This year marks a significant milestone as the national Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program celebrates its 50th anniversary. At Mountain Park, we take pride in being part of this legacy, providing essential WIC services driven by a dedicated team of 75 members. Our WIC department is made up of four different sections that include the Breastfeeding and Peer Counseling Program, the Nutrition Services Team, Communications, and Operations. Through their efforts we serve between 23,000 to 27,000 clients monthly, making us the second largest WIC provider in the state of Arizona!

Ashley Ann Dubishar’s dedication to her work is mirrored by her commitment to the community. “WIC provides benefits, nutrition support, and breastfeeding assistance to women, infants, and children,” she explains. “We offer a safe place where people can get the care they need.” Ashley shines as the WIC Operations Manager for Mountain Park Health Center’s East Valley clinics. “Overseeing the staff and ensuring the clinics run smoothly is demanding but incredibly rewarding.”

WIC services cater to a broad group of individuals, including pregnant people, breastfeeding mothers, women who have recently given birth (up to six months postpartum), and primary caregivers of infants and children under five years old. This inclusive approach ensures that a wide range of families can benefit from the program’s offerings. Service is offered through group settings, phone calls, and in-home, clinic, or hospital visits.

“Many WIC clients don’t realize how much Mountain Park offers,” notes Khristian Tidwell. “When resources are limited, it’s a tremendous advantage to have all the services and care under one roof.” Working mostly at Mountain Park’s Baseline Clinic, Khristian serves as WIC Clinic Supervisor. “My father is Hispanic, and I also have Filipino heritage,” Khristian shares proudly. This diverse cultural background has given her a deep appreciation for how different cultures approach food and nutrition. “I saw firsthand through my family how food affects day-to-day life and realized its potential to help people. I’m passionate about the way people eat and the cultural connection with food and nutrition.”

This connection is also important to Shamonda Washington. She joined the Mountain Park WIC team in January 2024 as WIC Communications Manager. Her team helps connect clients to the right people and the services they need. “It’s about more than just taking calls or scheduling appointments,” she emphasizes. “It’s about truly helping.”

Compassion and a desire to serve are common traits found in all the members of Mountain Park’s WIC team. Reflecting on her journey, Alexa Diaz, shares, “Growing up in Nogales, a small border town, I witnessed firsthand the challenges and barriers families face in accessing healthcare and nutrition. My passion for this field comes from a desire to provide the support and resources I wish my community had.”

Joining Mountain Park thirteen years ago as a nutritionist, Alexa has grown into her role as the Director of WIC. She oversees a large department, manages budgets, ensures compliance, and provides mentoring and training. “Every day is different,” she notes, embracing the dynamic nature of her work. Alexa’s passion for her work is deeply personal. Growing up in an under-resourced area, she understands the importance of accessible healthcare. This empathy drives her to create a welcoming and supportive environment for Mountain Park’s WIC clients.

WIC ensures access to healthy food options that promote growth and development. This is a key component, providing culturally and socially appropriate support, fostering healthy development for both caregiver and baby. As the Breastfeeding Program Manager, Jack Nickel ensures compliance with state policies, provides breastfeeding counseling, and mentors staff. Jack’s dedication to community health is clear. “It’s so rewarding to be a part of that village and see all of those gears and moving parts turn,” he says.

While in college, Jack aspired to be a sports nutritionist. However, a volunteer opportunity with a small WIC agency in Washington changed his path. “I just completely fell in love,” Jack says. “This is absolutely where I’m meant to be.” This realization brought him to Mountain Park, where he’s worked for the past seven years. One of his proudest moments came in 2018 when he and a care team helped a family with a child who had severe medical needs, ensuring they received necessary care and support.

Mountain Park and the WIC program also hold a special place in Geni Acosta’s heart. “We’re here to serve the community, a one-stop shop for all their medical and nutritional needs,” she emphasizes. Her parents, both from El Salvador, relocated to Arizona for work, selling everything they had in California.

From an early age, Geni interpreted for her Spanish-speaking parents during their medical appointments. This experience revealed the critical need for Spanish-speaking medical providers, especially dietitians. This inspired Geni to become a registered dietitian to serve her community, and now is Nutrition Services Manager, where she oversees training for staff to meet mandated education hours and supervises WIC trainers and registered dietitians.

As Mountain Park celebrates WIC’s 50th anniversary, Ashley Dubishar reflects on its impact. “This program has helped so many families keep nutritious meals on their tables each day. Knowing we’ve served countless families is amazing. Our dedicated staff’s passion makes this possible.”

Director Alexa Diaz is excited about the future. She has witnessed the program’s evolution and is proud of the organization’s ability to adapt and innovate. “It’s been really heartwarming to see the high level of empathy from the staff and providers,” she says. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, in-person appointments and counseling were replaced with phone calls and teleconferencing but the same caring touch and service were still made available.

Looking ahead, Jack Nickel is excited about the future of WIC. “Fifty years is a huge milestone,” he says. He is proud of the program’s adaptability and progress over the years and looks forward to its continued evolution.

WIC’s resilience, history, ability to adapt, along with its passionate, professional and caring team is a testament to its strength and value to our community. It’s no surprise the program has existed nationwide for fifty years!

To further explore all of these benefits, visit our Mountain Park WIC webpage. For eligibility details, call our WIC team in either English or Spanish at (602) 323-3472. All income eligibility is based on gross income before deductions. Families receiving SNAP, TANF, or AHCCCS automatically qualify for WIC, but these services are not a prerequisite.