or call:
• East End: (970) 252-5011
• West End: (970) 864-7319
