LOS ANGELES — A new publication from researchers at PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health, the University of Washington, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, found that higher redemption of certain food benefits provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was associated with continued engagement in the program.
The study focused on almost 190,000 children ages 0 to 3 who participated in WIC in Southern California between November 2019 and June 2023. Among these children, higher redemption of fruits and vegetables, eggs, whole milk and infant formula — the most highly redeemed WIC foods — was significantly associated with a lower risk of WIC program discontinuation. Data included WIC food redemptions obtained from electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card transactions and WIC administrative data.
“Research shows that children who participate in WIC longer have better diet quality,” said Dr. Pia Chaparro, assistant professor in the University of Washington Department of Health Systems and Population Health and lead author of the study. “To maximize WIC’s impact on child nutrition, it is important to identify children who may stop participating in WIC while still eligible. This study provides us with that information.”
The study was funded by the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) partnership. “WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit is critical for child nutrition in the U.S. because children under age 5 aren’t eating enough vegetables. Knowing that families using more of this benefit are more likely to stay engaged with WIC can inform WIC to focus efforts on those using less of the benefit, since these children may not be eating enough vegetables,” said Dr. Christopher Anderson, assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; senior author; and RIDGE grant recipient.
Dr. Shannon E. Whaley, director of research and evaluation at PHFE WIC and co-author, added, “The expansion of fruit and vegetable benefits for WIC families has been among the most important policy changes of the last decade. Families want more fruits and vegetables, and this research demonstrates that their inclusion in the WIC food package is essential for longer-term engagement in the program.”
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, can be found here.
About PHFE WIC
PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health, is the largest WIC agency in the country. The program serves parents, infants and children in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. PHFE WIC is nationally recognized as a leader and innovator in nutrition education, breastfeeding support, staff training, customer service and outreach to community partners.
About Heluna Health
For more than 50 years, Heluna Health has collaborated with community-based organizations, public health agencies, health care systems, providers and policymakers to enhance services that expand access to disease prevention, treatment, care and social resources. Heluna Health is at the forefront of efforts to research, develop and implement community-led interventions fostering systemic change and improved health outcomes.
