WIC has been serving families for more than 50 years. The program started as a demonstration project in 1972 and became permanent in 1974 after early data showed that it was a cost-effective way to improve health. As the program has grown and changed over the years, research has continued to show that:
- WIC reduces healthcare costs.
- Families participating in WIC are more likely to consume a healthy diet.
- WIC participation results in better pregnancy outcomes, including fewer infant deaths, premature births, and low birthweight infants.
- WIC is associated with higher cognitive development scores in early childhood and improved academic achievement later in life.
To ensure that WIC continues to get results, the program must modernize. This includes:
- Streamlining processes and using technology to increase efficiency and reduce burden. To this end, we are enabling online shopping to keep up with the retail marketplace, expanding the use of online applications, and providing WIC services virtually.
- Investing strategically in WIC’s infrastructure so that the program remains cost-effective for the next 50 years.
- Ensuring that the WIC workforce is well-equipped to continue to provide high-quality, impactful services to families.
We are supporting WIC state and local agencies’, retailers’, and other partners’ efforts to modernize. We provided funding to all current WIC state agencies, as well as to a variety of partner organizations that are supporting WIC modernization. To reduce inefficiencies and speed the process of modernization across all 88 WIC programs, we are also developing tools and resources based on lessons learned across projects.
Resources
WIC Online Shopping
Visit WICShopPlus.org to learn how to start an online shopping project. This site provides information for state agencies and retail partners.
WIC Online Application Toolkit
Get resources for developing an online application in your state agency, including tested plain language.
WIC Workforce Development Initiative
Visit the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) project page to learn more about the WIC Workforce Strategy and ongoing work.
Streamlining WIC Enrollment Using Data Matching
Visit the MORE WIC! website for resources for WIC agencies and a link to sign up for technical assistance on streamlining enrollment.
WIC MIS + EBT
Find information on WIC MIS and EBT requirements along with information on state agency systems and contracts for cross-state agency collaboration.
To learn more about previously-funded modernization projects visit the WIC Modernization Dashboard and the WIC Modernization Flexibilities page (note that these pages also include information on WIC outreach projects). For information on farmers’ markets, visit WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Modernization.