BY ALEX CANTATORE

In these times, more than ever, many women can’t afford the food they need to feed their infants and children. That’s where the Women, Infants, and Children Program comes in, offering vouchers for healthy foods to more than 1.4 million financially in need people in the State of California.

Now, thanks to an increased grant from the Federal Government, more of those in need in Stanislaus County will be able to take part in the WIC program. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved a $306,000 increase in the county WIC program budget on Jan. 6, enabling 1,975 more residents of Stanislaus County to receive assistance from WIC each month.

“I say it’s relatively good new because the only reason we’re getting the funding is because of the need in our community,” said Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Director Mary Ann Lee.

In Stanislaus County, 18,550 participants currently receive assistance from WIC each month. That number will rise to 20,525 with the additional funding, but will still fall far short of the estimated 29,000 county residents eligible for the program.

The program combats infant mortality and childhood obesity by providing vouchers that can be redeemed at local grocery stores for specific healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat or non-fat milk and cheese, and culturally appropriate food staples like soy and tortillas. Every dollar invested in WIC results in $3 in Medicaid savings, while the vouchers generate $1.2 million in revenue each month for local grocers.

Two additional employees will be hired by the Stanislaus County WIC program to handle the increased caseload.

According to the WIC web site, WIC is available to low income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and children under age five who are at nutritional risk and who are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. That annual income cutoff ranges from $19,240 for a single person to $39,220 for a family of four.

In addition to the healthy food vouchers, WIC program participants receive nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to health care providers and other social services.

To apply for the program, one must bring proof of residency, proof of income and any infants or children to an appointment with a WIC caseworker.

The Stanislaus County WIC program can be reached online at http://www.schsa.org/PublicHealth/mainpages/wic/ or by calling 558-7377. The Turlock office is located at 1125 N. Golden State Blvd., and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.

Originally published in the Turlock Journal 1/14/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.