WIC Enhancements Critical to Keeping Young Children in Washington D.C. Fed During the First Two Years of the Pandemic

Brittani Riddle

202-640-1089 ext. 3039

WIC Enhancements Critical to Keeping Young Children in Washington D.C. Fed During the First Two Years of the Pandemic

WASHINGTON, October 5, 2022 — More families with young children in Washington D.C. are taking part in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), according to a report released today by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). The WIC During COVID-19: Participation and Benefit Redemption Since the Onset of the Pandemic report finds the program had 13, 728 participants in February 2022, an increase of 11.1 percent from February 2020.

The report examines changes in WIC participation and food costs for benefit redemption over the first two years of the pandemic among WIC agencies located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Tribal organization WIC agencies, and provides recommendations for strengthening the program.

Nationally, the report finds the program had 6.2 million participants in February 2022, an increase of 1.2 percent from February 2020, the baseline month before COVID-19. Local economies benefited by $7 billion as a result of WIC food redemption over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The change in WIC participation varies widely between WIC agencies based on a variety of factors, including the degree of uptake and implementation of pandemic-related WIC flexibilities and WIC agency outreach and capacity.

WIC waivers initiated at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically improved the program and its service in the District of Columbia and across the country. Participants have been able to enroll and re-enroll in WIC without going to a WIC clinic.

WIC participants also have been able to receive their monthly food package benefits remotely and attend appointments off-site via video chat and phone.

The monthly fruit and vegetable benefit boost for WIC participants also has played a key role in keeping hunger at bay for children and expectant or postpartum individuals. Through December 2022, participants can receive additional fruits and vegetables each month: about three times more for children and about four times for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

“The data reveal what our organization already knows, too many eligible individuals are missing out on WIC benefits,” Beverley Wheeler, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions. “More needs to be done to enhance participation to address the alarming spikes in hunger caused by the pandemic. A complete range of crucial improvements is required to modernize and strengthen WIC to ensure families eligible for the program get the nutrition they need for their health and well-being.”

Congressional action is needed to make permanent the improvements that have bolstered WIC services and improved access for families with young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes continuing the enhanced value of WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit at the levels recommended by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act offers a chance to broaden access to and strengthen WIC by maximizing remote access to WIC through phone appointments and remote benefit issuance; requiring WIC clinics to provide services over the phone and via video alternatives; and allowing for online and mobile payments in WIC.

Read the WIC During COVID-19: Participation and Benefit Redemption Since the Onset of the Pandemic report for more information.

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D.C. Hunger Solutions, founded in 2002 as an initiative of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), works to create a hunger-free community and improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income people in the District of Columbia. To learn more about D.C. Hunger Solutions, visit www.dchunger.org.

The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.