USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, is vital to the health and well-being of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, this evidence-based public health program is an important part of our nation’s past – and future. USDA is committed to modernizing WIC and ensuring it will continue to serve participants well for decades to come.
USDA sees a future where families can choose how to interact with WIC in ways that work best for them. USDA’s WIC Modernization Plan focuses on:
- Reaching more eligible families and increasing awareness about WIC;
- Allowing families to fully benefit from WIC’s proven nutrition and health benefits as long as they’re eligible;
- Encouraging families to redeem more of their food benefits and making WIC more accessible and simpler to use; and
- Providing equitable access to benefits and services.
In a modern WIC program, all eligible families will benefit from a streamlined application process, the option to use accessible virtual and in-person services, improved shopping experiences both in store and online, expanded access to farmers’ markets, culturally tailored nutrition and breastfeeding services, and more!
In the last month alone, USDA has released requests for applications for nearly $75 million in funds to help modernize and support the WIC workforce, update WIC state agency infrastructure, and develop a Management Information System Strategy. These projects are critical to USDA’s work to make WIC easier to access, provide culturally competent services to participants, and ensure WIC’s long-term technology sustainability. This work complements several years of WIC modernization work and will ultimately advance USDA’s goal to better serve the American people.
To learn more about USDA’s efforts to modernize WIC, visit: WIC Modernization.