WIC program continues to serve low-income women, infants

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By DIANE STRAND Forty-four percent of all the babies in Illinois are in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, a federal nutrition program disbursed through the state to help at-risk pregnant women, and to protect their babies’ prenatal development and health after birth. Locally, WIC is administered through the DeKalb County Health Department. The fact that 44 percent of all Illinois babies are now in the program should be surprising to many and alarming to some. When initiated in 1974, WIC served 12,000 Illinois babies. Today that number has grown to 289,000. Yet despite the alarming increase in numbers, DeKalb County WIC Coordinator Kay Chase said WIC is one of the few government programs that pays for itself. “The country’s infant mortality rate is at its lowest point ever, and the program saves $200 million in medical costs per year,” Chase said. “The infant mortality rate declined by 40 percent since 1986 because of WIC and Family Case Management programs.” The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is approved as part of the Farm Bill. WIC means food for a pregnant woman and her child, and the program continues with the child for a short period after birth. Participants receive coupons for milk, cheese, eggs, juice, peanut butter, cereal and vitamins - including important folic acid needed for normal fetal development. If the mothers are breastfeeding, which is encouraged, they also receive carrots and tuna. To qualify, the individual must be a “nutrition risk” (which includes pregnant teens and single mothers) and must also meet income eligibility requirements. For example, a family of four can earn no more than $38,000 a year to enroll in the program. Many of the women are single and unemployed. Approximately 42 percent are white, 16 percent are black, and 42 percent are Latina. After an intake interview, an eligible woman is authorized to participate in nutrition education and receive food coupons for three months at a time. If she does participate, she can then be authorized for another three months. Also, nutrition education is available on the Internet. “We also make referral to other community programs as needed,” Case says. Those programs include, for example, Hope Haven for the homeless; Safe Passage for domestic violence; the Kishwaukee Educational Consortium for high school completion (GED); and Ben Gordon Center for substance abuse and mental health issues. Caseworkers can also make referrals to the community food pantry and the “clothes closet” if either of these are needed. “At the intake interview, probably about a third of the young women come in with a boyfriend, but most often he isn’t around when the baby is born,” Chase says. “Quite a few women come in with their mothers or sisters, but many have not told their mothers when they first come in.” Chase said she has 12 caseworkers, and the department’s caseload is about 2,134 individuals each month. “Most of us are nurses and some are nutritionists,” she said. Mothers typically receive six gallons of milk each month, one pound of cheese, 36 ounces of cereal, 18 ounces of peanut butter and eggs and juice. The education program incorporates information about proper maternal and childcare, even car seat safety. But the counselors are frequently given additional questions to ask applicants. The State of Illinois doesn’t require birth certificates for moms who participate in the program. However, a birth certificate is requested for those applying for a medical card. For more information on the WIC program, call 815-748-2402 or online at wic@dekalbcounty.org.