Illinois Commission To 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 System The 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 Tool September 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

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, $ 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

Participation FY 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 voucher A 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 # 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 WOMEN Pregnant 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 WOMEN Fully 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 Director