Recruitment and Retention of WIC Participants

WIC Program Coverage: How Many Eligible Individuals Participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): 1994 to 2003?

This report provided information on the new methodology developed by the National Research Council to estimate rates of eligibility and participation in the WIC Program. The new methodology provided more accurate estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC. The report estimated that 13.5 million individuals were eligible for WIC and that 7.7 million participated in WIC in 2003.

Nutrient Adequacy of Children Participating in WIC

This brief summarized two recent ERS-sponsored studies that provided new assessments of nutrient intakes of WIC children, income-eligible children not participating in the WIC Program, and children ineligible for WIC.

Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations: Body Weight Status

The five summaries in the Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations series highlighted key findings of the multi-volume Nutrition and Health Outcomes Study. The summaries examines the nutritional and health status of Food Stamp Program participants, WIC participants, school-age children, and older Americans.

Does WIC Work? The Effects of WIC on Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes

This paper evaluated the skepticism that WIC research failed to properly control for selection into the WIC Program, using rich data from the national Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. The authors showed that relative to Medicaid mothers, all of whom were eligible for WIC, WIC participants were negatively selected on a wide array of observable dimensions, yet WIC participation was associated with improved birth outcomes.

Trends in Blood Lead Levels Among Children Enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children From 1996 to 2000

Data from the Wisconsin Childhood Lead-Poisoning Prevention Program were analyzed to examine the distribution and trends in elevated blood lead levels among WIC-enrolled children from 1996 until 2000. According to the study, higher blood lead levels were seen among WIC-enrolled children. And, although statistically not significant, the rate that blood lead levels declined among WIC-enrolled children was greater than the rate among non-WIC-enrolled children.

Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations: Volume II, WIC Participants and Nonparticipants

This research was designed to establish a baseline from which to monitor the nutritional and health characteristics of WIC participants and non-WIC participants over time. Because of age-based variations in the survey protocols and small samples of pregnant and postpartum women, data were not consistently available among women, infants, and children. The richest datasets were available for children, and datasets were most limited for pregnant women.

Nutrient Intakes and Food Choices of Infants and Toddlers Participating in WIC

Using data from the 2002 Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS), the researchers examines the nutrient intakes, foods consumed, and feeding patterns of infants and toddlers participating in WIC. Results found that infants enrolled in WIC were less likely to have been breastfed, compared with other US children. Significant numbers of WIC and non-WIC toddlers did not consume enough fruits and vegetables.

An Innovative Blood Lead Screening Program for Indian Children

The authors' goal was to screen Indian children on the reservation who were participating in WIC and Head Start. researchers screened close to 100% of the young children on the Rocky Boy reservation. The average blood lead level for these Indian children, ages 1 to 5, was 2.4 micrograms/dL, which is not significantly different from that of children of the same age nationally.

Why Do WIC Participants Fail to Pick Up Their Checks? An Urban Study in the Wake of Welfare Reform

These authors explored whether work or immigration concerns affected women's participation in the WIC Program. Results showed that non-collection of checks was associated with job conflicts, transportation or illness problems, and check distribution policies.

The Impact of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children on Child Health

The authors used data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to analyze the effect of the WIC Program and other factors on the health of US preschool children. Findings revealed that the WIC Program had a significant positive impact on the overall health of children. In particular, children in households participating in WIC were significantly more likely to be in excellent health.