March 1, 2024 marks a crucial time for WIC.
Congress has delayed decisions regarding funding to WIC since last year.. this funding should have started in October actually.. If Congress decides not to allocate these additional funds to the WIC program, many families will likely lose the support that WIC provides them. Learn more about WIC and how to help below!
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally-funded assistance program in the United States that provides nutrition education, healthy food, and support to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children. There are over 6 million Americans who participate in the WIC program each month. (~6.3 million Americans according to 2022 reports). WIC provides services and support for ~40% of infants in the U.S. If additional funds are not allocated for WIC, it is projected that nearly 2 million participants could lose their support on March 1, 2024. Losing funding could be devastating on many levels. Not only does WIC provide support for breastfeeding, infant nutrition, formula feeding + nutrition education across the realm, they also provide screening and intervention for malnutrition, failure to thrive, anemia, & more. During my internship to become a Registered Dietitian, for example, I spent time with WIC, assessing infant growth patterns and making sure infants on the program were maintaining weight. This is crucial in cognitive development and growth and WIC serves as a front line in monitoring for concerns. And this is just a fraction of the roles that WIC serves!
Already know you are ready to take some action?! Click this button & fill out the quick form to send a message to your representatives in Congress!
**Shoutout to FRAC (Food Research and Action Center) for all the useful tools and templates!
Learn more about FRAC here: https://frac.org/
Learn more about the WIC Program here!
Here are some facts about WIC:
Purpose: WIC is designed to improve the health of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children by providing access to nutritious foods, nutrition education, and support.
Eligibility: Eligibility for WIC is based on income, residency, and nutritional risk. Applicants must meet certain income guidelines and have a nutritional need, as determined by a health professional.
Nutrition Education: WIC offers nutrition education to participants to help them make healthy food choices, understand the importance of breastfeeding, and promote overall well-being. This educations covers topics such as healthy eating during pregnancy, breastfeeding, support for formula feeding, starting solid foods, and overall general nutrition and health education.
Food Benefits: Participants qualifying for WIC receive vouchers or electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used to purchase specific nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and infant formula.
Breastfeeding Support: WIC encourages and supports breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice. Breastfeeding mothers receive additional food benefits and support.
Health Screenings: WIC includes health screenings to assess the nutritional and health status of participants. This may involve checking for anemia, measuring height and weight, and providing other health assessments.
Infant Formula: For mothers who are unable to breastfeed, WIC provides infant formula. The program aims to ensure that infants receive appropriate and necessary nutrition during their critical early development stages.
Local Administration: WIC is administered at the state and local levels. Local WIC clinics provide services, distribute food benefits, and offer nutrition education to participants.
Collaboration with Healthcare Providers and Community Partnerships: WIC works in collaboration with healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and Registered Dietitians to assess the nutritional needs of participants and provide appropriate support. The local connections means that participants are paired with or referred to healthcare providers in their own communities! WIC often also collaborates with local community organizations, providers, educators, and other stakeholders to expand its reach and provide comprehensive support services beyond nutrition, such as social services and healthcare referrals.
Impact on Health: Studies have shown that WIC participation is associated with improved birth outcomes, increased rates of breastfeeding, and enhanced overall nutritional status for both mothers and children.
Cultural Sensitivity: WIC is designed to be culturally sensitive and responsive to the diverse needs of its participants. The program recognizes the importance of respecting cultural preferences and traditions in promoting healthy eating habits.
Income Guidelines: WIC eligibility is determined based on income guidelines set by the federal government. These guidelines take into account the size of the family and the household income. Families with incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty level may qualify.
Referrals to Healthcare Services: WIC not only provides nutritional support but also serves as a gateway to other healthcare services. Participants may be referred to medical professionals for additional health assessments, immunizations, and other necessary healthcare interventions.
Food Package Updates: The specific foods provided in WIC food packages are periodically updated to align with the latest nutritional guidelines. This ensures that participants have access to a variety of nutritious foods that meet their evolving dietary needs.
Postpartum Support: WIC recognizes the importance of postpartum care and continues to provide support to mothers after childbirth. This support includes nutrition education, breastfeeding assistance, and guidance on transitioning to solid foods for infants.
Childhood Obesity Prevention: WIC places a strong emphasis on preventing childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating habits, physical activity, and overall wellness for young children.
Research and Evaluation: The program undergoes ongoing research and evaluation to assess its impact on maternal and child health outcomes. This data helps to refine and improve the program over time.
Ready to help us take some action? Fill out this form to send a message to Congress, showing how crucial the WIC program is for so many across the nation.❤️
The WIC Program has had a bit of a rough last year... or 4...
I’m sure those involved with the National WIC Program may agree with this. Whether as a participant or a provider, it’s been far from a smooth ride the last few years. As funding questions continue to loom, the uncertainty for many Americans is very real.😔 WIC's troubles have included navigating a pandemic which also lead to an influx in program participants as well as the very real issues such as food availability, transportation, health concerns, and many more concerns and issues along the way. 2020 and 2021 couldn't be the end of WIC troubles though.. When the infant formula recall of Abbott / Similac formulas came out, WIC was one of the hardest areas hit. WIC has contracts with each state as well as major formula manufacturers. Overall, Similac and Enfamil are the primary infant formula manufacturers that have contracts with WIC. As you can imagine, the impact of the recall and subsequent formula shortage was quite impactful for the WIC program and its participants..
& now, 2023-2024, this very real funding concern😔
We are talking about a group who provides nutrition & support to pregnant women, infants, & children👀
If millions of Americans are turned away on March 1, 2024- the negative impacts will be felt for generations to come💔
*Food Fix : Helena Bottemiller Evich provided some great insight on WIC and how we got to where we are in a recent edition! Check out her article here!
*Individuals who participate in SNAP or other federal nutrition programs qualify for a free Food Fix subscription – just email info@foodfix.co.
Want to help? Share! Talk about it! Or even better⤵️
Fill out this quick form to contact your reps & let them know the truly negative impact this could have!
🔗https://frac.org/action
*shoutout to @fracgram for the amazing resources and advocacy available
It's important to note that specific details about WIC may vary by state, as each state has some flexibility in how it administers the program within federal guidelines. WIC is administered at state and local levels. Local WIC clinics provide services, distribute food benefits, & offer nutrition education to participants. Some locations even house small food stores to make transportation easier, social services, and more!
Thank you for your support and love in this space! It means more to me than you will ever know.
I truly enjoy sharing this information and I hope you find the information provided valuable. If you do find this information helpful, I kindly ask that you consider sharing - via social media, word of mouth, email, etc. I would love to help support as many out there as I can! <3
Want to make sure you don't miss out on important and valuable information like this?! Hit that link/button below and fill out the quick form! You'll get an email notice when new and important Blog topics are posted + you'll get a copy of my FREE monthly newsletter!!
Fill Out This Quick Form to Get All The Info, Updates, and Fun!! Don't Miss Out!!
Thank you again for giving Baby Food & Fun, LLC a place to grow and flourish, just like our kids :)
Jessica Enderle, R.D., L.D.
#babyfood #infantfood #infantfeeding #feedingbaby #infantformula #formulafeeding #formulafed #babyformula #breastfeeding #breastfed #feedinglittles #infantnutrition #motherhood #parentsupport #registereddietitian #dietitian #rd #mom #wic #advocate #nutrition #publichealthmatters #change #congress #funding #startingsolids #babyfoodandfun #letstalkbabyfood
Comments