Illinois CommissionTo End Hunger Summit

WIC OVERVIEW Tia Stovall

What is WIC?• Federal program for Women, Infants, and Children• Funded by the FNS USDA

– WIC is not an entitlement program – Congress authorizes a specific amount of funds each

year for the program• Provides

– Nutritious food– Nutrition counseling– Referrals

• Available in 50 states/34 ITOs• Approximately 9 million participants served annually

• $6.618 billion appropriated for WIC in FY 2012

Who is Eligible?• Pregnant women• Postpartum women• Breastfeeding women• Infants WIC serves 53% of all infants born in the United States • Children up to age 5

Eligibility Requirements• Provide proof of identity • Meets residency requirements • Meets income guidelines - 185% of

Federal Poverty Income Guidelines• Determined by health

professionals to be at medical/nutritional risk

WIC Priority SystemThe purpose of the priority system is to make sure that WIC services and

benefits are provided first to participants with the most serious health conditions

• Priority I: Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Women, and Infants– With Serious Medical Problems - such as

anemia, underweight, history of poor pregnancy

• Priority II: Infants (up to 6 months) – Whose mothers participated in WIC or could

have participated and had serious medical problems

WIC Priority System• Priority III: Children

– With Serious Medical Problems

• Priority IV: Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Women, and Infants– With Dietary Problems (like poor diet)

WIC Priority System• Priority V: Children

• With Dietary Problems (like poor diet)– Priority VI: Postpartum Women

• With Dietary Problems– Priority VII: Current WIC participants

• Without providing the WIC supplemental foods could continue to have medical and dietary problems.

Benefits Provided by WIC

• Supplemental nutritious foods • Nutrition education and counseling

at WIC clinics – Breastfeeding Promotion and Support

• Screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services

WIC Foods• Aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for

Americans • Based on recommendations made by

the Institute of Medicine (IOM) • Selected to target nutrients found to be

low in diets of women and children(protein, calcium, Vit A, Vit C, folic acid, iron)

WIC Foods• Juice• Eggs• Milk• Breakfast Cereal• Fruits/Vegetables• Whole Wheat

Bread/Grains

• Dried Beans/Peas• Peanut Butter• Cheese• Fish (canned)• Formula, infant

cereal, baby food

WIC Works• Research shows:

– Improved Birth Outcomes and Savings in Health Care Costs

– Improved Diet and Diet-Related Outcomes– Improved Infant Feeding Practices– Immunization Rates and Regular Source of

Medical Care– Improved Cognitive Development– Improved Preconceptional Nutritional Status

WIC Prescreening ToolSeptember 2011

• Web-based application to determine possible eligibility for WIC benefits

• Users complete questions – Categorical, residential and income

eligibility for WIC benefits• May be eligible or may not be eligible • Provided state-specific contact information

and encouraged to make a certification appointment with their WIC local agencies

• https://stars.fns.usda.gov/wps/pages/start.jsf

Who Do We Serve?Average Monthly Participation in the

Midwest Region

• Illinois– 288,847 participants

• Indiana– 164,281 participants

• Michigan– 255,954 participants

• Minnesota– 128,436 participants

• Ohio– 275,627 participants

• Wisconsin– 118,585 participants

THE WIC FARMERS MARKET (FMNP) AND SENIORS FARMERS MARKET (SFMNP)

NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Background• The FMNP was established by Congress in

1992– Provides fresh, unprepared, locally grown

fruits and vegetables to WIC participants– Expands awareness and sales at farmers

markets• In 2001, the SFMNP joined USDA-FNS

– Seniors are given coupons that can be used at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs known as (CSA)

Eligibility• WIC participants• Low-income seniors, generally

defined as 60 years old or older– Meet federal income guidelines or– Proof of enrollment in another mean-

tested program such as SNAP

Operation• The S/FMNP are administered through a Federal/State

partnership in which FNS provides cash grants to State Agencies– Managed by State Agencies such as the State

Agriculture depts. or health depts. or ITO’S. – State agency must submit a State Plan before they

can receive federal funds – Coupons are issued to eligible WIC participants and

or seniors, then submitted to the bank or State agency for reimbursement

– Benefit level : FMNP $10-$30 per year per recipient, and SFMNP-$20-$50 per year

•  •

Funding • For FY12, $16.548 million was appropriated by

Congress for the FMNP – $20.6 million for the SFMNP

• For FY12- Grants were awarded to 46 states and ITO’s for the FMNP and 51 states and ITO’s for the SFMNP

• Federal Funds support 100% of the food costs for both programs

ParticipationFY 2012

• FMNP– 18,179 farmers– 3,379 farmers markets – 2,872 roadside stands

• 1.9 million WIC participants received FMNP coupons

Participation• SFMNP

– 19,839 farmers – 3,958 farmers markets– 2,978roadside stands – 153 CSA’s

• 1,022,390 participants received SFMNP coupons

• Only farmers, farmers markets, and roadside stands authorized by the State agency may accept and redeem SFMNP and FMNP coupons

REASONS TO SHOP AT FARMERS MARKETS

• Supports your local farmers• You can try a new fruit or

vegetable• Great way to get your kids

involved • Farmers often have good

recommendations on ways to prepare their products

CASH VALUE VOUCHERS

Cash-value voucherA fixed-dollar amount check,

voucher, electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card or other document which

is used by a participant to obtain authorized fruits and vegetables.

October 22, 2009 FNS Policy Memorandum #2010-1

• Increase in the cash value of the WIC fruit and vegetable vouchers to $10 for all women

• All State agencies had to implement, within six months, and all women participants issued benefits after April 30, 2010 must receive a voucher in the increased amount of $10

• All MWR States have submitted amendments to State Plans to reflect the change.

• Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota have all authorized farmers to accept the CVV.

Example of Typical CVV Redemptions Rates

Wisconsin • # Checks issued 1,201,653

• # Checks redeemed 896,079 (74.57%)

• # Checks not redeemed 305,574 (25.43%)  

 

MAXIMUM MONTHLY FOOD PACKAGE FOR CHILDREN

Children (1 through 4 years): 

• Juice 128 Ounces• Milk 16 Quarts• Breakfast Cereal 36 Ounces• Eggs 1 Dozen• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables $6.00 Cash Value Voucher• Whole Grains 1 Pound• Peanut Butter 18 Ounces

MAXIMUM MONTHLY FOOD PACKAGE FOR PREGNANT AND PARTIALLY BREASTFEEDING

WOMENPregnant Women and Partially

Breastfeeding Women Up to 1 Year:

• Juice 144 Ounces• Milk 22 Quarts• Breakfast Cereal 36 Ounces• Eggs 1 Dozen• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables $10.00 Cash Value Voucher• Whole Grains 1 Pound• Peanut Butter 16 Ounces

MONTHLY FOOD PACKAGE FOR POSTPARTUM WOMEN

Postpartum Women and Breastfeeding Women of Infants Receiving more than the Maximum amount of Formula for

Partially Breastfed Infants (Up to 6 Months): 

• Juice 96 Ounces• Milk 16 Quarts• Breakfast Cereal 36 Ounces• Eggs 1 Dozen• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables $10.00 Cash Value Voucher• Peanut Butter 18 Ounces

BREASTFEEDING WOMENFully Breastfeeding Women and Partially

Breastfeeding Women of Multiple Infants from the same pregnancy Up to 1 Year Postpartum and

Pregnant Women of Multiple Fetuses: • Juice 144 Ounces

• Milk 24 Quarts• Breakfast Cereal 36 Ounces• Cheese 1 Pound• Eggs 2 Dozen• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables $10.00 Cash Value Voucher• Whole grains 1 Pound• Fish (Canned) 30 Ounces• Peanut Butter 18 Ounces

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Julie Mikkelson, Regional Director312-353-1901