The WIC Program
Reinvigorating and Reimagining The Pennsylvania WIC Program
Pennsylvania WIC Stakeholders Collaborative Summit
Highlighted innovative best practice models from across the country that have proven effective during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified strategies to advocate and apply these best practices in the different regions of Pennsylvania.
WHAMglobal shares common concerns about the declining enrollment and stigma associated with the WIC Program in Pennsylvania. While the WIC Program plays a significant role in maternal and child health outcomes, the USDA estimates that only 60% of WIC-eligible families across the U.S. are participating in the program, and only about one-third of eligible four-year-olds participate. On average, Pennsylvania WIC reaches 49.9% of eligible individuals. Since funding is tied to participation, declining enrollment has meant reductions in federal WIC funding to Pennsylvania.
WHAMglobal recently developed a White Paper that explores WIC Program best practices from across the country and the Commonwealth and strategies that can be implemented to support and grow the WIC Program. Please check out the full, downloadable white paper.
For more coverage of WHAMglobal’s advocacy for reinvigorating and reimagining Pennsylvania’s WIC Program, check out:
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Karen Wolk Feinstein: Help mothers and babies in Pennsylvania
• WESA: WIC Enrollment Is Down, Creating A 'Catch-22'