WIC at a Glance: A Public-Private Partnership

WIC at a Glance: A Public-Private PartnershipMichele Y. van Eyken, MPH, RD, Chief

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program California Department of Public Health

California WIC Association (CWA) WebinarNovember 18, 2011

WIC Nutrition Program

100 percent federal funds U.S. Department of

Agriculture and State Health Agency-administered;

Not an entitlement, WIC serves as many as possible within a capped grant appropriated annually by Congress;

Rebate income.

WIC Offices throughout California

•650 offices

•Most towns and major urban shopping areas in every county

•Services to1.48 million monthly

Updated Baby Statistics

Over 63 percent of babies born in

California in 2010 participated in the

WIC Program

Program Services

Referrals to Needed Health

and Social Services• Most infants and children (92%)

have health coverage;

• WIC serves as a “gateway” to other needed services:• Immunizations

• Substance abuse recovery

• Domestic violence services

• Dental screenings

• Early reading skills

• Parent education

Program Services

• Nutrition Education and

Breastfeeding Support

• Individual sessions and group classes

• Newest adult learning methods

• Cooking demos and taste testing

• Focus on prevention and wellness

Program Services “Checks” for healthy foods:

• Can be used to purchase specific foods at any WIC- authorized retail food store;

• Average value is $64 per month per participant;

• Are used to purchase $93 million of food per month in California.

WIC Vendors and Offices-- Sample

WIC and California’s Retail Food Economy

California WIC participants buy over $7 million of fruits and vegetables each month

CA WIC redeems checks for 1,532,000 pounds of whole grains each month

WIC and California’s Retail Food Economy

5 million containers of baby food/ month – an 84% increase in sales;

WIC rebate contracts supports services to > 300,000 per month.

Impact of Funding Reductions

Federal WIC grant/ income drops by $700 M;

CA must drop 100,000

participants per month;

Loss of $85 M per year in food revenue.

Priority Setting with Reductions

For More Information Michele Y. van Eyken, RD, MPH, Chief

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Nutrition Program

California Department of Public Health

Michele.van.Eyken@cdph.ca.gov

Kim Frinzell, RD, Deputy Chief

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Nutrition Program

Vendor Management and Training Services

California Department of Public Health

Kim.Frinzell@cdph.ca.gov