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CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Department of Health Friday announced changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly referred to as WIC.
The program increased the amount of money available to low-income families to purchase fruits and vegetables while allowing more flexibility in selecting foods from a variety of cultures, the department said. The new rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will better align with Dietary Guidelines for Americans and independent recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
"These changes reflect the program's commitment to promoting healthy eating habits and catering to the diverse nutritional needs of West Virginians. By offering a wider variety of healthy choices, WIC empowers participants to make decisions that boost the health of West Virginians who depend on this program," Heidi Staats, state director of WIC in the Department of Health's Bureau for Public Health, said.
Changes come during the 50th anniversary of the federal program designed to give states the power to provide supplemental food, health care referrals and nutritional education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at a nutritional risk.
Additional changes to the rule include the introduction of smaller package sizes, expanded substitution options to enhance flexibility and increased access to whole grains.
"In a time of rising food insecurity and high food costs, increasing participants' purchasing power for healthy foods is critical," Staats said. "The Office of Nutrition Services will work diligently to implement the more complex flexibilities of the WIC food package final rule within the two year regulatory timeline. However, families can immediately access the enhanced Cash Value Benefit to purchase fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables."
For more information or to apply for benefits, call local WIC clinics or 304-558-0030 or go to https://dhhr.wv.gov/WIC.