WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federal program, funded by a grant given to WIC State Agencies. This allows for only a certain amount of funding each year, as opposed to SNAP benefits where Congress sets aside enough funds for all eligible individuals to participate (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials). WIC is based upon research showing that pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as infants and young children benefit from better and more consistent nutrition.

“WIC is a lifesaver when it comes to helping you get healthy things for your children in the first few years of life, and the fact that WIC will also help pregnant women [is great]. It was a great thing to have when Jasmine was little,” said former WIC mom, Kali.

WIC has led to lower health care costs by decreasing the number of preterm births and low birth-weight infants, which results in fewer illnesses and health issues. Good prenatal and early childhood nutrition has been shown to increase vocabulary scores and significantly improve memory (USDA).  By investing in these children’s early nutrition, we are investing in our nation’s future. Because of the importance of early nutrition, the income threshold for WIC benefits is higher than that for SNAP (a maximum of 185% of the federal poverty income guideline, versus 100% for SNAP), making more women with slightly higher incomes eligible for WIC benefits.

WIC provides parents with children under the age of 5 access to items necessary for a well-rounded, balanced diet, for at least part of the month. In contrast to the generality of SNAP benefits, WIC allows families to purchase only specific foods, such as peanut butter, milk, and whole grain bread. Like many assistance programs, however, stretching the supply to last the entire month is largely impossible, but the benefits can help ease a financial situation that could otherwise prove terribly difficult.

Cooking Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store (WIC parents version available) helps parents better understand what they can get with their WIC benefits, as well as how to make the items they get last longer and provide healthier meal choices. Both events provide parents with the knowledge to be shopping savvy and the opportunity to learn new recipes, either by practicing them in class (Cooking Matters) or by providing copies of relevant recipes (Cooking Matters at the Store). WIC parents can learn about ways to prepare vegetables, fruits, and beans (those dried beans can be a little intimidating to the uninitiated), and Cooking Matters at the Store gives parents the opportunity to learn not only how to shop smarter, but gives them a chance to practice these skills with a professional on hand to ask questions.

WIC offices also provide a support network to encourage mothers to breastfeed, which is recognized as the “optimal source of nutrition for infants.” (USDA) WIC offices provide enhanced nutritional packages to mothers who breastfeed, as well as one-to-one peer support and breast pumps or other aids needed to facilitate breastfeeding. Data has shown that breastfeeding participation by WIC recipients has increased  .08%  between 2011 and 2012 (USDA). Mothers who choose to formula feed or are unable to breastfeed are provided with formula through WIC in place of the enhanced benefits available to breastfeeding mothers. This is beneficial to families in that formula feeding can prove costly— averaging $70 a month for the average 6 month old (Bonyata).

“Since I am one of those women that does not produce breast milk, you can imagine how it eased things financially the first year. Formula is a very expensive necessity that first year. I am not sure where I would have found the money to buy it if I had to. Once she turned a year old, she had to have soy milk, which again is expensive. WIC has helped to insure that we have the healthy basics that she needs,” said Michelle of Bryant, AR.

More comments about WIC from parents currently or formerly on the program:

“ WIC has been a very helpful addition to our grocery budget. Feeding your family healthy foods is expensive and I’m very grateful for the help. I especially love the fact that they gave out vouchers for the farmer’s market this summer! What a great way to help mamas buy local and support our farmers at the same time!”           –Amy, Little Rock, AR

“For me, WIC was a savior for my breastfeeding relationship. Due to having qualified lactation consultants to help me figure out that Jilly had an extreme overbite and how to manage nursing with it, I was able to nurse her past her 2nd birthday.” –Lena, Benton, AR

References

Bonyata, Kelly. “Financial Costs of Not Breastfeeding.” KellyMom. N.p., 30 Oct. 2011. Web. 14 July 2014.                  <http://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/bfcostbenefits/>.

SNAP & WIC Side-by-Side Comparison. Rep. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, June  2014. Web. June 2014. <http://www.astho.org/Programs/Access/Maternal-and-Child- Health/Technical-Assistance/Materials/SNAP-and-WIC-Side-by-Side-Comparison/>.

USA. United States Department of Agriculture. Food and Nutrition Service. WIC — The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Apr. 2014. Web. June 2014.  <http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/WIC-Fact-Sheet.pdf>.

WIC Breastfeeding Data Local Agency Report. Rep. N.p.: USDA FNS Supplemental Food Programs Division, 2012. Print.