Success in Economic Well-Being and Security
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program in Allen County, Indiana
|
Federal Fiscal Year 2004 (Oct 2003 to Sept 2004): |
Federal Fiscal Year 2005 (Oct 2004 to Sept 2005): |
Federal Fiscal Year 2006 (Oct 2005 to Sept 2006): |
||||
| Total Clients | 13,824 |
8,334 |
10,010 |
|||
| Children | 4,961 |
35.9% |
3,874 |
46.5% |
4,588 |
45.8% |
| Infants | 4,607 |
33.3% |
2,327 |
27.9% |
2,796 |
27.9% |
| Women: | 4,256 |
30.8% |
2,133 |
25.6% |
2,626 |
26.2% |
| Pregnant | 2,534 |
849 |
1,343 |
|||
| Breastfeeding | 633 |
426 |
485 | |||
| Non Breastfeeding |
1,089 |
858 |
798 | |||
| Unduplicated count. Source: Neighborhood Health Clinics | ||||||
| Average Monthly Food Package Cost before Rebate 1: | 2005 |
| Children | $31.61 |
| Infants | $101.15 |
| Women: | $36.14 |
| Pregnant | $38.32 |
| Breastfeeding | $43.65 |
| Non Breastfeeding | $30.13 |
The state WIC office calculates that the state average WIC food package is $54 for all classifications except infants, which is $160.
Nationally, the participants in WIC are usually 50% children, 26% infants, and 24% women, and two-thirds of the enrollees have incomes below the federal poverty level. Statistics are not currently available locally to describe the income level, other than the recipients have incomes below 185% of poverty guidelines.
While a participant must be a resident of Indiana to apply through an Indiana WIC office, a participant can apply in any county. The data on participants given above reflect the activity at the Allen County WIC office. It is possible that this may include participates who reside in other counties, but the majority are most likely from Allen County. Nationally, about 47 percent of all babies born in the United States are eligible for WIC.
Evidence suggests that women who participate in WIC have improved pregnancy outcomes, resulting in healthier babies and reduced medical costs for newborns 2.
The WIC program also provides referrals and testing for health related issues, for example, sickle-cell anemia and lead poisoning. WIC is not an entitlement program and is not funded at a level sufficient to serve all who are eligible. The program does have a contingency plan for determining those most in need, and at times, older children may be referred to a different program if they cannot be served through WIC.
Definitions, Sources and Caveats:
WIC is the common abbreviation for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. This program is administered by USDA, and is the country’s third largest food and nutrition assistance program in total expenditures, behind the Food Stamp Program and the National School Lunch Program.
The WIC Program provides (vouchers for) supplemental foods and nutrition at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk. (Note:Infants are newborns up until their first birthday. Children are eligible up until their 5th birthday.) Applicants must meet a number of requirements. They must be a resident of Indiana, and be a pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman, or infant, or child up to 5 years of age, and be determined to be a nutrition risk. Gross income must fall at or below 185 percent of DHHS poverty guidelines, or participation in other benefits programs such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, or TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) would automatically qualify the woman for this program.
1: WIC State agencies are required by law to have competitively-bid infant formula rebate contracts with infant formula manufacturers. WIC provides one brand (substitutions are allowed for allergies, etc) of infant formula to its participants, and in return receives money back from the manufacturer (a rebate).
2:Research Proves WIC Makes a Difference, from the WIC web site.