For the low-income women and children who depend on it, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides much more than just food vouchers. WIC participants receive health and nutritional education, breastfeeding support, referrals to medical care and social services and, most importantly, a monthly food package that is tailored to meet their unique needs.
WIC is federally funded and administered at the local level through a network of state and community agencies. The Chicago area’s WIC clinics are based in health departments, hospitals and community organizations, including the non-profit Sinai Chicago.
The program serves infants, children up to age 5, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and postpartum and prenatal moms who are considered nutritionally at risk. Eligibility is based on family size and income; the program is free to all who qualify, but applications are required.
Despite this clear need, the WIC Chicago area’s WIC participation rate is among the lowest in the nation. Just 43.5% of eligible families are signed up for the service. The reasons for this gap are complex and varied. But one of the simplest and most powerful solutions could be right under our noses: more local awareness.
According to our research, many of the potential WIC participants who aren’t enrolled are simply unaware of the program. It’s important for community health workers and other professionals to regularly inform people of the benefits of the program, as well as how to access it. For instance, pediatricians who treat young children should routinely remind parents about WIC’s eligibility requirements and the simple application process. And, community organizations should promote public service announcements on traditional and social media.
In addition to educating the public about the program, it’s also important to reduce barriers that discourage potential participants. As mentioned, the application process requires in-person visits, which can be difficult for many families who live in a rural setting or have transportation challenges. To make the process easier, more pop-up WIC clinics would be helpful.
The WIC food packages are changing to better align with dietary guidelines for expectant and new mothers, which should also increase participation rates. For example, the new food packages will include more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy and offer a wider variety of foods that reflect the diverse cultures of our city’s residents.
The changes to the food package are being implemented in phases over the next two years and will be evaluated for their impact on boosting enrollment rates. In the meantime, we will continue to learn from our research about how reducing lobby wait times and overall service cycle time improves client satisfaction, which may in turn help us increase the number of low-income families that participate in WIC. Our research was made possible by the support of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the WIC Office of Evaluation. Our research partners are the Sinai Center for Urban Health and Social Equity (SCI) and four affiliated WIC sites in the West, South and Southwest sides of Chicago.