Published: June 25, 2009 07:35 pm      

WIC expanding its program

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Participants in the Women, Infant and Children Food Program, known as WIC, will be seeing some changes in their food vouchers this summer.

The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced that beginning Aug. 3, participants will be able to purchase fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread and other healthier baby food items.

“This is the first real change since they started the WIC program, I think,” said Becky Brooks, director of nursing at the Jefferson County Health Department. “Now [participants] are going to be able to receive food vouchers to get fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables along with whole wheat bread and soft corn tortillas.”

Brooks added the change to the food program is a “good incentive” and IDHS is “doing this to get in line with what our clients need and our nation needs.”

“The WIC program helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well and stay healthy,” said IDHS Secretary Carol L. Adams. “These changes will better support the nutritional needs of our WIC participants and promote the establishment of successful long-term breastfeeding for our mothers and babies.”

In addition to adding fruits and vegetables, participants will also be able to purchase baby food, which has never been offered in the program before, Brooks said.

“They found that over the years, even though juice provided Vitamin C, babies were receiving an excess amount of juices,” Brooks explained. “So they decided to give baby food now.”

According to the IDHS, new foods added to the food program include whole wheat bread, soft corn tortillas, brown rice, soy milk, baby foods including fruits, vegetables and meats and fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. However, fruits and vegetables with sugar added to them cannot be purchased, Brooks clarified.

“It’s a really good thing,” she said. “A happy thing.”

Reductions in juice, milk, cheese and eggs were made in order to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and be cost neutral.

An average of 135 women are served through the program each month in Jefferson County, Brooks reported, with total participants of women, infants and children at 422 a month in the county.

Income criteria will also be changing next month, Brooks said. Beginning July 1, income guidelines for a family of four will be $40,790 a year.

“Some people have a misconception that WIC is a low-income program or for poverty,” she remarked. “It’s not. I think WIC is a good indication of the economy right now.”

For more information about WIC, you may call the Jefferson County Health Department at 244-7134.