WIC has proven effective in improving the health of children and mothers. This could be a big year for the program.
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WIC enrollments have been languishing for years. But with a new administration determined to make a dent in poverty, has WIC’s time come?
Since 1974, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has proven successful among low-income pregnant and postpartum women and kids up to age 5 in mitigating some effects of malnutrition, including anemia, childhood obesity, low birthweight, and school unreadiness. As many as 12,000 WIC clinics serve 6.3 million people across the country, but the program doesn’t have the reach it should: Enrollments among those currently eligible are just above 50 percent and are even lower 42 percent for kids in the 1 to 4 age range.
MISSOURI- A new bill introduced by Rep. Martha Stevens (D-Columbia) would provide vouchers for food at farmers markets for low-income, pregnant and postpartum women, as well as children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk.Â
House Bill 652 states that it will allow the Department of Agriculture to apply for a grant under the USDA Senior Farmer s Market Nutrition Program and apply for a grant and submit a state plan under the USDA s Women s Infant and Children (WIC) Farmer s Market Nutrition Program to help low income families who meet the requirements.
When introducing this legislation, Stevens said her inspiration for proposing the bill came from her work with advocates.