Women Infants and Children WIC History of WIC

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

History of WIC ❏ Established and made a permanent program in 1974. ❏ Administered by Food and Nutrition Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture ❏ Formerly known as the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, but was changed to WIC under the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994.

WIC’s Mission “To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. ” -United States Department of Agriculture Food and Service

Target Population ❏ ❏ ❏ Pregnant women (6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends) Breastfeeding women (up to infants 1 st birthday) Non Breastfeeding postpartum women (6 months after the birth) Infants (Up to 1 st birthday) Children up to their 5 th Birthday

Eligibility ● Must meet all the following requirements: ○ Categorical ■ Pregnant, Postpartum (6 months after the birth), Breastfeeding (Up to infant's first birthday) ○ Residential ■ Must live in state in which you apply ○ Income ■ Must have income at or below State agency ■ Family must have an income of no more than 185% of the current federal poverty level ○ Nutrition Risk ■ Must be seen by a health professional, who must determine whether the individual is at nutritional risk.

Benefits ❏ Supplemental nutritious foods ❏ Receive checks and vouchers to be redeemed retail markets ❏ Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics. ❏ Screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services.

Where can WIC services provided? ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ Available in all 50 States Administered in 90 State Agencies County health Departments Hospitals Mobile Clinics (Vans) Schools Community Centers Public Housing Sites Migrant Health Centers & Camps Indian Health Services Facilities

WIC FACTS ❏ WIC participants support the local economy through their purchases. ❏ WIC works with farmers market to help increase participant access to provide fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. ❏ Promotes breastfeeding over use of formula.

Success ❏ WIC has proved to be one of the Federal Government’s most successful nutrition programs in the US. ❏ WIC has lead to improved birth rates while decreasing health care cost. ❏ Participant’s diets improve due to access to healthier foods and nutrients. ❏ Increased amounts of immunizations in infants who participat in WIC. ❏ Improved prenatal care for pregnant women.

WIC Studies ❏ In the average month of 2013, WIC served an estimated 60. 2 percent of those eligible for WIC, a decrease of almost 3 percentage points from 2012. ❏ Obesity in children has begun to decline among WIC participants. In 2012, 15. 3 percent of children who were 1 year old were considered overweight compared with 16. 8 percent in 2008. Similarly, for children ages 2 to 4, 14. 7 percent were overweight in 2008 compared with 14. 0 percent in 2012.

It’s All About The Kids ❏ WIC’s emphasis on improving the nutritional health of infants and children that come from low-income areas provides a positive foundation for future generations. ❏ Good nutritional health starting at a young age has many benefits ❏ Decrease chance of health related diseases ❏ Improved cognitive development and school achievement ❏ Increased overall physical health

Cons ● Even though WIC works with local farmer’s markets to provide fresh produce to WIC participants, the vouchers only provide a small amount of produce. ● In an article on TIme. com (2014), found that “ Most mothers come in for WIC appointments once every three months and receive two vouchers, each worth about $6. That results in about six cups of vegetables or fruits over three months. ○ Children should be eating about 2 -3 cups a vegetables a day.

Time Constraints ❏ In order to continue to receive benefits, mothers and their children must continue to come in for monthly and semi-annual appointments. ❏ Lifestyle and health assessments ❏ Healthy choices classes ❏ Meeting with nutritionist ❏ These appointments can take up to 2 -5 hours depending on the type and other factors. ❏ ❏ Long wait times Crowded waiting rooms Medical tests and results Large amounts of paperwork and documentation

In Store Issues ❏ Redeeming WIC vouchers in the grocery store can be a complicated process especially when mixing regular groceries and WIC items. ❏ It takes longer to checkout because you have to redeem each voucher individual with it’s item. ❏ It can be an embarrassing process for some participants and also anger other customers who are forced to wait longer in checkout lines.

Limitations ❏ As a federally run program, WIC must conform to any changes to health and welfare regulations. ❏ Growing issue of new national health challenges such as childhood obesity, but a lack of participation in the program. WIC can only help those who apply. ❏ Limited resources and lack of well trained staff.

References ❏ ❏ ❏ Carlson, S. , & Neuberger, Z. (2015, May 4). WIC Works: Addressing the Nutrition and Health Needs of Low-Income Families for 40 Years. Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http: //www. cbpp. org/research/food-assistance/wicworks-addressing-the-nutrition-and-health-needs-of-low-income-families Park, A. (2014, June 9). Farmers' Markets V Grocery Stores: Which Have Better Prices? Retrieved February 27, 2016, from http: //time. com/2838629/the-pros-and-cons-of-food-stamps-at-farmers-markets/ Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (n. d. ). Retrieved February 27, 2016, from http: //www. fns. usda. gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic