On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the human services nonprofit Acacia Network and its primary care arm, La Casa de Salud, celebrated the launch of WIC at the Ramón Vélez Health Care Center.
WIC is the nation’s longstanding supplemental nutrition program serving low-income Women, Infants, and Children ages 5 and younger. The program is free to all eligible participants, who may now enroll in WIC at the Ramón Vélez clinic to access nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health screenings and referrals, and critical benefits for purchasing healthy foods.
Located at 754 E. 151st Street in the Bronx, Ramón Vélez is one of six Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) run by La Casa de Salud in the borough.
In 2022, Acacia Network and La Casa de Salud celebrated the grand opening of two new wings at the Ramón Vélez clinic, which now offers specialized Women’s Health and Pediatric care in newly renovated facilities. In addition to WIC, community members and patients of the clinic can access primary health care, OB/GYN care, dental care, addiction care, and behavioral health care.
Crucially, the clinic serves all individuals, regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status, and offers bilingual care in English and Spanish.
“We are thrilled to become an official WIC program site. Access to healthy foods and nutrition support are essential to the health and wellbeing of women, children, and families. With the addition of WIC, we have further increased our clinic’s capacity to provide comprehensive and holistic care in the community,” says La Casa de Salud Executive Director Lauren Mendenhall.
“I can think of no better time than Women’s History Month to launch this program on behalf of the women and mothers in our borough. Bronx residents experience some of the steepest health disparities, and we are committed to overcoming these inequities with the provision of high-quality, culturally competent services. We are ready to meet the needs of every family member and look forward to welcoming all,” says Acacia Network CEO Lymaris Albors.
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About Acacia Network
Acacia Network is one of the leading human services organizations in New York City and the largest Hispanic-led nonprofit in the State, serving over 150,000 individuals of all ages through integrated, culturally competent, and trauma-informed programs in the areas of health, housing, economic development, social services, and cultural revitalization. Acacia Network comprises more than 100 affiliates and over 2,700 employees across four boroughs in New York City and the Western/Upstate New York Region, as well as Connecticut, Maryland, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, and Puerto Rico.
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