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The WIC Program

University of Texas at Arlington

May 5, 2020

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The WIC Program

Countries, organizations, as well as institutions have got several mechanisms and

guidelines which aid in the problem-solving process. Each of the institutions has got several

issues to tackle; these issues range from the national level to regional and, in some cases, global

scale. These set of mechanisms and principles constitute what is referred to as policies. A policy

is an adopted system of tools, outlines, and guidelines that guide any given institution towards

achieving a set of specific goals or outcomes (Khan, Zhu & Dhar, 2018). Policymakers are an

integral part of any organization and country. They play a vital role in various areas. These areas

include policy formulation, implementation, monitoring, as well as adjustment. Strong policies

result in robust systems of governance, while weak policies are detrimental to the developmental

process of any country. Countries have adopted policies in different departments such as finance,

rural development, climate change, as well as equality and gender issues. One most unique and

vital policy discussed in this paper is Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The WIC

policy is an integral policy in gender equality, children and women empowerment sector, helping

women and vulnerable children achieve their optimum standards.

The WIC Policy Overview

The WIC policy is designed to provide backing to females and youngsters aged under

five years (Policy Basics, 2020). The program seeks to offer support to these groups of

individuals, the support ranging from nutrition, proper healthcare, as well as education. It aims to

meet the various exceptional nutritional requirements of financially unstable breastfeeding

women, as well as postpartum non-breastfeeding women and children deemed to be in dire

nutritional needs (ASWIC, 2020). This program has been hailed as an integral part of the

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promotion of women and children’s health, not only in the United States but also in other

countries that have adopted similar programs.

The WIC program came into existence following amendments to the 1966 section

seventeen of the Child Nutrition Act. It was established in Minnesota before rapidly being

adopted by numerous other states (ASWIC, 2020). It was initially designed to run for two years

to offer exceptional nutritional support to expectant, breastfeeding mothers, as well as infants.

During its initial stages, eligibility for the program was just youngsters below four years.

Postpartum non-breastfeeding women were also excluded. In 1975, WIC became a lasting policy

(ASWIC, 2020). It was also during this period that eligibility rules were revised; children’s age

was changed to five years, and up to six moth-postpartum non-breastfeeding mothers also

incorporated into the program (ASWIC, 2020).

Currently, the WIC program has grown into a national policy, although eligibility only

allows resident members of a particular state to apply; one can only apply to their residence

states (Policy Basics, 2020). Moreover, the program has increased its mandate to include such

services as immunization and education. Primary funding for the WIC program is from two

sources; the Nutritional Services and Administration (NSA) grant as well as the Food gran

(ASWIC, 2020). While a more significant percentage of the program’s money for state and

home-grown organizations is from the centralized administration, there are several states which

supplement this from outside sources. The program has had periods in which funding and

expenditure were high, as well as specific periods of low financing and spending. Between 2008

and 2011, WIC’s expense increased from $6 billion to about $7.2 billion (Policy Basics, 2020).

However, from 2011 onwards, there has been a gradual decline in the program’s expenditure, one

primary reason for being a reduction in the number of participants (Policy Basics, 2020).

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Problem Definition

The WIC program seeks to address several key issues that, if left unattended, can lead to

huge problems among expectant and breastfeeding women, infants, and children. Among the

difficulties faced by these individuals include the following: poverty, poor nutrition, high infant

morbidity, and mortality rates, as well as pregnancy-related issues (ASWIC, 2020). These issues

majorly affect women and children. They are among the vulnerable members within the society;

hence the importance of the WIC program is seeking to address their problems and empower

them.

Poverty levels among expectant women, infants, and children is an issue of global

concern. It is one problem from which all others originate from. Low-income levels not only

predispose pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and children to malnutrition but also several health-

related complications (Policy Basics, 2020). Among the USA’s population that is regarded as

‘poor,’ 70 percent comprises of women and children (Hodder et al., 2017). More data shows that

women are approximately 35 percent more to be poor as compared to men. Out of these figures,

the majority are single mothers, breastfeeding women, and children. Several factors contribute to

this situation in the USA. Despite women making up almost half the workforce in the US,

statistics show that about 60 percent of them are in the low paying jobs while a majority of men

are in the high-income jobs (Hodder et al., 2017). Other contributing factors include; violence

and abuse, increased family caretaking roles, gender wage gaps, as well as insufficient social

safety net (Hodder et al., 2017).

A primary factor that led to the formation of the WIC program, poor nutrition among

breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children is a severe problem in the USA and the world in

general. Close to 2 percent of children in the USA suffer from chronic malnutrition (Khan, Zhu

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& Dhar, 2018). While there are many necessities, most Americans would love to have, proper

and nutritious food is considered to be a priority and a need. According to Feeding America

(2020), about 70% of Americans have to make a selection- foodstuff or services, 67% have to

select whether they want foodstuff or transportation, 66% are torn on whether to pick foodstuff

or healthcare while 57% must decide whether they need shelter or meals; a further 31% have

studies or food to choose from. Moreover, 80 percent of Americans purchase cheap and

unhealthy food (Feeding America, 2020). Worrying statistics reveal close to seventeen million

children in the USA struggle with hunger annually; furthermore, about 20 percent of starving

clans were found not to be qualified for help from the federal government. Children and

breastfeeding mothers suffer the most (Feeding America, 2020).

As a result of malnutrition and poverty, there are very many cases of pregnancy-

associated complications, high infant morbidity, and mortality rates. Poor nutrition contributes to

incidents such as stillbirths, abortions, as well as labor complications among women (Khan, Zhu

& Dhar, 2018). Moreover, before programs such WIC came into existence, cases of low birth

weight among children as well as disease incidences were very high. Such cases have

significantly reduced, thanks to interventions by such programs as WIC. With good child care

programs in place, children mortality rates in the USA fell from 24.1 demises in every 1000 live

deliveries in the late 1960s to only 6.5 demises in every 1000 live deliveries in 2018 (Khan, Zhu

& Dhar, 2018). Disease incidences in children among poorly fed mothers are very high; such

women give birth to infants with deficient immunity and susceptible to a wide range of

infections. Additionally, there are possibilities of giving birth to children with defects, both

mental and physical.

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Targets of the WIC Program

The WIC targets have a significant contribution to the global goals of sustainable

development. Precisely, the program’s goals are directly aligned to the sustainable development

goals on food security, good health, nutrition, and education. The WIC program has got several

essential goals which it seeks to accomplish in the United States. The program’s objectives can

broadly be categorized under proper nutrition, health, and education (ASWIC, 2020).

Improvement of the health status of clients is the first WIC program goal (ASWIC, 2020).

The program seeks to achieve proper health and good lives among mothers and children,

empowering them to develop their potential better. The second objective of the WIC policy is the

prevention of the occurrence of health-related problems among its clients (ASWIC, 2020). The

organization seeks to have a society in which breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children are free

of disease and in proper health conditions. The third goal is to achieve significant reductions in

child mortality rates (ASWIC, 2020). The program has taken note of the high rates of mortalities

among infants and children owing to poor nutrition and feeding among breastfeeding mums and

youngsters below the five years. Thus, it has set out to reduce this rate through support to the

mothers and the children.

The WIC policy’s fourth objective is diet training provision through individual and group

counseling (ASWIC, 2020). This is achieved through the 2004-launched breastfeeding peer

counselor initiative in which experienced breastfeeding mothers become counselors to those

learning to breastfeed. The program’s fifth goal is to ensure the promotion, support, and increment

of the breastfeeding incidence and duration (ASWIC, 2020). This goal is aimed at ensuring infants

get enough breastfeeding time to boost their immunity and nutritional status. The sixth goal is to

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be able to access all the females, babies, and youngsters in poverty who are in danger of

malnutrition.

Alternatives to the WIC Programs

Various other programs are similar to the WIC program, offering support to breastfeeding

women, infants, and children. Some of the organizations that provide alternatives to the WIC

programs include the following; the United Nations International Children Education Fund

(UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as World Vision International. These

are international organizations with a presence in numerous countries globally. They are an

alternative means through which support to poor breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children can

be achieved.

The World Health Organization runs numerous healthcare programs in the world, including

the USA. These programs are aimed at offering medical and nutrition support to vulnerable

breastfeeding mothers and infants around the globe. Some of these programs include antenatal

and postnatal care for pregnant women and their children, integrated management of childhood

diseases, as well as nutrition and breastfeeding promotion (The WHO, 2020). UNICEF also has

got special programs for breastfeeding mothers, children, and infants. The agency provides support

to mothers and infants, improving the survival chances of children globally; the agency also

provides vital healthcare services such as child immunization to prevent childhood diseases, and

education programs (UNICEF, 2020). World Vision International majorly offers nutritional

support to children, breastfeeding mothers, and other high at-risk populations globally (World

Vision, 2020). While the WIC program is locally based, such organizations as World Vision

International, UNICEF, and WHO are international. They all work towards the improvement of

health among mothers and children.

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Implementation of the WIC Program

At national level, the WIC program is under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Food Nutrition and Service. This department is responsible for implementing WIC programs. The

USDA delivers resources to health divisions of the state and other approved agencies, which then

administer the WIC benefits to beneficiaries (ASWIC, 2020). Funds obtained by states from

outside sources are given to local clinics within the particular states; these clinics then implement

the program, offering benefits to eligible members. The benefits provided include distinct nutrition

counseling, nutrition lessons, breastfeeding care, smoking ending support, as well as

recommendations for healthcare or social amenities (ASWIC, 2020). WIC provides vouchers for

nutritionally recommended foods to target populations. Common foods provided comprise whole

grain bread, infant formula, milk and toddler food. There are also discrete money coupons for poor

mothers (ASWIC, 2020).

Focus Area and Efficacy of the WIC Policy

The WIC policy is mainly focused on improving the health status and overall well-being

of poor mothers and infants. Its work has been associated with a lot of success stories since its

inception. One major success factor is the reduction of infant problems at birth, such as low birth

weight. From the time when it was started, the WIC has managed to reduce low birth weight

problems among infants by approximately 30%; additionally, the likelihood of truncated birth

weights has been reduced by half (ASWIC, 2020).

Infant mortalities have a significant effect on families, especially mothers. With the

implementation of WIC programs, infant mortality rates in the USA have reduced significantly.

Studies have found out only 5.0 newborn demises per 1000 live deliveries among WIC partakers,

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compared to 8.0 newborn demises per 1000 live deliveries among non-WIC members (Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Nutrition-wise, the WIC program has contributed to

massive success among poor mothers. Through WIC programs, consumption of whole-grain foods

doubled, with vegetable consumption increasing by about 30% among the vulnerable populations

(Khan, Zhu & Dhar, 2018). Through WIC, mothers have been able to receive lifesaving support.

By 2016, four in every ten mothers in the US were receiving exceptional care and benefits from

the WIC program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020).

Conclusion

The WIC program seeks to provide support to poor lactating mums, toddlers, and

youngsters in the USA. The policy offers various support packages to these groups of individuals.

Among the benefits enjoyed by WIC members include nutritional support, healthcare support, as

well as education. The formation of the WIC program has contributed to reduced child mortality

rates, reduced disease incidences among children, proper nutrition, as well as reduced pregnancy

complications among women. Other organizations that offer services similar to the WIC program

include World Vision International, The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund

and the World Health Organization.

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References

ASWIC. (2020). Retrieved 5 May 2020, from http://aswic.com/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Products – Data Briefs – Number 298 –January

2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db298.htm

Feeding America. (2020). Facts About Child Hunger in America. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from

https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts

Hodder, S., Spiegel, H., Soto-Torres, L., & Haley, D. F. (2017). Women and Poverty in the USA.

In Poverty in the United States (pp. 1-8). Springer, Cham.

Khanani, I., Elam, J., Hearn, R., Jones, C., & Maseru, N. (2010). The impact of prenatal WIC

participation on infant mortality and racial disparities. American journal of public

health, 100 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S204–S209. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.168922

Khan, R., Zhu, T., & Dhar, S. (2018). The effect of the WIC program on consumption patterns in

the cereal category. Quantitative Marketing and Economics, 16(1), 79-109.

Minnesota Department of Health. (2020). WIC Success Stories. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/success.html

Policy Basics. (2020). Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Retrieved 5 May 2020, from https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/policy-basics

special-supplemental-nutrition-program-for-women-infants-and

The WHO. (2020). Child Growth Standards. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from

https://www.who.int/childgrowth/en/

UNICEF. (2020). Maternal, newborn, and child survival. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from

https://www.unicef.org/health/maternal-newborn-and-child-survival

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World Vision. (2020). About Us |.Retrieved 5 May 2020, fromhttps://www.worldvision.org/about

Us