While local food pantries report a rise in demand, a federal nutrition assistance program for women and children has seen an overall drop in participation since 2018. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, provides food packages for pregnant or breastfeeding moms and kids up to age 5, if their household meets income guidelines. The program is widely credited with improving health outcomes for families, including reduced low birth weights and improved child growth, and has been found to boost vaccination rates and reduce iron deficiency anemia.
The program is free and open to all Illinois residents, including undocumented immigrants. But the application process is often difficult for some families, especially those who have limited English skills or may not know of the service. WIC requires in-person applications and regular check-ins, which means moms must find transportation and take time off from work to get the support they need. Families also need to bring all the necessary documentation and pay close attention to changing rules on what types of foods can be purchased with their vouchers.
WIC has made some improvements in recent years, such as adding more milk and cereal options to its food packages. But families are still struggling to make ends meet, and many are leaving the program because they can’t afford to buy other groceries in addition to WIC-eligible items. In fact, a 2022 study found that 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, lived in households with access to limited healthy food in 2018.
A few agencies, such as Casa Central, are working to remove barriers to enrollment. By hosting pop-up WIC clinics at community centers, they hope to increase awareness about the service and allow families to apply right away. They also provide training to help parents navigate the application process and give them the tools they need for success.
Those training sessions are especially helpful for immigrant families who don’t speak much English or might not be aware of their rights or responsibilities. And they’re hoping to expand their reach by partnering with other groups that can serve the same families, such as churches and neighborhood organizations.
The WIC office in Chicago offers a wide variety of name-brand, nutritious, and 100% WIC-approved foods. The food is available to eat in or to go, and the service can also include education, breastfeeding support, healthcare referrals and other social services. The program is open to pregnant or postpartum women, newborns and children up to five, and their foster parents or guardians. To qualify, a healthcare professional needs to determine that the family is at nutritional risk.