wic women, infants, children official name: special supplemental nutrition program for women,...
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WIC
• WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN• Official Name: Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
• Started in 1974
WIC Is …
• a nutrition program• an education program• a healthcare program • not a Welfare Program• not Food Stamps• not a handout
Who Administers WIC?
• Nationally: USDA / FNS• In Alabama:
– State WIC Office– County Health Departments– Contracts with other health agencies– WIC serves over 100,000 in Alabama
Who Is Categorically Eligible For WIC?• Pregnant Women• Postpartum Women• Breastfeeding Mothers• Infants• Children up to 5 years of age
What Makes A Person Eligible For WIC?• Meets Income Guidelines
AND• Has a Nutritional Risk
WIC Income EligibilityBased on 185% of Poverty
Family size Annual Month Week
1 $15,448 $1,288 $298
2 $20,813 $1,735 $401
3 $26,178 $2,182 $504
4 $31,543 $2,629 $607
5 $36,908 $3,076 $710
WIC Income Eligibility
• Adjunctive Eligibility– Medicaid– Food Stamps– Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF)
• Proof of Income
Program Integrity in WIC
• Proof of Income• Proof of Identification• Proof of Residence • Identification of a Nutritional Risk
Nutritional Assessment
• Weight• Height/Length• Hgb/Hct• Food Intake/Frequency• Health/Medical History• Identification of Nutritional Risk(s)
What Benefits Does A WIC Participant Receive?• Nutritional Assessment and Education
– Counseling– Pamphlets / Materials
• Goals: – Improve dietary habits of families– Improve the dietary intake and weight
gain in pregnant women– Improve the growth of infants and
children
WIC Benefits (continued)
• Breastfeeding Education– Counseling– Pamphlets, books, and videos– Loaned electric breastpumps– Other breastfeeding items when
needed
• Goal: Improve the incidence and success of breastfeeding
WIC Benefits (continued)
• Nutritious Foods (WIC Food Instruments)– Milk, Eggs, Cheese, Cereal, Juice, Dried
Beans and Peas or Peanut Butter– Carrots and Tuna (exclusively
breastfeeding mothers only)– Infant Formulas, Infant Cereal, Infant Juice– Special Food Packages for children or
adults
WIC Benefits (continued)
• Referrals to other agencies and programs– Food Stamps– Medicaid– Immunizations– Substance Abuse / Social Worker– Children’s Rehabilitative Services– CHIP (ALLKIDS - health insurance)– Health Care Provider
How Does WIC Work?
• Call for an appointment• Establish eligibility• Receive Food Instruments• Go to WIC Vendors
– Proxies may go for participant
• Must have WIC Identification Card
Subsequent Nutrition Education Contacts• Reinforcement Counseling• Follow up of high risk clients
– Height– Weight– Hemoglobin
• Referrals
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)• Collaborative effort
– WIC– Alabama Farmers Market Authority– Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
• New program– Piloted in Montgomery in 1999– Currently in 12 Alabama counties for 2001
• Provides fresh produce during the summer
Does WIC Work?
• Decreased risk of low birth weight (25%)• Decreased risk of very low birth weight
(44%)• Significantly decreased prevalence of
anemia• Women on WIC have fewer premature
births• And...
WIC Pays For Itself!
•For every $1.92 spent in WIC, $4.21 are saved in Medicaid costs
All of the preceding statistics, plus much more information, can be found at the USDA website:
www.usda.gov
How Else Does WIC Help?
• Helps the state regenerate food money
• Benefits local farmers in counties with FMNP
• Lifetime effect in improved dietary habits
• Lifetime effect in healthy choices for good health
Contact WIC
• Healthy Beginnings (statewide):– 1-800-654-1385
• Locally:– Call your County Health Department
• On the internet:– www.alwic.net
Any Questions? If you have any questions about this presentation, call Richard W. Burleson at the State WIC Office at (334) 206-2929.
Thank You!
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