What is WIC?
Presented by Kerry Thomson,
WIC Clinic Operations Specialist
New Mexico WIC Program
July 2014
NMWIC.ORG
Introduction
 WIC is the special supplemental food program
for Women, Infants and Children. WIC
celebrates 40 years in 2014.
 WIC is supported and administered by the
USDA/FNS and the New Mexico Department of
Health.
 Currently, there are 38 clinics, 37 satellites, and 5
contract clinics associated with the NM State
WIC program.
 In addition, there are 7 Indian Tribal
Organizations with WIC services in New
Mexico.
Mission
 The WIC program serves
to safeguard the health of
low-income women,
infants and children up to
age 5 who are at
nutritional risk by
providing nutritious foods
to supplement diets,
nutrition education and
referrals to health and
social services.
History of WIC
 WIC has been in existence for
 In 1974, the State of New
over 40 years.
 During the 1970’s results from
large scale surveys, such as
Ten-State and Hanes I, showed
poor nutrition was a major
problem among minorities,
teens and low income families.
 In 1972 congress established
the first pilot program known
as “The Special Supplemental
Food Program for Women,
Infants and Children.”
 In 1974 the first WIC Program
opened in Pineville, Kentucky.
Mexico contracted with three
agencies to administer WIC
services-the Albuquerque
Family Health Center, the
UNM Maternal & Infant Care
Project and Presbyterian
Medical Services in Cuba,
NM.
 In 1979, USDA sponsored a
national forum on program
management in Albuquerque,
with WIC Directors from all
state agencies participating .
History of WIC….
 By 1980, Wyoming became
 Nationwide, WIC provides
the 50th state to provide WIC
services.
 In 1991, New Mexico
implemented infant formula
rebates and chose the least
expensive brand of some food
items, reducing food package
costs and allowing WIC to
serve more people.
 In 1995, New Mexico was
recognized by the USDA for
its efforts in developing
facilitated nutrition education.
food benefits and nutrition
counseling services to over
eight million needy people
each month.
 WIC serves clients in 50 states,
34 ITO’s, D.C., and 5
territories.
 New Mexico WIC currently
serves about 58,000 clients.
 In 2013, New Mexico’s
Federal Budget was nearly
$45,000,000 with foods
purchased with WIC funds
totaling over $26,000,000.
Grocery Store Sales
 Funds from NM WIC
checks help impact
grocery store profits in
our communities. The top
three counties benefiting
from WIC funding were:
 Bernalillo $10,952.00
 Dona Ana $6,059,213.00
 Santa Fe $2,629,246.00
 WIC food funds help
stimulate local economies
across the state.
Who can participate in WIC?
 The WIC Program is
 Those family members
open to pregnant,
breastfeeding or
postpartum women as
well as infants and
children up to age 5.
 To qualify for WIC,
families must be at 185%
of the poverty line or
below.
 Families who are eligible
for Food SNAP or TANF
are allowed to participate
in WIC.
who receive NM
Centennial Care will also
qualify for WIC services.
In this case, families may
have income up to 230%
of the poverty line.
 All family members
applying for the program
must also have a
documented nutrition
risk.
What foods are provided by WIC?
 Infant Formula
 Infant Cereal
 100% pure juices
 Milk
 Soy Milk
 Eggs
 Cheese
 Tofu
 Tuna
 Cereal/ Grains
 Fresh Fruits/Vegetables
 Canned or Frozen fruits
and vegetables
 Special Infant Formulas
 Medical Nutritional
Foods
 Beans or peas
 Peanut Butter
What Key Nutrients do WIC Clients
need?
 Protein
 Vitamin A
 Vitamin C
 Vitamin D
 Calcium
 Iron
 Folic Acid
 Fiber
Risk Factors
 The WIC program assesses clients for medically based
risks; here are just a few:
 Smoking/Drinking/Use of street drugs
 Anemia
 Overweight
 Underweight
 Dental issues
 Nutritionists work with each client to determine a
behavior change goal that is achievable and that will
ultimately improve their health and reduce their risk for
chronic disease. This goal is supported through
Facilitated Nutrition Education.
WIC screens clients for Safety in the home
and Substance abuse
 Clients are also asked
questions on safe
environment, domestic
violence and
abuse/neglect issues.
 If needed, staff can seek
immediate assistance
from Public Health
Nurses or Social Workers
to work with the client to
deal with this issue.
Referrals
 In many cases, WIC serves as
the entry point to clients
needing any type of health and
social services.
 WIC can assist by providing
referrals for family planning,
dental care screening, mental
health, immunizations or help
for families with special needs
children or any child with a
health care issue.
 For medically fragile children,
WIC can provide specialized
formulas or medical nutritional
foods.
Outreach
 Federal law requires that WIC provide outreach to special
populations such as migrant farm workers and homeless
people.
 WIC provides services to teen moms; NM has satellite
clinics that specifically serve this group such as the Teen
Parent Center in Santa Fe and the New Futures School in
Albuquerque.
 WIC will refer clients to the SNAP Program, Temporary
Aid for Needy Families (TANF), Centennial
Care/Medicaid and other services.
Immunizations
 During certification,
clients are asked to bring
in shot records which are
then read by staff. If
client does not have
record, staff can access
NMISS.
 Clients not up to date on
shots are provided with a
printed list of needed
immunizations to take to
their medical provider.
Immunization Follow Up
 WIC staff will make a
note in the client’s file on
immunization status,
make referral to health
care provider if child is
behind and follow up at
the next appointment to
ensure the child was
immunized.
 This service reinforces
the importance of
immunizations to a large
population of New
Mexicans.
Nutrition Education
 Facilitated Nutrition Education
is an educational format that
allows clients to actively
participate in the learning
process.Using open-ended
questions, the facilitator helps
draw out the group’s
conversation topic without
lecturing at them, correcting
information only when needed.
 Subjects covered in nutrition
education sessions directly
relate to issues that impact
WIC clients, including prenatal
nutrition, breastfeeding, infant
nutrition, feeding relationships
and child nutrition.
WIC FIT KIDS
 “WIC FIT KIDS” 2005 and “Get Healthy
Together” 2006 were initiatives in
nutrition education that challenged WIC
staff and clients to help themselves and
their children achieve a healthy weight
for life by decreasing sweetened drinks,
increasing water consumption and
increasing daily activity through play and
fun.
 Family routines are emphasized,
including preparing meals at home and
eating together.
 Suggestions on limiting TV time and
increasing outside activities are provided
as well.
Literacy
 The New Mexico WIC
Program also promotes
literacy, by teaching basic
nutrition through the use of
easy to read books that are
provided free to clients. Books
entitled “Picking Apples and
Pumpkins”, “I like to Nurse”
and “Jump for Joy” are
examples of this literacy
promotion project.
 Books are provided in English
and Spanish.
 In the past years, over 16,500
children’s books were
distributed to clients.
Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program
 WIC has been instrumental in
promoting the Five a Day
program with the use of
Farmer’s Market checks.
 Each summer, these checks are
given to clients during
certification and nutrition
education sessions in order to
encourage them to try a variety
of locally grown fresh fruits
and vegetables.
 Clients are provided with
information and recipes in
order to improve the intake of
nutrients provided by these
foods.
Breastfeeding Promotion
 Breastfeeding counseling services are available to all WIC

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moms at no charge.
Many WIC nutritionists are trained in breastfeeding and are
able to provide information and assistance to breastfeeding
mothers. NM WIC has seven IBCLC’s on staff.
The NM WIC program promotes breastfeeding by providing
moms with a hospital grade loaner breast pump to use when
returning to work or school.
A mom who chooses to exclusively breastfeed may be able to
receive a personal electric breast pump and counseling
services.
Moms who exclusively breastfeed receive a larger food
package that includes extra food items as well such as fish,
fruits and vegetables..
Peer Counselor Program
 Peer counselors are WIC
moms who have breastfed their
own babies and who have had
training in breastfeeding
support.
 In 2013, 43 clinics were
provided with PC training,
there are now about 60 peer
counselors across New
Mexico.
 Peer Counselors receive a
stipend for each mom who
breastfeeds, up to $60 for
clients breastfeeding through
the sixth month of life.
Peer Counselors help improve
Breastfeeding initiation and duration
 New Mexico WIC has been
one of the few states to pioneer
the use of Breastfeeding Peer
Counselors to provide mother
to mother support to WIC
clients.
 In 2013,
 NM Peer Counselors have
improved breastfeeding
initiation rates.
Where are WIC offices located?
 The New Mexico WIC
Program depends on local
counties to provide clinic space
for individual WIC programs.
 The use of public health
facilities that are multi-service
in nature are cost effective and
provide one-stop health
services for New Mexicans.
 There are approximately 38
WIC clinics operating in New
Mexico, not including
37satellites .
Electronic Benefit Transfer Expansion
 NM WIC uses an Electronic
Benefit system for seven years.
This is a means of providing
food benefits to clients using a
“Smart” card rather than paper
checks.
 New Mexico uses a card with a
chip. The chip is a data base
that provides benefits to the
client and communicates with
grocer system.
 This system saves time at the
clinic, the grocer and the bank.
In order to qualify for WIC, a person
must meet the following criteria:
 Be a resident of New Mexico
 Be a pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum mom,
or an infant or a child up to age 5.
 Meet income guidelines.
 Have a nutrition related health risk.
 Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can
participate in the WIC Program, regardless of
race, color, national origin, sex, religion or
handicap.
 U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.
WIC Works!
NMWIC.ORG
For more information, contact
Sarah Flores-Sievers, NM WIC Director
476-8801
Kerry Thomson, Clinic Operations 476-8832
2040 S. Pacheco
Santa Fe, NM 87505