WIC: Women Infants and Children

The Importance of WIC: Its Impact on Individuals and Our Community

Photo from: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/

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Outline

What is WIC?

What are the benefits of WIC to an individual and/or community?

What is the community’s role in WIC?

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What is WIC?

Photo from: http://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/health/nutrition/docs/wic_program.htm

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History Created by Congress:

To address widespread hunger and poverty A federal grant program-Congress authorizes funding

each year Made permanent in 1974

Provides: Quality nutrition education and services Support breastfeeding promotion and education A monthly food prescription (package). Access to maternal, prenatal, and pediatric health-care

services

Sources: USDA and National WIC Association

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Who does WIC serve?

Target Populations low income, nutritionally at risk: Pregnant Women Breastfeeding Women Non-breastfeeding postpartum women Infants Children up to their 5th birthday

Eligibility: Income level less than or equal to 185% of the poverty

level Individual is at a nutritional risk

Source: National WIC Association

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What benefits do Women, Infants, and Children Receive?

Health and nutrition screening Nutrient-dense WIC foods for growth and

development Nutrition Education to help achieve healthy

growth and development Breastfeeding education and support Benefits

Women Infants Children

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services-Benefits Received by

WIC Participants.

Insert photo from community here

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National Data

In 2007, over 50% of all infants born in the United States were in WIC (National WIC Association)

In 2008, average WIC family size was four (National WIC Association)

% Poverty Level

Income Level

0% $0

1-50% $224-$11,175

51-100% $11,399-$22,350

101-150% $22,574-$33,525

151-185% $33,749-$41,348

Source: National WIC Association

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Savings in Health Care…

WIC attempts to reduce preterm births

WIC creates $44,482 dollars in SAVINGS

$1.00 Spent : $2.20 Saved

SAVES Money

Creates Nontax Revenues

Source: National WIC Association

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State Data

Wisconsin 2008 WIC Participants:

Pregnant/Postpartum Women: 60,601 Infants: 40,763 Children age 1-4: 102,426 Total Participants: 203,790

In 2008, 6,096 teenage births

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services-2008 Profile for Wisconsin

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Local Data

Eau Claire City-County Overall county health ranking: 19th 2008 WIC Participants:

Pregnant/Postpartum Women: 1,093 Infants: 729 Children: 1,912

81 teenage births

Sources: County Health Rankings and Wisconsin Department of Health Services-2008 Profile for Eau Claire County

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Local Data

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What are the benefits of WIC to an individual and/or

community?

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Society Benefits of WIC…

WIC participants decrease other health care costs

Children are more likely to do well in school

Keeps Kids Safe

Source: National WIC Association

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WIC Encourages Healthy Behaviors…

BreastfeedingHealthy eatingExercise

Decrease overweight/obesity levels

Insert Photo from own

WIC Program

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Eau Claire City-County

Baby Breastfed…

(Not exclusively)

Percent Rank in State

Ever 72.4% 24th

(376/520)

At least 6 months 24.2% 22nd

(61/252)

At least 12 months 10.7% 32nd

(41/375)

Source: 2010 PedNSS

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Percentage of WIC infants breastfed at least 6 months by race and ethnicity

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

Year 2010 Target: 50%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

White Black Hispanic AmericanIndian

Asian Multiple Total

Per

cent

age

State Nation

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Year 2010 Target: 25%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

White Black Hispanic AmericanIndian

Asian Multiple Total

Per

cent

age

State Nation

Percent of WIC Infants Breastfed at 12 months by race and ethnicity

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

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Trends in the Percent of WIC Infants Ever Breastfed, and Breastfed at least 6 and 12 months

01020304050607080

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Per

cent

age

Ever Breastfed Breastfed 6 Months Breastfed 12 Months

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

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Value of Food Packages

WIC Check Food package Value of a food package

Example photo: Use community photo

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Prevalence of Obesity among WIC Children Age <5, by age

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

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Trends in Prevalence of Obesityamong WIC Children Age <5, by Race and Ethnicity

0

5

10

15

20

25

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Year

Per

cent

age

White Black Hispanic American Indian Asian Multiple Total

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

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Prevalence of Obesityamong WIC Children Age <5 years, by region

Source: PedNSS 2010 PowerPoint

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Food Insecurity Data

In 2006, more than 1 in 10 American households (11.3%) had very low food security

In 2007, 51% of WI WIC households/families identified with low food security

In 2007, 15% of WI WIC households/families identified with very low food security

In 2007, 48% of 495 respondents reported very low security in Eau Claire County (Insert

your county name and data here)

Source: Nutrition & Physical Activity Section; WIC Program, Bureau of Community Health Promotion, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services

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What is the Community’s Role

in WIC?

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How can communities support WIC and WIC-enrolled families?

Promote and encourage WIC participation Support WIC breastfeeding efforts by helping

to maintain local coalitions Ensure consistent practices and policies

between organizations for breastfeeding support

Support WIC and health departments leadership roles in nutrition coalitions to improve the health and nutrition environment in which WIC families live, eat, work, and play

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What can you do as a board?

Enact policy and environmental initiatives that

support healthy eating and active living

Partner with a variety of local agencies to leverage resources to achieve greater impact (i.e. Planning Dept, Economic Redevelopment Agency, Parks & Recreation Dept.)

Set feasible short and long term goals to address your community's unique needs

Measure your community’s performance and adjust goals as necessary

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Eau Claire City-County Programs/Coalitions

Northwestern Wisconsin Breastfeeding Network

Energize Eau Claire County Prenatal Visits WIC Program

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Example: Eau Claire, WI

Goal: Increase access to affordable healthier foods

Change: WIC food package changes Veggin’ Out at Farmers Market

Outcome: Created an incentive program for WIC clients

to shop at local farm markets Fruit and vegetable vouchers in addition to

Farmers’ Market vouchers Local farmers and vendors earn income

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WIC Fits into the Bigger Public Health Picture

Local Impact-Creates a healthier community! WIC is a Cornerstone

Targets children & families Agency networks for program and client centered

services Staff are recognized as nutrition experts in the

community Helps meet National Objectives

Healthy People 2020 Assists with State Health Plan Goals

Healthiest WI 2020

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Healthiest Wisconsin 2020

Focus Area: Adequate, Appropriate, and Safe Food

and Nutrition

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Healthiest Wisconsin 2020

By 2020: People in Wisconsin will eat more nutritious foods and

drink more nutritious beverages through decreased access to sugar-sweetened beverages and other less nutritious foods, and through supported, sustained breastfeeding.

All people in Wisconsin will have ready-access to sufficient nutritious, high quality, affordable foods and beverages.

Wisconsin will reduce disparities in obesity rates populations of differing races, ethnicities, sexual identities and orientations, gender identities, and educational or economic status.

Source: Appropriate, Adequate, and Safe Food and Nutrition (Focus Area Profile)

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Thank You!

Questions ?

Comments ?

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RESOURCES

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Local Obesity & Nutrition Data

USDA Food Environment Atlas: Your Food Environment Atlas

Access and proximity to grocery stores Availability of food stores/restaurants Farm to school programs Recreation and fitness facilities per 1000 population Demographics: Race/ethnicity, income,

poverty rate

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Local Obesity & Nutrition Data

Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (all counties module) Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Adult overweight and obesity Lack of physical activity Chronic disease / overall health

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Local Obesity & Nutrition Data: WI Department of Health Services

Wisconsin WIC Website (WICPRO) WI WIC and Nutrition Data

PedNSS Reports: Infants and Children (ages 2-4) Breastfeeding initiation, duration, exclusivity LBW, HBW, Premature Birth Overweight & obesity (measured) Screen time > 2 hours/day

PNSS Reports: Moms Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity Weight gain during pregnancy (compared with ideal) Hypertension during pregnancy Gestational diabetes

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State-level Obesity & Nutrition Data: CDC

National Survey of Children’s Health (youth under 18 by parental report) National Survey of Children's Health

Weight status, physical activity, nutrition

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Adult prevalence & trends for weight status, health risk behaviors

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity State Legislative Database State Leg. & Research Action to Prevent Obesity

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Works CitedBenefits of Breastfeeding. Retrieved from

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/benefits-of-breastfeeding

CDC. 2010 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System [PowerPoint

Slides] Retrieved from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/WICPRO/data/PedNSS/index.

htm#data

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, Mar 11).

Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences. Retrieved from:

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/health.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). 2010 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance

Wisconsin. Retrieved from http:

//www.hs.wisconsin.gov/wic/WICPRO/data/PedNSS/10county.pdf

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Works CitedCounty Health Rankings. (2011). Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Retrieved from

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/wisconsin/eau-claire/find-

programs-and-policies

Focus Area Strategic Team. (2009). Adequate, Appropriate, and Safe Food and Nutrition

Focus Area Profile). Retrieved from

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/hw2020/pdf/nutrition.pdf

National WIC Association. (2011). WIC For a Healthier, Stronger America!.

Nutrition & Physical Activity Section; WIC Program, Bureau of

Community Health Promotion, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin

Department of Health and Family Services ( 2007, Nov). Food

Security in the Wisconsin WIC Population, January, 2007.

Retrieved from

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/WICPRO/data/foodsecurity.pdf

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Works CitedUSDA. (2009, Nov). WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for

Women, Infants and Children. Retrieved from

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/WIC-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

(2010, July 12). Public Health Profiles: 2008 Profile for Eau Claire County.

Retrieved from

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/localdata/pdf/08pubhlth/eauclaire08.pdf

Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2010, July 12). Public

Health Profiles: 2008 Profile for Wisconsin. Retrieved from

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/localdata/pdf/08pubhlth/wisconsin08.pdf

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Works Cited

Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2011, June 14). Benefits

Received by WIC Participants. Retrieved from

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/benefits.htm