WIC and SNAP Two Big Nutrition Assistance Programs How they Work and Who they Serve. Beth Racine, DrPH, RD Professor of Public Health February 6, 2018

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1 WIC and SNAP Two Big Nutrition Assistance Programs How they Work and Who they Serve Beth Racine, DrPH, RD Professor of Public Health February 6, 2018

2 WIC What and Why USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Mission: To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care Why was it started? Risky infant feeding practices and poor nutrition among pregnant women leading to low birth weight and poor pregnancy outcomes.

3 WIC Eligibility Criteria (simplified): Pregnant, Post Partum, Infant, Children under 5 Household Income 185% of Federal Poverty Level or less At nutritional risk Participation: 8 million Americans About 240,000 North Carolinians Benefits: Nutrition Education Breastfeeding Support Supplemental Nutrition Program Reach: 53% of American infants participate in WIC Costs: About $7 Billion/yr federal government funding Using Benefits Voucher or EBT accepted at most grocery stores

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5 Household income reported as percent poverty level Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System North Carolina WIC State Nation Percentage Over 200 Adj. Eligibility 2010 NC PNSS Table 1C

6 North Carolina WIC Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System Racial and ethnic distribution of WIC Moms State Nation Percentage White Black Hispanic American Indian Asian Multiple Other 2010 NC PNSS Table 1C

7 Children under age 5 participating in WIC by race/ethnicity State Nation Percentage White Black Hispanic American Indian Asian Multiple Other 2011 NC PedNSS Table 1C

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10 Prevalence of Obesity among children on WIC by race/ethnicity 20 Percentage White Black Hispanic American Indian State Asian Multiple Total Nation Children aged < 2 years: weight-for-length > 97.7th percentile, WHO Growth Charts, 2006 (high weight-for-length). Children aged > 2 years: BMI-for-age > 95th percentile, CDC Growth Charts, NC PedNSS Table 8C

11 Prevalence of Underweight among WIC participants under age 5 by race/ethnicity 10 Percentage 5 0 White Black Hispanic American Indian Asian Multiple Total State Nation * Children aged < 2 years: weight-for-length < 2.3rd percentile, WHO Growth Charts, Children aged > 2 years: BMI-for-age < 5th percentile, CDC Growth Charts, NC PedNSS Table 8C

12 Percentage of infants breastfed at least 6 months* by race and ethnicity Percentage White Black Hispanic American Indian Asian Multiple Total State Nation 2011 NC PedNSS Table 9C * Among infants who turned six months of age during the reporting period.

13 SNAP What and Why USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities SNAP is the largest nutrition assistance program in the US

14 SNAP Eligibility Criteria (simplified): 130% of federal poverty level Assets less than $2250 Participation: 42 million Americans participate 43% children, 9% elderly, 91% born in US By Race/Ethnicity: 39% White, 25% Black, 12% Hispanic 1.6 million North Carolinians participate, serves about 78% of those eligible Benefits: Money (via EBT) for food On average about $126/month/person Costs: Federal Government Funding $70 Billion/yr $2.4 Billion in North Carolina in 2015 Using Benefits EBT accepted at most stores that sell food: supermarket, drug stores, dollar stores, convenience stores

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17 Where does the SNAP $ go in NC? NC Redemptions 2015 Store Type Redemptions # Stores Supermarket and Large Grocery Stores $1,061,426, Super Store $1,001,517, Combination Grocery/Other $128,983, Convenience Store $92,027, Farmers' Market $119, Other food stores 78,961,

18 What are we buying?

19 Extras

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21 Does WIC Work? See wic/wicworks.htm