Resource Types: Issue Brief

WIC App Modifications Needed to Improve WIC Participants’ Shopping Experience

This policy brief encourages modernization efforts to improve the shopping experience for WIC participants. The brief recommends improving WIC smartphone applications to better align their information with vendor systems to […]

Expanded Shopping Options Needed to Improve WIC Participants’ Shopping Experience

This policy brief encourages modernization efforts to improve the shopping experience for WIC participants. The brief recommends implementing expanded access to online purchasing options and farmers’ market purchases for WIC […]

Strengthening Our Nation One Bite at a Time: Benefits of a Permanent Cash Value Benefit (CVB) Increase for Women, Infants and Children

This public policy brief was created to highlight the various impacts that a permanent WIC CVB increase would have on the economy. While most people are aware of the improved […]

Targeted Text Message Outreach Can Increase WIC Enrollment, Pilots Show

Targeted text messaging offers a promising option for reaching more families eligible for WIC, as several recent pilot programs have shown it may help increase awareness about and enrollment in […]

TeleWIC: Keeping Up with Times

This paper introduces videoconferencing as a way to bring WIC services into alignment with the expectations of participants. The young adults who are WIC’s clients are native technology users; using […]

Buying Wisely and Well: Managing WIC Food Costs While Improving the WIC Customer’s Shopping Experience

In July 2015, the BECR Center hosted a roundtable to discuss exploratory and innovative behavioral economics strategies that might be useful in helping the WIC Program manage food costs without […]

Maternal Characteristics of Prenatal WIC Receipt in the United States, 2016

Eligibility for participation by pregnant women in the WIC Program is determined by household poverty status; only those with household incomes below 185% of the federal poverty line are eligible […]

Closing Health Insurance Gaps for Families: WIC Can Make It Happen

An issue brief on how to improve health insurance coverage for low-income families and children through WIC referrals and partnership.

Transitioning to Obesity Prevention: Harnessing WIC’s Success for Healthy Eating and Active Living

A brief focusing on the success of WIC as an antihunger program to address the crisis of child overweight and obesity.

Preventing Overweight in Children Birth to 5 Years: An Overview for Decisionmakers

An overview on child nutrition programs, the obesity crisis, and strategies to prevent obesity.