Altarum Institute Policy
Roundtable
Cosponsored by the National WIC
Association
Can WIC Play a Role in Stemming the
Childhood Obesity Epidemic?
How Can WIC Work with Other
Programs Such as SNAP-Ed and
Overcome Barriers to Collaboration to
Help Prevent Obesity?
Susan B. Foerster, MPH, RD
Network for a Healthy California
California Department of Public Health
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DISCLAIMERS
▲ The experience and opinions that follow are those
of the presenter.
▲ There are no financial disclosures to report.
▲ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) is still
called Food Stamps in California.
▲ SNAP-Ed used to be known as FSNE, Food
Stamp Nutrition Education.
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WIC and SNAP-Ed Have Common
Missions and Overlapping Audiences
WIC
SNAP-Ed
Income <185% FPL
With a waiver, <185% FPL, as well
as SNAP
Pregnant, breastfeeding
women, children <5 years
Families, especially school-aged
Achieve Dietary and PA
Guidelines
Achieve Dietary and PA Guidelines
Reduce/eliminate food
insecurity
Reduce/eliminate food insecurity
Improve nutritional healthy
early in life
Improve nutritional healthy
throughout life
Prevent or reduce obesity
Prevent or reduce obesity
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A Perfect Complement to Achieve
Real Change for Needy Families
WIC
SNAP-Ed
Specific life-stage orientation
May be lifelong
Individually focused
May be population-based; models vary,
may include “social marketing”
Clinic-centered, retail links
Many community sites: child care,
worksites, schools, food stores, and
farmer’s markets, mass media
States set high standards for retailers Feds set standards for EBT certification
Leadership from SHA
SNAP state agency contracts w/
Extensions, Universities, health
departments, and/or non-profits
Nut ed funding well integrated
Great variability due to FFP/matching
mechanism
Great image!
Food Stamps is being re-invented!
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So Far, What Collaborations Have Been
Easiest for WIC and SNAP-Ed in California?
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We Think “Social Ecological”
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Brand Architecture Works Too
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Food Stamps Is a Food Security
Platform for Entire Families
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F-SORK Also Is Used by WIC Clinics
to Promote Food Stamps
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Media-TV, Radio, Outdoor, Websites
English and Spanish
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Regional Networks in Media Markets Provide
Campaigns, Collaboration Among Diverse Partners
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Federally-Certified Community Clinics Already
Marry WIC, SNAP-Ed and Food Stamp Outreach
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Network Retail Campaign Adds Power in the
Business Sector -- Tools for Retailers
▲Retailer Fruit and
Vegetable Marketing Kit
▲Produce Handling
Guide
▲Produce Quick Tips
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Network Retail Program Adds Power with
Business – In-Store Nut Ed
▲Food Demonstration
Training Kit
▲Store Tour Guide
▲Produce Marketing
Association online
training
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Network Retail Program Adds Power with
Business – In-Store Merchandising
▲Seasonal Signage
▲Newsletters
▲Cross Promotional
Wobblers
▲Spinning
Kiosk/Recipe Card
Holder
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Network Retail Program Adds Power with
Business – Active Promotions In-Store
▲Food
Demonstrations
▲Store Tours
▲Fruit and Veggie
Fest
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Network Retail Program Adds Power with
Business -- Strong Industry Partnerships
▲ Participation in Produce
Industry Networking Events
▲ Placing Ads in Produce
Fresh Produce
& Floral Council
Industry Periodicals
▲ Creating Innovative
Produce Marketing
Opportunities
▲ Partnership with Fruits &
Veggies—More Matters ™
and National FV Alliance at
CDC
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FNS-Required “SNAP”
(State Nutrition Action Plan)
▲SNAP--WIC coordinates Network, Food Stamps,
UC-FSNEP, CDE, and CDFA state plan for FNS
▲County Nutrition Action Partnerships–
WIC and Network help local health departments
convene counterpart coalitions of
FNS categorical programs
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So, What Impact Has SNAP-Ed Had In
California?
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Impact: Kids Ate More FV as Network Grew,
but Children’s Media Made the Difference
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Impact: Adult FV Increased for
Network-Targeted Ethnic Groups
6.5
6
5.5
Asian/Pacific Islander
Latino
White
African American
Servings
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
Year
Sample weighted to the 2000 U.S. Census: N (White)=13,013,000, N (Hispanic)=6,896,000
N (African American)=1,632,000, N (Asian/Other)=3,177,000.
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Impact: Adult FV Increased for
Network-Targeted FSP and Income Groups
6.5
6
5.5
$50,000+
$15,000-24,000
<$15,000
Food Stamp Participants
$35,000-49,999
$25,000-34,999
Servings
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
Year
Sample weighted to the 2000 U.S. Census: N(<$15,000)=11,602,000, N($15,000-24,999)=4,130,000,
N($25,000-34,999)=3,039,000, N($35,000-49,999)=2,917,000, N(>$50,000)=4,795,000.
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What Are More Opportunities?
▲Worksite wellness (Fit Business Kit)
▲Child Care (800 + sites)
▲Media for kids as well as parents
▲State and policy change for communities that our
families live in
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What Happens When the CDC
Parameters Are Added as Per ARRA?
Strategies
MAPPS Methods
↑ Fruits and Veggies
Media
↑ Physical Activity
Access
↑ Breastfeeding
Promotion
↓ Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
↓ Calorie-dense, low-nutrient
Price
Social Support
foods
↓ Physical Inactivity, “screen
time”
↓ Missing: Food Insecurity!
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SNAP-Ed Policy Levers Needed so
SNAP-Ed and WIC Can Do Even More
▲Obesity: Remove limits on range of PA interventions
▲Hunger: Ask SNAP-Ed to help increase participation in
all nutrition assistance entitlement programs
▲Access to healthy food: Leverage WIC and SNAP
business relationships, raise EBT standards, build on
multiple Let’s Move! farm and ag initiatives
▲Synergy: Require strong coordination and
comprehensive, public health approaches in SNAP-Ed
Guidance, such as those from ARRA
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Thank You!
Susan.Foerster@cdph.ca.gov
(916) 449-5385
www.networkforahealthycalifornia.net
www.cachampionsforchange.net
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