WIC ProgramWIC Program

Coordinator of the Floyd County WIC Program:

Krista Comer, MS, RD, CD

What does WIC stand for?What does WIC stand for?

W=WomenI=InfantsC=Children

What is WIC?What is WIC?

WIC is a Federal grant program (each year Congress specifies how much money the program receives)

WIC is a supplemental nutrition programWIC is a source for screenings and referrals

Who could be eligible?Who could be eligible?

Pregnant women (through the remainder of the current pregnancy up to 6 weeks after delivery)

Breastfeeding women (up until the infant is one year of age)

Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding (up until the infant is 6 months of age)

Infants (up until they are one year old) Children ( up until they are 5 years old)

How is eligibility determined?How is eligibility determined?

Each participant must qualify both nutritionally as well as financially.

They are screened according to their income.

They visit with a CPA (Certified Professional Authority) to determine nutritional needs.

Interesting InformationInteresting Information

Of all infants born in the United States, WIC serves 45%.

As of 2008, the average monthly food cost per person was $39.03.

There are 2,000 local agencies in 10,000 clinic sites, 50 State health departments, 34 Indian Tribal Organizations, the District of Columbia, and 5 territories (Northern Mariana, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).

How does WIC work?How does WIC work?

Clients are given an appointment time They bring “proofs” to the appointment

– Proof of income, residency, identification on parent and child, and WIC id folder

Proofs are screened by Clerks and entered into the database

If qualify financially, they are seen by the CPA They are asked a series of questions which is also

entered into the database

How WIC works continued…How WIC works continued…

Ht/Wt/HgbRisk factors are identified by CPAEducated nutritionallyChecks printed and explainedGiven packet and scheduled for next

appointment

VENAVENA

ValueEnhancedNutritionAssessment

What is VENA?What is VENA?

Developed in collaboration with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the National WIC Association (NWA)

It is a program designed to improve the assessment process during a WIC visit and individualize the information

Pre- and Post- VENAPre- and Post- VENA Pre

– Quality of assessment is inconsistent across WIC agencies

– Use of diet histories– Assessment information not

always used effectively– Primary function is nutrition

risk id– No presumed dietary risk

criterion– Tendency to focus on deficiency

findings– Not always consistent with

participant-centered nutrition

Post– FNS provides policy for

quality nutrition assessment– No longer use diet histories– Enhances nutrition

assessment– Continues to identify

nutrition risk (individualized)– Inclusion of presumed dietary

risk criterion– Positive approach based on

desired health goals rather than deficiencies

– Complements participant-centered nutrition

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Series of numbers to help CPAs identify nutritional and medical needs

Different ones to apply to each category of individuals

Educational materials provided to increase awareness of risk factors

GOALGOAL

To become more client centered instead of trying to determine eligibility

To have more conversations with clients and open lines of communication

To individualize each visit to meet that persons needs nutritionally, educationally and physically (tailoring the food package)

New WIC Food PackageNew WIC Food Package

• In September of 2009, WIC started providing more variety to their clients.

• The amounts of the foods changed some.• The types of foods still depends on the

client type (i.e. prenatal, breastfeeding, postpartum, child, infant)

Foods AvailableFoods Available Milk/Cheese Eggs Dried Beans/Canned Beans/Peanut Butter Juice Cereal Infant cereal Baby food Carrots* Tuna, Pink Salmon, Sardines* Formula* Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Whole grain products (bread, tortillas, rice)

How much is provided?How much is provided?

Milk/Cheese = 4-6 gallons/month

Eggs = 1 dozen/month

Dried Beans/Peanut Butter = 1 lb/18 oz jar

Juice = 2-3 units

How much continued…..How much continued…..

Cereal = 36 oz/month

Infant cereal = 24 oz/month after 6 months of age

Baby food = 32-64 jars fruits & vegetables; 31 jars meats

How much continued…..How much continued…..

Tuna, Pink Salmon, Sardines = 30 oz/month if exclusively breastfeeding

Formula = approximately 910 oz/month (31 cans of concentrate or 9 cans of powder)

Why these foods?Why these foods?

All of the foods selected are monitored and have to meet certain nutritional standards

All food groups are represented in the food packages

Calcium, iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and fiber are some of the main benefits to the clients

ChecksChecks

Participants are given a folder with the names of the participants on it, the parents signature, and up to 2 proxies who have to sign in order to use the checks

Each food item is printed on the checks and the quantity

Could have up to 4 checks a month per participant

What else does WIC provide?What else does WIC provide?

WIC not only provides food, but also nutrition education

It also provides referrals to other agenciesIt provides networking possibilities for

clients

BudgetBudget

Each year, I write a Grant to be approved by the USDA and State WIC

I am given an amount of money according to my clinic’s caseload and then I have to figure how to distribute it

That amount has to include personnel, supplies, printing, telephone, postage, breastfeeding incentives, travel and rent.

Budget continued….Budget continued….

Each month, I send a report to the State office accounting for the money used that month.

Each participant falls into a priority according to their nutritional and medical need. If budget cuts occur, they could be dropped from the program (starting with the least at risk)

Any Questions??Any Questions??

ReferencesReferences

www.fns.usda.gov/wicwww.nal.usda.gov/wicIndiana State Department of Health

– Pamphlet– Training