The Women With Infants and Children (WIC) Program at Peace: Allen Creek Parent Child Resource Play Center

Since April, 2009, Allen Creek Preschool has partnered with the University of Michigan School of Nursing and the Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor in an effort to reach families with young children receiving WIC* benefits.

The Allen Creek Parent Child Resource Play Center project brings Allen Creek’s unique knowledge and proven approach to underserved mothers and children in our community. This project strengthens emotional muscle in mothers and children, empowers mothers to enjoy and protect their children, and mitigates risk factors by active prevention and intervention.
Staffed by Natalia Barna and Kerry Novick with Linda Kreger as a sub, Play Center is a cozy, enclosed space designed to catch the eye of busy parents, and give them space to enjoy their child's play and growth. Parents gain developmental knowledge, receive guidance and validation, and interact with other parents.

As of January, 2010, 33 families have joined us. We have enjoyed seeing families from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds share the pleasure of seeing their children play together. Grants from the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation have helped us fund this important work and our partnership with Peace Neighborhood Center.

* The Women With Infants and Children (WIC) Program is a federally-funded special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children up to age 5, who are at nutritional risk, by providing coupons for nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. The WIC program at Peace is a satellite of UM School of Nursing's North Campus WIC program. The population Allen Creek serves at Peace comprises African-American, Latina, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern and Caucasian women and childen, most of whom live in low-income housing located on North Maple Avenue, South Maple Avenue, and Pauline Boulevard. While the program targets women and children enrolled in WIC, it is open to all underserved women and their children ages 0-5 through Peace Neighborhood Center’s Family Enrichment Program.