The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children has released its “State of WIC” report highlighting the organization’s achievements in the past half-decade.
WIC said research shows that participation in its program is linked to better health outcomes for the 6.7 million-plus mothers and children currently served nationwide, while noting it has experienced an increase of 300,000 participants since early fiscal year 2023. T
The program said in its 50-year history as the first food-as-medicine program in the country that it has empowered families to make healthy choices that benefit them throughout their lives and has helped improve pregnancy outcomes and enhanced nutritional intake for children.
WIC also noted the following:
• Its increased vegetable and fruit cash-value benefit has shown a 10% increase in household food security and a one-quarter cup per day increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.
• As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, WIC food packages undergo scientific review every 10 years to ensure its nutritional integrity.
• The program also offers online modules and group classes to help families make healthy changes to their lifestyle through nutrition education. WIC uses nutritional counseling to highlight participant capacities, strengths and needs and utilizes dietitians, nutritionalists and other professionals to provide credible sources of nutrition information.
• The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service study found that about 70% of mothers in WIC reported making at least one change due to something learned at WIC; 92% of mothers surveyed whose children received WIC at 42 months reported the nutrition education they received was as important as the food they received. Mothers indicated the most frequently reported change was knowing how to choose more healthy food for their family.
• The Farmers Market Nutrition Program was another highlight of the “State of WIC” report. WIC said more than 1.3 million program participants received vouchers to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and roadside stands in 2022.
• WIC has generally enjoyed bipartisan support, but political tensions have made the annual appropriations process challenging; it seeks to establish funding as a mandatory program.
• The WIC Act, or Wise Investment in our Children Act, would expand program eligibility to ensure children can remain in the program until age six or the beginning of kindergarten, filling a gap between the end of WIC eligibility and access to school meals.
• Another Congressional proposal is the WIC for Kids Act, which would improve coordination with other federal programs and ease participant and WIC provider burden. Specifically, the WIC For Kids Act would add Head Start, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and the Nutrition Assistance Program to the list of federal programs that grant supplementary eligibility for WIC
WIC said other future objectives include increasing participation by simplifying enrollment, as well as investing in diversity and professional development for WIC staff.
