Van Nuys : Clinic for Mothers Welcomes the Public

With a fresh coat of paint and a new mural on its walls, the Northeast Valley Health Corp. has planned an open house for its office on Sherman Way in Van Nuys this Thursday.

“We never did an open house the first time around,” said Gayle Schachne, the WIC Project director for the group. WIC, which stands for Women, Infants and Children, provides nutrition and health education, counseling services and supplemental food vouchers for pregnant women and young mothers.

The WIC clinic at 15520 Sherman Way was opened three years ago.

About 8,000 women use the clinic’s services each month. City officials are expected to be on hand for the open house.

Schachne said she is hoping the open house will draw more clients, especially pregnant women, who normally wait until they give birth before coming to the WIC clinic.

The Sherman Way clinic is one of 10 the Northeast Valley Health Corp. runs in the Valley.

“Women should be coming here when the baby is the youngest, and that’s when the mom is pregnant,” Schachne said.

By getting in touch with the clinic earlier, expectant mothers can get more effective help, she said.

The event is being held in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.

Experts on breast-feeding issues will speak throughout the week at other Northeast Valley Health Corp. clinics in San Fernando and Pacoima and at Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar.

The open house will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the mural to be unveiled at noon.

The artwork depicts children and the logo of a mother, father and child used by the WIC Program.

A portion of the mural has been left blank for the addition of future pictures of clients’ children who have been breast-fed.