- Email: [email protected]
WIC Supplement
Commentary WIC Supplement This supplement includes articles regarding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In 2009, WIC served 9.1 million participants, of whom 2.1 million were women. About 1 in 4 pregnant women in the United States (US) have enrolled in the WIC program with almost half enrolling during their first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, more than half of the infants born in the US and almost one-fourth of children up to age 5 have been enrolled in the program at some point in time. Given the large number of women and children who participate in WIC on a national level, the program has potential for farreaching effects on nutrition and health. Therefore, a major focus of this supplement involves documenting the effectiveness of participation or the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve eating behavior, physical activity, and address weight management for participants in the WIC program. The interventions involve novel approaches to modify typical education and delivery or focus on baseline benchmarks to better evaluate the 2009 changes in the WIC food package. Articles also focus on gathering information to assist in the development of breastfeeding promotion programs and reporting on research and development regarding educational approaches used in WIC, including participant-centered education or emotion-based messaging to improve education. Two GEM articles provide information on handouts or materials for new mothers and for mothers feeding families. Major themes that occur in this supplement include the manner in which modifi-
cation of educational content and delivery methods affects outcomes, the philosophy underlying educational approaches, and the need to address important health issues that have received less attention through typical WIC education. In 2006, the WIC Program achieved the highest rating possible among federal programs from the US Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) Program Assessment Rating Tool. The assessment was based on the WIC Program’s measurable impacts on key health outcomes, efficient use of program funds, and success in achieving long-term performance goals. To further improve the program, the US Department of Agriculture collaboratively developed additional performance and management goals with the OMB. Among them were: 1) making changes to the food package to reflect current nutritional guidelines, promote breastfeeding, and better address the health risks facing the WIC population, including childhood obesity, and 2) promoting efforts to address childhood obesity by supporting special State projects which build on previously-developed WIC-specific obesity prevention interventions. It is truly encouraging to see that some of the research published in this supplement supports both of these objectives while others further provide evidence of success. For WIC to remain the premiere public health nutrition program and to enjoy sustained funding by Congress, it is critical that rigorous research continues to document the effectiveness of the program in affecting positive behavioral changes.
The articles in this supplement illustrate how previous research regarding effective theory-based educational approaches is translated into practice in the nutrition education provided as part of WIC benefits. They also provide information about best practices that can be applied in the field by WIC educators to improve effectiveness and contribute to positive health and nutrition outcomes for women and children. On the public policy end, evidencebased research on WIC can serve as the driving force for changes that profoundly impact the program. One such example is the sciencebased WIC food packages rulemaking, which resulted in the implementation of the new package changes in October 2009. Similarly, the research published in this supplement has the potential to shape future policies affecting WIC. We thank all contributors for the work that comprises this supplement. It is hoped that the articles, reports, and GEMs can provide those involved in WIC education and research a sense of pride for the great accomplishments in producing, implementing, and documenting effectiveness of programs, as well as motivation to continue to improve the program to better meet the needs of women and children. Marla Reicks, PhD, RD Guest Editor, Professor and Extension Nutritionist, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota Cecilia Richardson, MS, RD, LD Staff/Nutrition Programs Director National WIC Association
cation of educational content and delivery methods affects outcomes, the philosophy underlying educational approaches, and the need to address important health issues that have received less attention through typical WIC education. In 2006, the WIC Program achieved the highest rating possible among federal programs from the US Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) Program Assessment Rating Tool. The assessment was based on the WIC Program’s measurable impacts on key health outcomes, efficient use of program funds, and success in achieving long-term performance goals. To further improve the program, the US Department of Agriculture collaboratively developed additional performance and management goals with the OMB. Among them were: 1) making changes to the food package to reflect current nutritional guidelines, promote breastfeeding, and better address the health risks facing the WIC population, including childhood obesity, and 2) promoting efforts to address childhood obesity by supporting special State projects which build on previously-developed WIC-specific obesity prevention interventions. It is truly encouraging to see that some of the research published in this supplement supports both of these objectives while others further provide evidence of success. For WIC to remain the premiere public health nutrition program and to enjoy sustained funding by Congress, it is critical that rigorous research continues to document the effectiveness of the program in affecting positive behavioral changes.
The articles in this supplement illustrate how previous research regarding effective theory-based educational approaches is translated into practice in the nutrition education provided as part of WIC benefits. They also provide information about best practices that can be applied in the field by WIC educators to improve effectiveness and contribute to positive health and nutrition outcomes for women and children. On the public policy end, evidencebased research on WIC can serve as the driving force for changes that profoundly impact the program. One such example is the sciencebased WIC food packages rulemaking, which resulted in the implementation of the new package changes in October 2009. Similarly, the research published in this supplement has the potential to shape future policies affecting WIC. We thank all contributors for the work that comprises this supplement. It is hoped that the articles, reports, and GEMs can provide those involved in WIC education and research a sense of pride for the great accomplishments in producing, implementing, and documenting effectiveness of programs, as well as motivation to continue to improve the program to better meet the needs of women and children. Marla Reicks, PhD, RD Guest Editor, Professor and Extension Nutritionist, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota Cecilia Richardson, MS, RD, LD Staff/Nutrition Programs Director National WIC Association