The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC) is a short-term intervention program designed to influence lifetime
nutrition and health benefits in a targeted, high-risk population. In
order to be eligible for WIC benefits, individuals must exhibit a medical or
nutritional risk verified by a health care professional, and have an income
level equal to or less than 185% of poverty, or be enrolled in Medicaid.
WIC Benefits:
- Quality nutrition education and services
- Breastfeeding education and support
- Monthly supplemental
- Access to prenatal and pediatric health care services
WIC Successes:
- Every dollar spent on pregnant women in WIC produces $1.92
to $4.21 in Medicaid savings for newborns and their mothers.
- It costs $22,000 per pound to raise a low (less than
5.5 pounds) or very low (less than 3.25 pounds) birth weight infant to
normal weight (7 pounds). It costs $40 per pound to pay WIC expenses.
- 50% of all pregnant women on WIC in Cambria County
breastfeed their infants for at least 13.5 weeks.
The WIC program serves 7.4 million
pregnant women, new mothers, infants and preschool children through 9,000
clinics nationwide. On a monthly, 11 CAPCC WIC staff provide
a multitude of services to an average of 3,600 individuals at 15 office sites
located in various communities throughout Cambria County. The largest
of these WIC office sites are located in Northern Cambria, Gallitizin, Portage, Nanty Glo,
and Johnstown.
In the upcoming year, WIC agencies across the state will concentrate on
outcome based goal setting related to diet and exercise along with behavioral
changes which directly influence both issues.
For further information please
visit: www.pawic.com
and/or call 800-WIC-WINS.
The WIC program is administered by Lenny Meketa at lmeketa.capcc.us
