Nourish Our Future: WIC

On May 4, during Fellow-sip time following worship, we will have an opportunity to write our Senators and Representatives, encouraging them to take steps to combat childhood hunger in our country and around the world. Following the lead of Bread for the World’s Nourish Our Future campaign, we will focus on four initiatives: 1) expanding the Child Tax Credit; 2) fully funding and modernizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); 3) addressing food insecurity on college campuses; and 4) providing robust funding for international nutrition programs. On the remaining Thursdays before May 4 I will offer some background information about each of these areas of concern.

Today the topic is WIC. The following comes from Bread for the World’s web site (bread.org), in an article titled, “Improving Child Nutrition at Home and Abroad.”

“One federal initiative critical to addressing childhood malnutrition is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. WIC seeks to bolster the nutrition and healthcare of lower-income pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, and children under the age of five.

“Through the provision of nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, immunization screening, and important health and social services referrals, WIC gives vulnerable families access to essential resources for healthy growth and development. In 2023, the last year data [are] available, the program reached nearly 6.6 million women and young children, including about 40 percent of all infants born in the U.S.

“WIC was launched as a pilot project in 1972 and became a permanent program in 1975. WIC has long enjoyed bipartisan support and funding. Recently, however, its funding has become more politically divisive. For the continued success of families, it’s essential that we help ensure programs like WIC continue to receive broad bipartisan support.

“In addition to a bipartisan commitment to full funding, WIC needs to be updated for the modern world.  It is vital that Congress reduce barriers and improve access to WIC by providing electronic and telehealth options so that families can become certified and re-certified for the program, conduct appointments, and receive benefit payments without burdensome in-person visits.

“These improvements help keep families engaged and enrolled in the program— ensuring they have the nutritional support they need.”

Even in these days of deep and reckless cuts to government programs, one can make a strong case for maintaining and even enhancing the WIC program. It is one of the most efficient nutritional support efforts our country has ever employed. Good nutrition for young children helps to prevent costly health problems later on. This is an investment in the future, and I hope you will join me in advocating for protecting its funding and modernizing its administration.