In 2007, the Food and Nutrition Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an “Interim Rule” that substantially revised regulations governing the WIC food packages. State agencies administering the WIC Program at the state level were required to implement the revised food packages by October 2009. The WIC Food Packages Policy Options Study documents how state…
WIC Eligibles and Coverage – 1994 to 2007: Estimates of the Population of Women, Infants, and Children Eligible for WIC BenefitWIC Eligibles and Coverage – 1994 to 2007: Estimates of the Population of Women, Infants, and Children Eligible for WIC Benefit offers updated estimates of the population that met these criteria and was eligible for WIC benefits in each of the years 1994 through 2007. These revise a set of estimates published by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service…
Planning a WIC Research AgendaPlanning a WIC Research Agenda is summary of the presentations given at the Health Impacts of WIC—Planning a Research Agenda workshop held by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine on July 20-21, 2010. Individual workshop titles include: WIC and Birth Outcomes; WIC and Obesity; Research Needed to Improve Breastfeeding Protection, Promotion, and…
The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues (2009 Edition)WIC is USDA’s third-largest food and nutrition assistance program; almost half of all infants and about a quarter of all children ages 1-4 in the United States participate in the program. This report, The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues (2009 Edition), describes the WIC program—how it works, its history, program trends, and the characteristics…
Connecting Local Farmers with USDA Farmers Market Nutrition Program ParticipantsConnecting Local Farmers with USDA Farmers Market Nutrition Program Participants is a study designed to determine if transportation is a limiting factor in the redemption of Senior and WIC FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) participants. It appears the Senior FMNP redemption rate will improve if transportation is provided, but the WIC FMNP redemption rate appears to…
WIC and Retailer Grocery StoresThis document is a one-page, informational resource about WIC and retail grocery stores. Information about WIC is presented in a question and answer format. Topics include a brief overview of WIC, where WIC is available, how stores are authorized to accept WIC checks, and other essential information WIC and retail providers. This is a useful…
Changes in the WIC Food Packages: A Toolkit for Partnering with Neighborhood StoresThis toolkit provides a range of tools and strategies for advocates to identify and work with prospective WIC vendors, and it helps these retailers upgrade their offerings in accordance with the new, healthier WIC food packages. This toolkit includes three handouts that advocates are encouraged to share with corner store owners including how to become…
Early Outcomes: Impact of New WIC FoodsThis policy brief summarizes late-breaking research on the impact of the new WIC foods on low-income families, communities and nutrition policy. It provides highlights of information presented at the WIC Food Package Evaluation Symposium, which summarized the key early outcomes, explore common themes, and build on these to inform future research and WIC policy modifications….
WIC Improves Child Health and School ReadinessBased on medical research, “WIC Improves Child Health and School Readiness” is a policy action brief supporting the many and varied benefits of the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It makes the point that investing in WIC not only provides cost savings in infant health care, but also supports the nutritional…