WIC Women, Infants and Children

1
WIC Women, Infants and Children

• WIC Helps You Help Your Family
• Nutritious food, and so much more

The USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants and Children
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The Facts about WIC

• Since 1974, West Virginia WIC has received
  federal funding from the United States Department
  of Agriculture in order to help women and
  children in West Virginia grow up to be healthy
  and strong.

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Who is eligible for WIC?

• Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or had a
  baby in the past six months or twelve months if
  breastfeeding.
• Infants and children under age five, including
  foster children.

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Applicants must

• Reside in West Virginia
• Have a medical or nutritional risk
• Meet the income eligibility guidelines which is
  185 FPL
• Applicants who receive food stamps, Medicaid or
  TANF are adjunctively eligible as outlined in
  federal regulations

5
What benefits and Services can you expect from
WIC?

• Nutrition Services and Counseling.
• Breastfeeding Information and Support
• Health and Immunization Screenings
• Referrals to Health and Social Service
  Organizations
• Nutritious Food

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WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

• The program provides checks to WIC participants
  in select operating counties to purchase locally
  grown fresh fruits and vegetables at their local
  farmers market every year between June 1st and
  October 31st.

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Accomplishments in 2005-2006

• Served approximately 50,000 West Virginians each
  month 12,000 women-12,000 infants-26,000
  children.
• Provided 32.5 million dollars to the West
  Virginia economy through participant purchases at
  over 400 grocery stores throughout all 55
  counties.
• Children who are a part of the WIC program are
  more likely to be healthy, do better in school,
  maintain up-to-date immunizations, and have
  regular medical care as well as lower medical
  costs to themselves than those not participating
  in the program.

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Where does WIC serve West Virginia families?
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How much does WIC save families?

• Participating in the WIC Program saves West
  Virginia families an average of 35.00 to 121.00
  a month.
• Every dollar spent on pregnant women in WIC
  produces 1.92 to 4.21 in Medicaid savings for
  newborns and their mothers. It only costs
  approximately 622 a year for a pregnant woman to
  participate in WIC.

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How can you help?

• WV WIC is only serving 61 of Medicaid recipients
  eligible for the program
• Caseload could be approximately 75,000 by
  accessing the population who is eligible but not
  participating this would increase federal funds
  by 18 million
• Help WIC to ensure infants and childrens normal
  growth, reduce levels of anemia, increase
  immunization rates, improve access to regular
  health care and improve diets.

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How Can You Refer to WIC?

• You or Caregivers can fill out Partners for
  Healthy Kids Referral Forms and you can mail or
  fax to WIC
• Pass out Bear Cards as an incentive to get on
  WIC
• Call WIC and we can take care of you/client over
  the phone
• Provide potential clients with
  brochures/handouts that have WICs phone number
  address on them
• Potential clients can fill out an application on
  the Internet
• at www.wvdhhr.org/ons

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How Can WIC Help You Your Community?

• WIC can collaborate with other agencies in local
  communities and promote health and wellness
• We can provide continuity of care for clients and
  work on goal setting with families
• We can partner with other agencies and provide
  them with referrals
• WIC can participate in community events and fairs

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The Future of WIC

• VENA (Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment)
• Food Package Changes
• Motivational and Emotional Based Counseling
• SAM

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Questions

• Thank You!