The Los Angeles Times featured a story about the recent Los Angeles Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote in favor of a motion brought forth by supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Holly J. Mitchell, seeking to improve the WIC program’s visibility and increase enrollment, highlighting Heluna Health and PHFE WIC as key collaborators in the effort.
Currently, WIC reaches approximately half of those who qualify for the program. In 2023, about 6.63 million individuals were actively participating in the program of the 11.83 million eligible. Although WIC does not exclude people based on immigration status and is not subject to the public charge rule proposed by the current administration, fears about sharing personal information with government agencies have likely contributed to the lack of participation.
PHFE WIC Executive Director, Kiran Saluja, said “The WIC program is a safe place for all eligible families, including immigrant families. “With remote services, virtual appointments, and electronic benefits, WIC is more accessible than ever. This motion will help reduce barriers and connect more parents and young children with the nutrition and support they need.”
Per the motion, the Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education will work with social service, health, and child welfare agencies to improve WIC benchmarks. Main objectives include creating a resource kit for Los Angeles families with young children, distributing WIC materials at key touchpoints, exploring opportunities to place WIC staff in relevant county offices, expanding the dissemination of food resources, and more.
Click here to read the full story (in Spanish) in the Los Angeles Times.
