Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Center a Model for the Country

The USDA has many great programs that it administers among its numerous agencies and the USDA also works hand in hand with service providers across the country. Today we had the chance to visit the Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Center and see first hand where the rubber meets the road.

Located in Purcell, Oklahoma the Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Center is serves approximately 4,680 tribal participants monthly. The Center administers many programs within the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service including, the WIC Program, SNAP Ed, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

However the Center and its staff have created a model for nutrition programs. The Chickasaw Nation made it a priority to implement their vision of serve its members with the utmost dignity and respect and set up a "food distribution program store." In the past, all food distribution participants received their monthly packages from either a tailgate site or over-the-counter at the tribal headquarters. The staff and leadership decided to take the program in a different direction with the store concept.



The store concept was a great success and the tribe now has several concept stores that service the Chickasaw nation and the 7,963 square miles the nation encompasses. Like more common grocery stores, participants can browse the aisles and the freezer section for their goods. Unlike a traditional store, participants have access to nutritional information and have access to a registered and licensed dietitian. Additionally, the setup at the Centers coordinates efforts amongst the various programs and initiatives thus providing maximum "bang for the buck" in the delivery of services.

It was an honor to tour the Chickasaw Nation's Nutrition Center. It is a model for the rest of the country.

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