Transcript Micheles_Webinar_11_18_2011

WIC at a Glance: A PublicPrivate Partnership
Michele Y. van Eyken, MPH, RD, Chief
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
California Department of Public Health
California WIC Association (CWA) Webinar
November 18, 2011
WIC Nutrition Program
100 percent federal funds

U.S. Department of
Agriculture and State
Health Agencyadministered;

Not an entitlement, WIC
serves as many as
possible within a capped
grant appropriated
annually by Congress;
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Rebate income.
WIC Offices
throughout
California
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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
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Most infants and children (92%)
have health coverage;
WIC serves as a “gateway” to
other needed services:
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Immunizations
Substance abuse recovery
Domestic violence services
Dental screenings
Early reading skills
Parent education
Program Services
• Nutrition Education and
Breastfeeding Support
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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:
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Can be used to purchase
specific foods at any WICauthorized 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;
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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
[email protected]

Kim Frinzell, RD, Deputy Chief
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Nutrition Program
Vendor Management and Training Services
California Department of Public Health
[email protected]